Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cape Town and Kefalonia

For one person, living costs are similar in Cape Town and in Kefalonia: $1,599 and $1,551 a month, rent and utilities included.

Cape Town
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,599
/mo nomad
Kefalonia
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,551
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Kefalonia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,599 per month in Cape Town vs $1,551 in Kefalonia, rent included.

  • Cape Town $1,599
  • Kefalonia $1,551

A couple spends around $2,460 per month in Cape Town vs $2,322 in Kefalonia, rent included.

  • Cape Town $2,460
  • Kefalonia $2,322

A family of three spends $3,320 per month in Cape Town vs $3,092 in Kefalonia, rent included.

  • Cape Town $3,320
  • Kefalonia $3,092

Cape Town costs about 3% more than Kefalonia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Cape Town and Kefalonia sit above the global median – Cape Town by 18%, Kefalonia by 14%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cape Town
Kefalonia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.07 R 199
$14.80 €13.16
-18.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.65 R 769
$38.73 €34.45
20.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.20 R 102
$10.23 €9.10
-39.39%
Cappuccino
$2.50 R 41.13
$3.14 €2.79
-20.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 R 22.28
$3.44 €3.06
-60.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 R 16.47
$0.61 €0.54
63.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 R 50.4
$4.68 €4.16
-34.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 R 60.5
$5.38 €4.79
-31.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cape Town
Kefalonia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 R 21.45
$1.55 €1.38
-16.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 R 20.89
$1.39 €1.24
-8.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 R 35.68
$2.58 €2.30
-15.89%
Eggs
$3.09 R 50.9
$4.69 €4.17
-34.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.98 R 148
$13.39 €11.91
-32.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.99 R 115
$9.56 €8.51
-26.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.67 R 159
$14.16 €12.59
-31.71%
Apples (1kg)
$1.87 R 30.78
$2.18 €1.94
-14.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.93 R 31.72
$2.09 €1.86
-7.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 R 29.13
$1.38 €1.22
28.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 R 35.86
$2.01 €1.79
8.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 R 25.07
$1.12 €0.99
35.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.56 R 25.63
$1.12 €1.00
39.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 R 21.74
$1.09 €0.97
21.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 R 18.97
$0.87 €0.78
32.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.72 R 61.4
$5.26 €4.68
-29.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.01 R 99.0
$6.71 €5.97
-10.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 R 22.13
$2.58 €2.30
-48.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 R 35.11
$2.53 €2.25
-15.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Cape Town
Kefalonia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.55 R 25.53
$1.37 €1.22
13.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$61.3 R 1,010
$45.22 €40.23
35.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.60 R 9.85
$4.20 €3.73
-85.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 R 25.36
$1.11 €0.99
38.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.01 R 82.5
$16.11 €14.33
-68.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.60 R 26.33
$1.99 €1.77
-19.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K R 583.4K
$27.6K €24.6K
28.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K R 570.9K
$25.0K €22.2K
38.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cape Town
Kefalonia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$119 R 1,955
$277 €246
-57.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.42 R 485
$23.48 €20.89
25.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.81 R 656
$30.05 €26.73
32.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cape Town
Kefalonia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.8 R 836
$50.7 €45.08
0.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.93 R 180
$24.90 €22.15
-56.10%
Cinema Ticket
$8.99 R 148
$9.15 €8.14
-1.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cape Town
Kefalonia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$261 R 4,303
$427 €380
-38.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,966 R 114.8K
$7,666 €6,819
-9.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cape Town
Kefalonia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.1 R 925
$88.7 €78.9
-36.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.26 R 548
$40.31 €35.85
-17.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 R 1,999
$93.9 €83.5
29.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 R 1,779
$120 €107
-9.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cape Town
Kefalonia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 R 16.9K
$527 €469
94.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$720 R 11.9K
$420 €374
71.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,835 R 30.2K
$1,093 €972
67.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,360 R 22.4K
$786 €699
73.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,407 R 39.6K
$2,638 €2,347
-8.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,504 R 24.8K
$2,187 €1,946
-31.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cape Town
Kefalonia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,649 R 27.2K
$1,095 €974
50.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.97
4.46
145.96%

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

Last update for Cape Town: October 20, 2026

Last update for Kefalonia: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cape Town
$720
Kefalonia
$420 41.6% $300
Groceries & Markets
Cape Town
$226
Kefalonia
$280 23.7% $54
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cape Town
$188
Kefalonia
$330 75.8% $142
Eating Out
Cape Town
$177
Kefalonia
$237 33.8% $60
Clothing & Footwear
Cape Town
$143
Kefalonia
$154 7.5% $11
Getting Around
Cape Town
$76
Kefalonia
$60 20.2% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Cape Town
$69
Kefalonia
$69 0.3% $0.2

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,028 in Cape Town versus $527 in Kefalonia. 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 51% 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 $47.00 in Cape Town versus $39.00 in Kefalonia. Groceries tell a different story – $226 in Cape Town vs $280 in Kefalonia – so Cape Town wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇿🇦 Cape Town
🇬🇷 Kefalonia
🕒 Local time
17:21 5:21 PM
18:21 6:21 PM
1 h ahead of Cape Town
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,740,026 Capital
36,404
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to ZAR – South African Rand Converter

South African Rand exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 16.48 ZAR (100 ZAR = 6.07 USD). 1 EUR = 18.52 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.4 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cape Town Kefalonia 8,030 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cape Town
  • Kefalonia

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 Kefalonia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cape Town or Kefalonia?
Cape Town costs about 3% more than Kefalonia, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Kefalonia?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,398 per month in Cape Town and $2,326 in Kefalonia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cape Town or Kefalonia?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kefalonia, 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 Kefalonia?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,599 in Cape Town and $1,551 in Kefalonia. That's a gap of about 3%.
How expensive is transport in Cape Town compared to Kefalonia?
Public transport costs about 36% less in Kefalonia. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cape Town or in Kefalonia?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kefalonia, where all-in costs run around $1,551, than in Cape Town at $1,599. In Kefalonia 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 Kefalonia?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kefalonia costs $1,551 versus $1,599 in Cape Town. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Cape Town compared to Kefalonia?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Cape Town or to Kefalonia?
If budget matters most, go with Kefalonia. 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.

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