Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cape Town and Leoben

For one person, living is cheaper in Cape Town: $1,527 a month against $2,206 in Leoben, rent and utilities included – about $8,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cape Town, South Africa
Leoben, Austria
Cape Town
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,527
/mo nomad
Leoben
🇦🇹 Austria
$2,206
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $1,527 per month in Cape Town vs $2,206 in Leoben, rent included.

  • Cape Town $1,527
  • Leoben $2,206

A couple spends around $2,417 per month in Cape Town vs $3,137 in Leoben, rent included.

  • Cape Town $2,417
  • Leoben $3,137

A family of three spends $3,306 per month in Cape Town vs $4,068 in Leoben, rent included.

  • Cape Town $3,306
  • Leoben $4,068

Cape Town is about 31% cheaper than Leoben, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Cape Town and Leoben sit above the global median – Cape Town by 13%, Leoben by 63%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cape Town
Leoben
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.01 R 198
$17.64 €15.71
-31.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.92 R 707
$55.9 €49.80
-23.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.15 R 101
$12.32 €10.97
-50.08%
Cappuccino
$2.37 R 39.04
$3.72 €3.31
-36.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 R 20.96
$3.39 €3.02
-62.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 R 15.46
$2.22 €1.98
-57.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 R 48.77
$4.81 €4.28
-38.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 R 60.8
$4.81 €4.28
-23.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cape Town
Leoben
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 R 21.73
$1.43 €1.27
-7.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.21 R 19.87
$2.01 €1.79
-39.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 R 36.26
$1.46 €1.30
50.68%
Eggs
$3.10 R 51.1
$4.35 €3.87
-28.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.73 R 144
$11.78 €10.49
-25.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.89 R 114
$12.74 €11.34
-45.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.26 R 153
$23.95 €21.33
-61.34%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 R 30.08
$2.24 €2.00
-18.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 R 32.12
$2.06 €1.84
-5.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 R 27.32
$2.25 €2.00
-26.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 R 35.19
$2.68 €2.38
-20.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.58 R 26.01
$1.77 €1.57
-10.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.47 R 24.29
$1.57 €1.40
-6.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 R 22.18
$1.34 €1.19
0.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 R 18.85
$0.47 €0.42
142.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.58 R 59.0
$7.13 €6.35
-49.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.05 R 99.7
$5.30 €4.72
14.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 R 22.95
$1.29 €1.15
7.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 R 35.90
$0.96 €0.85
127.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Cape Town
Leoben
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 R 23.02
$3.50 €3.12
-60.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.8 R 1,001
$62.4 €55.6
-2.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.93 R 15.26
$4.79 €4.27
-80.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 R 14.83
$2.73 €2.43
-67.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.96 R 81.7
$40.70 €36.24
-87.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 R 25.37
$1.75 €1.56
-12.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K R 582.8K
$29.4K €26.2K
20.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K R 549.9K
$27.6K €24.6K
20.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cape Town
Leoben
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 R 1,929
$411 €366
-71.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.71 R 424
$19.01 €16.93
35.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.41 R 649
$39.47 €35.14
-0.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cape Town
Leoben
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 R 850
$39.78 €35.42
29.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.35 R 187
$23.42 €20.85
-51.54%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89 R 146
$10.99 €9.78
-19.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cape Town
Leoben
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 R 5,069
$104 €92.3
196.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,141 R 134.2K
$8,201 €7,302
-0.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cape Town
Leoben
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.4 R 946
$50.7 €45.17
13.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.75 R 523
$23.82 €21.21
33.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 R 1,911
$86.2 €76.7
34.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 R 1,660
$65.5 €58.3
53.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cape Town
Leoben
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,047 R 17.2K
$992 €883
5.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$669 R 11.0K
$886 €789
-24.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,861 R 30.7K
$1,609 €1,433
15.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,407 R 23.2K
$1,413 €1,258
-0.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,410 R 39.7K
$7,054 €6,281
-65.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,570 R 25.9K
$5,839 €5,199
-73.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cape Town
Leoben
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,630 R 26.9K
$2,687 €2,393
-39.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.89
3.41
219.35%

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

Last update for Cape Town: November 2, 2026

Last update for Leoben: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cape Town
$669
Leoben
$886 32.5% $217
Groceries & Markets
Cape Town
$223
Leoben
$313 40.2% $90
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cape Town
$182
Leoben
$470 158% $288
Eating Out
Cape Town
$174
Leoben
$279 60.2% $105
Clothing & Footwear
Cape Town
$138
Leoben
$102 26% $36
Getting Around
Cape Town
$72
Leoben
$95 32.2% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Cape Town
$69
Leoben
$62 11% $7.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,047 in Cape Town versus $992 in Leoben. 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 65% higher in Leoben. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Cape Town versus $56 in Leoben. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $313 – making Cape Town the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇿🇦 Cape Town
🇦🇹 Leoben
🕒 Local time
05:09 5:09 AM
04:09 4:09 AM
1 h behind Cape Town
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,740,026 Capital
24,645
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD 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 = 18.5 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.41 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 0.89 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cape Town Leoben 9,050 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cape Town
  • Leoben

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 Leoben: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cape Town or Leoben?
Leoben costs about 44% more than Cape Town, 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 Leoben?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,291 per month in Cape Town and $3,309 in Leoben. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cape Town compared to Leoben?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,047 in Cape Town and $992 in Leoben. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How much does it cost to live in Cape Town compared to Leoben?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,527 in Cape Town and $2,206 in Leoben. That makes Cape Town about 31% cheaper.
How expensive is transport in Cape Town compared to Leoben?
Public transport costs about 3% less in Cape Town. 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 Leoben?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,527 in Cape Town and $2,206 in Leoben. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Cape Town or Leoben?
It depends on your priorities. Cape Town has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,527 in Cape Town to $2,206 in Leoben. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Cape Town or to Leoben?
If budget matters most, go with Cape Town. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Leoben makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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