Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cape Town and Gliwice

For one person, living is cheaper in Gliwice: $1,338 a month against $1,527 in Cape Town, rent and utilities included – about $2,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Cape Town, South Africa
Gliwice, Poland
Cape Town
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,527
/mo nomad
Gliwice
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,338
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cape Town and in Gliwice

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cape Town and in Gliwice actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,527 per month in Cape Town vs $1,338 in Gliwice, rent included.

  • Cape Town $1,527
  • Gliwice $1,338

A couple spends around $2,417 per month in Cape Town vs $1,930 in Gliwice, rent included.

  • Cape Town $2,417
  • Gliwice $1,930

A family of three spends $3,306 per month in Cape Town vs $2,521 in Gliwice, rent included.

  • Cape Town $3,306
  • Gliwice $2,521

Cape Town costs about 14% more than Gliwice, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cape Town
Gliwice
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.01 R 198
$12.54 zł 49.16
-4.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.92 R 707
$40.75 zł 160
5.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.15 R 101
$8.64 zł 33.88
-28.82%
Cappuccino
$2.37 R 39.04
$2.87 zł 11.25
-17.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 R 20.96
$1.08 zł 4.22
17.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 R 15.46
$1.54 zł 6.02
-38.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 R 48.77
$2.95 zł 11.58
0.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 R 60.8
$3.01 zł 11.79
22.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cape Town
Gliwice
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 R 21.73
$1.02 zł 3.99
29.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.21 R 19.87
$1.32 zł 5.17
-8.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 R 36.26
$1.79 zł 7.03
22.91%
Eggs
$3.10 R 51.1
$2.74 zł 10.75
13.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.73 R 144
$7.52 zł 29.47
16.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.89 R 114
$6.41 zł 25.11
7.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.26 R 153
$9.60 zł 37.63
-3.54%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 R 30.08
$0.97 zł 3.80
88.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 R 32.12
$1.87 zł 7.34
4.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 R 27.32
$1.66 zł 6.51
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 R 35.19
$2.49 zł 9.78
-14.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.58 R 26.01
$0.90 zł 3.52
75.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.47 R 24.29
$1.08 zł 4.25
36.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 R 22.18
$1.44 zł 5.63
-6.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 R 18.85
$0.64 zł 2.50
78.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.58 R 59.0
$4.91 zł 19.24
-27.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.05 R 99.7
$7.65 zł 29.99
-20.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 R 22.95
$1.07 zł 4.19
29.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 R 35.90
$1.55 zł 6.09
40.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Cape Town
Gliwice
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 R 23.02
$1.03 zł 4.05
35.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.8 R 1,001
$29.97 zł 117
102.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.93 R 15.26
$2.01 zł 7.87
-53.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 R 14.83
$0.56 zł 2.21
60.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.96 R 81.7
$10.10 zł 39.60
-50.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 R 25.37
$1.62 zł 6.37
-4.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K R 582.8K
$31.5K zł 123.7K
12.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K R 549.9K
$27.0K zł 105.9K
23.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cape Town
Gliwice
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 R 1,929
$250 zł 982
-53.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.71 R 424
$12.27 zł 48.09
109.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.41 R 649
$15.77 zł 61.8
149.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cape Town
Gliwice
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 R 850
$26.48 zł 104
94.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.35 R 187
$16.12 zł 63.2
-29.59%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89 R 146
$6.25 zł 24.48
42.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cape Town
Gliwice
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 R 5,069
$335 zł 1,313
-8.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,141 R 134.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cape Town
Gliwice
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.4 R 946
$94.0 zł 368
-38.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.75 R 523
$43.17 zł 169
-26.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 R 1,911
$65.5 zł 257
76.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 R 1,660
$77.4 zł 303
30.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cape Town
Gliwice
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,047 R 17.2K
$506 zł 1,982
106.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$669 R 11.0K
$462 zł 1,809
44.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,861 R 30.7K
$829 zł 3,251
124.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,407 R 23.2K
$715 zł 2,802
96.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,410 R 39.7K
$2,388 zł 9,363
0.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,570 R 25.9K
$1,795 zł 7,035
-12.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cape Town
Gliwice
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,630 R 26.9K
$1,343 zł 5,264
21.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.89
7.23
50.62%

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

Last update for Cape Town: November 2, 2026

Last update for Gliwice: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cape Town
$669
Gliwice
$462 31% $208
Groceries & Markets
Cape Town
$223
Gliwice
$202 9.5% $21
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cape Town
$182
Gliwice
$278 52.8% $96
Eating Out
Cape Town
$174
Gliwice
$192 10.3% $18
Clothing & Footwear
Cape Town
$138
Gliwice
$126 8.4% $12
Getting Around
Cape Town
$72
Gliwice
$39 45.8% $33
Sport & Entertainment
Cape Town
$69
Gliwice
$39 43.8% $30

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,047 in Cape Town versus $506 in Gliwice. 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 21% higher in Cape Town. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Cape Town versus $41 in Gliwice. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $202 – making Gliwice the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇿🇦 Cape Town
🇵🇱 Gliwice
🕒 Local time
15:07 3:07 PM
14:07 2:07 PM
1 h behind Cape Town
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,740,026 Capital
185,450
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PLN, USD, EUR to ZAR – South African Rand Converter

South African Rand exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 16.48 ZAR (100 ZAR = 6.07 USD). 1 EUR = 18.51 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.4 EUR).

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3.92 PLN (1 PLN = 0.255 USD). 1 EUR = 4.4 PLN (1 PLN = 0.227 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cape Town Gliwice 9,370 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cape Town
  • Gliwice

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Gliwice: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cape Town or Gliwice?
Cape Town costs about 14% more than Gliwice, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. 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 and in Gliwice?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,291 per month in Cape Town and $2,007 in Gliwice. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cape Town or Gliwice?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gliwice, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $506 there versus $1,047 in Cape Town.
How much does it cost to live in Cape Town compared to Gliwice?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,527 in Cape Town and $1,338 in Gliwice. That makes Gliwice about 12% cheaper.
How expensive is transport in Cape Town compared to Gliwice?
Public transport costs about 51% less in Gliwice. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Cape Town or in Gliwice?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gliwice, where all-in costs run around $1,338, than in Cape Town at $1,527. In Gliwice it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cape Town it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Cape Town or Gliwice?
It depends on your priorities. Cape Town has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,338 in Gliwice to $1,527 in Cape Town. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Cape Town or to Gliwice?
If budget matters most, go with Gliwice. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cape Town makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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