😐A single person spends $1,273 per month in Cape Town vs $1,046 in Durres, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,983 per month in Cape Town vs $1,596 in Durres, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,693 per month in Cape Town vs $2,146 in Durres, rent included.
😐Cape Town costs about 22% more than Durres, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Cape Town and Durres are more affordable than the global median – Cape Town5% lower, Durres22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cape Town
Durres
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.02R 179
$9.50ALL 777
16.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.99R 731
$34.79ALL 2,846
29.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.91R 79.8
$6.94ALL 568
-29.25%
Cappuccino
$2.00R 32.49
$1.94ALL 159
3.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10R 17.94
$1.64ALL 134
-32.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83R 13.43
$0.86ALL 70.3
-3.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.87R 46.56
$2.32ALL 190
23.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48R 40.35
$3.34ALL 273
-25.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cape Town
Durres
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15R 18.61
$2.04ALL 167
-43.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.08R 17.59
$0.88ALL 71.8
22.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87R 30.38
$2.02ALL 165
-7.43%
Eggs
$2.47R 40.11
$2.89ALL 237
-14.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.57R 139
$10.62ALL 869
-19.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.14R 83.5
$7.76ALL 635
-33.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.66R 124
$13.50ALL 1,105
-43.26%
Apples(1kg)
$1.49R 24.24
$1.21ALL 99.0
23.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49R 24.26
$2.42ALL 198
-38.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49R 24.28
$1.28ALL 105
16.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59R 25.85
$1.17ALL 95.4
35.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.08R 17.54
$1.15ALL 94.0
-6.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.24R 20.16
$1.03ALL 83.9
20.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10R 17.83
$1.14ALL 93.5
-3.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96R 15.57
$0.63ALL 51.4
52.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04R 49.33
$3.99ALL 326
-23.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.18R 100
$10.86ALL 888
-43.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41R 22.97
$1.70ALL 139
-17.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68R 27.23
$1.73ALL 142
-2.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Cape Town
Durres
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93R 15.17
$0.49ALL 40.16
89.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.91R 779
$18.28ALL 1,495
162.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38R 22.43
$3.55ALL 290
-61.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.93R 15.14
$2.03ALL 166
-54.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.36R 70.9
$17.65ALL 1,444
-75.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25R 20.33
$2.18ALL 178
-42.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3KR 346.9K
$15.3KALL 1.3M
39.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5KR 397.5K
$25.7KALL 2.1M
-4.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cape Town
Durres
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$98.3R 1,598
$68.6ALL 5,612
43.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.19R 539
$17.91ALL 1,465
85.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.75R 662
$15.96ALL 1,306
155.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cape Town
Durres
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.68R 677
$37.45ALL 3,064
11.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.15R 133
$58.0ALL 4,747
-85.95%
Cinema Ticket
$6.55R 107
$7.14ALL 584
-8.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cape Town
Durres
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$211R 3,435
$177ALL 14.5K
19.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,300R 86.1K
$4,422ALL 361.7K
19.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cape Town
Durres
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7R 906
$37.99ALL 3,108
46.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.78R 533
$39.34ALL 3,218
-16.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115R 1,869
$85.1ALL 6,965
35.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.5R 1,374
$153ALL 12.5K
-44.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cape Town
Durres
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$765R 12.4K
$428ALL 35.0K
78.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$520R 8,453
$322ALL 26.4K
61.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,430R 23.2K
$604ALL 49.4K
136.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,014R 16.5K
$421ALL 34.4K
140.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,344R 38.1K
$1,803ALL 147.5K
29.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,506R 24.5K
$1,161ALL 95.0K
29.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cape Town
Durres
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,683R 27.4K
$860ALL 70.3K
95.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.77
5.33
120.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cape Town: June 1, 2026
Last update for Durres: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $765 in Cape Town versus $428 in Durres. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 96% higher in Cape Town, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Cape Town versus $35.00 in Durres. Groceries tell a different story – $189 in Cape Town vs $243 in Durres – so Cape Town wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Cape Town vs Durres: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cape Town or Durres?
Cape Town costs about 22% more than Durres, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cape Town vs Durres?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,909 per month in Cape Town and $1,569 in Durres. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cape Town or Durres?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Durres, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Cape Town compared to Durres?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,273 in Cape Town and $1,046 in Durres. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Cape Town vs Durres?
Public transport costs about 162% less in Durres. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cape Town or Durres?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Durres, where all-in costs run around $1,046, than in Cape Town at $1,273. In Durres it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cape Town it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cape Town or Durres?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Durres costs $1,046 versus $1,273 in Cape Town. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Cape Town or Durres?
If budget matters most, go with Durres. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cape Town makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.