Cost of Living

Cape Town, South Africa

Live cost-of-living data for Cape Town — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
20/ 10080% cheaper than New York
+142% rent since Jul 2026
$1,620/mo
Median Income
50/100
Safety
16%
Income Tax
Mediterranean
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
30/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,100/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$700/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,850/month
Food & Groceries
25/100
Milk (1 liter)$1/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.5/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.2/kg
Transportation
20/100
Monthly Transit Pass$55/month
One-Way Ticket$1.8/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.9/km
Utilities
30/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$80/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$35/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$22/month
Healthcare
50/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$60/visit
Dentist Visit$75/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
40/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$400/month
International Primary School (yearly)$10,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$350/course
Entertainment
30/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$9/ticket
Theater Ticket$35/ticket
Museum Entry$12/ticket
Clothing
35/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$50/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$35/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$75/pair
Personal Care
28/100
Haircut (Men)$15/cut
Haircut (Women)$32/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$4/bottle
Dining Out
28/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$11/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$48/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$7/meal
Childcare
35/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$650/month
Babysitter (per hour)$12/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$16/pack
Fitness & Sports
32/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$38/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$16/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$6/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

75 Mbps
Internet Speed
$110
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
high
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
70/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Sea Point, Green Point, Gardens

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cape Town cheap to live in?

Cape Town has a cost of living index of 20/100, where New York = 100. It is 80% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $720–$1,008 per month.

How much does rent cost in Cape Town?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Cape Town costs approximately $1,100/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $700/month.

Is Cape Town good for digital nomads?

Cape Town has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 75 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $110/month. English proficiency is high.

What is the average salary in Cape Town?

The median net monthly salary in Cape Town is approximately $1,620 USD. The income tax rate is around 16%.

How does Cape Town compare to New York for cost of living?

Cape Town (cost index 20) is 80% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $2,000/month by moving from New York to Cape Town.

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