Cost of Living in Cape Town - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $648 (excluding rent), and $1,254 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,603 (excluding rent), and $2,715 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.02 R 188

$6.78 R 116

$16.96 R 290

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.49 R 777

$28.43 R 486

$68.2 R 1,165

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.99 R 85.3

$4.16 R 71.1

$5.55 R 94.8

Cappuccino

$2.08 R 35.61

$1.6 R 27.4

$2.86 R 48.87

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.1 R 18.77

$0.82 R 13.95

$1.63 R 27.9

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 R 15.05

$0.58 R 9.91

$1.74 R 29.74

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.76 R 47.2

$1.93 R 33.04

$3.32 R 56.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 R 42.49

$1.66 R 28.33

$3.87 R 66.1

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 R 18.99

$0.83 R 14.12

$1.65 R 28.23

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 R 17.92

$0.69 R 11.72

$1.54 R 26.29

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 R 31.67

$1.05 R 17.86

$2.87 R 49.02

Eggs

$2.4 R 41.04

$1.32 R 22.54

$3.54 R 60.4

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.4 R 143

$5.51 R 94.2

$11.03 R 188

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 R 91.1

$2.88 R 49.14

$7.48 R 128

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.63 R 130

$5.11 R 87.3

$9.66 R 165

Apples (1kg)

$1.57 R 26.87

$0.98 R 16.69

$2.3 R 39.34

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 R 25.35

$0.92 R 15.74

$2.41 R 41.09

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 R 24.95

$0.72 R 12.31

$3.27 R 55.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 R 27.23

$1.03 R 17.63

$1.94 R 33.17

Potato (1kg)

$1.09 R 18.58

$0.55 R 9.46

$1.66 R 28.38

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 R 21.06

$0.74 R 12.71

$1.71 R 29.25

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 R 18.48

$0.85 R 14.5

$1.42 R 24.17

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1 R 17.05

$0.75 R 12.83

$1.44 R 24.61

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.14 R 53.6

$2.57 R 43.83

$3.71 R 63.3

Wine (Bottle)

$5.65 R 96.5

$3.11 R 53.1

$10.17 R 174

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 R 23.04

$0.82 R 14.03

$2.46 R 42.08

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 R 28.57

$0.82 R 13.95

$3.27 R 55.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 R 16.89

$0.7 R 11.91

$1.75 R 29.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.86 R 817

$22.53 R 385

$56.3 R 962

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 R 24.49

$0.75 R 12.77

$2.87 R 48.98

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 R 16.95

$0.67 R 11.36

$1.66 R 28.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.38 R 74.9

$2.63 R 44.96

$5.48 R 93.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 R 21.14

$1.2 R 20.45

$1.36 R 23.22

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21K R 358.9K

$19K R 325K

$24.9K R 425K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.9K R 408.4K

$19.8K R 338.1K

$30.3K R 516.6K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$97.8 R 1,671

$62.3 R 1,063

$192 R 3,283

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$33.51 R 572

$17.11 R 292

$57 R 974

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.97 R 717

$31.29 R 534

$56.9 R 972

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.72 R 712

$22.34 R 382

$67 R 1,145

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.03 R 137

$2.77 R 47.27

$16.62 R 284

Cinema Ticket

$6.77 R 116

$4.52 R 77.1

$10.44 R 178

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$214 R 3,654

$113 R 1,925

$329 R 5,615

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,349 R 91.3K

$2,038 R 34.8K

$9,056 R 154.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 R 950

$42.47 R 725

$68 R 1,161

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.21 R 567

$19.79 R 338

$50.9 R 869

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 R 1,939

$67.6 R 1,154

$141 R 2,404

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 R 1,465

$51.1 R 873

$142 R 2,425

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$743 R 12.7K

$549 R 9,382

$989 R 16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$524 R 8,953

$397 R 6,775

$680 R 11.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,447 R 24.7K

$1,130 R 19.3K

$2,260 R 38.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,028 R 17.6K

$843 R 14.4K

$1,406 R 24K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,935 R 33K

$1,142 R 19.5K

$2,683 R 45.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,299 R 22.2K

$864 R 14.8K

$1,728 R 29.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 R 28.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.77

13.75

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: November 24, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🌍 Africa

Cost of Living in Cape Town - Frequently Asked Questions

Cape Town offers a balanced feel of value and lifestyle for travelers, expats, and digital nomads. For many, the Cost of Living in Cape Town comes with a comfortable baseline that supports a coastal, outdoors-friendly schedule without the price tag of global megacities. You may find good value in longer stays in neighborhoods with character and easier access to markets, parks, and coworking spaces, while prime waterfront areas or trendy central pockets tend to push costs up. Food from local markets and casual dining can stretch a budget when you balance splurges with street food and casual cafes. Tip: Align your lease length with your work needs to maximize discounts and flexibility.

In daily life, you can shape expenses around neighborhoods that balance space, safety, and access to transit. Look for furnished or flexible leases in areas like Observatory, Woodstock, Green Point, or Constantia to match your pace and budget, rather than chasing peak downtown fixes. Shopping is doable at vibrant markets and mid-range groceries, with restaurants offering affordable options on weekdays and nicer spots for weekends. Transport options range from reliable buses and rideshares to car-sharing, while coworking spaces provide short-term passes. Cape Town living cost shows up in small decisions – location, lease length, and how often you eat out. Tip: build a weekly plan that prioritizes essential needs and drop-in workdays.

A practical approach pairs a simple monthly budgeting framework with neighborhood scouting and seasonal awareness. Define essentials (housing, utilities, groceries) and flexible costs (eating out, entertainment) and revisit every few weeks to stay aligned with changing work rhythms. Choose a neighborhood that matches your mix of safety, Wi-Fi, and outdoor access – whether you want mountain hikes nearby, coastal views, or a vibrant coffee culture. Seasonal crowds influence pricing and availability, so prefer shoulder periods for longer bookings or shorter leases. Tip: set up a co-working routine, search for long-stay discounts, and use public transport or shared rides to trim ongoing costs.