Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cape Town and Norrkoping

For one person, living is cheaper in Cape Town: $1,527 a month against $1,799 in Norrkoping, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. The total is higher in Norrkoping despite lower rent and utilities.

Cape Town, South Africa
Norrkoping, Sweden
Cape Town
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,527
/mo nomad
Norrkoping
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,799
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $1,527 per month in Cape Town vs $1,799 in Norrkoping, rent included.

  • Cape Town $1,527
  • Norrkoping $1,799

A couple spends around $2,417 per month in Cape Town vs $2,771 in Norrkoping, rent included.

  • Cape Town $2,417
  • Norrkoping $2,771

A family of three spends $3,306 per month in Cape Town vs $3,742 in Norrkoping, rent included.

  • Cape Town $3,306
  • Norrkoping $3,742

Cape Town is about 15% cheaper than Norrkoping, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Cape Town and Norrkoping sit above the global median – Cape Town by 13%, Norrkoping by 33%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cape Town
Norrkoping
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.01 R 198
$13.77 SEK 135
-12.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.92 R 707
$82.7 SEK 811
-48.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.15 R 101
$10.27 SEK 101
-40.12%
Cappuccino
$2.37 R 39.04
$4.97 SEK 48.80
-52.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 R 20.96
$3.07 SEK 30.08
-58.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 R 15.46
$2.44 SEK 23.91
-61.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 R 48.77
$7.82 SEK 76.7
-62.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 R 60.8
$7.99 SEK 78.4
-53.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cape Town
Norrkoping
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 R 21.73
$1.85 SEK 18.16
-28.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.21 R 19.87
$2.90 SEK 28.46
-58.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 R 36.26
$4.37 SEK 42.91
-49.66%
Eggs
$3.10 R 51.1
$3.97 SEK 38.94
-21.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.73 R 144
$10.46 SEK 103
-16.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.89 R 114
$14.86 SEK 146
-53.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.26 R 153
$17.89 SEK 176
-48.24%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 R 30.08
$3.31 SEK 32.48
-44.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 R 32.12
$2.77 SEK 27.18
-29.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 R 27.32
$3.67 SEK 35.98
-54.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 R 35.19
$5.42 SEK 53.2
-60.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.58 R 26.01
$1.48 SEK 14.52
6.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.47 R 24.29
$1.73 SEK 16.95
-15.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 R 22.18
$2.03 SEK 19.88
-33.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 R 18.85
$1.31 SEK 12.86
-12.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.58 R 59.0
$7.56 SEK 74.2
-52.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.05 R 99.7
$10.36 SEK 102
-41.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 R 22.95
$1.93 SEK 18.92
-27.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 R 35.90
$2.05 SEK 20.12
6.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Cape Town
Norrkoping
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 R 23.02
$3.48 SEK 34.12
-59.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.8 R 1,001
$103 SEK 1,010
-40.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.93 R 15.26
$5.67 SEK 55.7
-83.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 R 14.83
$1.37 SEK 13.40
-34.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.96 R 81.7
$63.6 SEK 624
-92.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 R 25.37
$1.78 SEK 17.43
-13.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K R 582.8K
$31.9K SEK 313.2K
10.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K R 549.9K
$32.7K SEK 320.3K
2.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cape Town
Norrkoping
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 R 1,929
$98.7 SEK 968
18.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.71 R 424
$29.45 SEK 289
-12.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.41 R 649
$44.97 SEK 441
-12.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cape Town
Norrkoping
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 R 850
$35.02 SEK 344
47.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.35 R 187
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.89 R 146
$15.50 SEK 152
-42.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cape Town
Norrkoping
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 R 5,069
$129 SEK 1,268
138.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,141 R 134.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cape Town
Norrkoping
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.4 R 946
$70.2 SEK 689
-18.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.75 R 523
$30.29 SEK 297
4.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 R 1,911
$90.5 SEK 888
28.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 R 1,660
$201 SEK 1,974
-49.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cape Town
Norrkoping
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,047 R 17.2K
$692 SEK 6,792
51.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$669 R 11.0K
$595 SEK 5,839
12.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,861 R 30.7K
$1,190 SEK 11.7K
56.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,407 R 23.2K
$902 SEK 8,849
56.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,410 R 39.7K
$4,637 SEK 45.5K
-48.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,570 R 25.9K
$3,413 SEK 33.5K
-54.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cape Town
Norrkoping
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,630 R 26.9K
$3,066 SEK 30.1K
-46.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.89
3.86
182.12%

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

Last update for Cape Town: November 2, 2026

Last update for Norrkoping: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cape Town
$669
Norrkoping
$595 11.1% $74
Groceries & Markets
Cape Town
$223
Norrkoping
$381 70.8% $158
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cape Town
$182
Norrkoping
$173 5% $9.1
Eating Out
Cape Town
$174
Norrkoping
$278 59.6% $104
Clothing & Footwear
Cape Town
$138
Norrkoping
$177 28.3% $39
Getting Around
Cape Town
$72
Norrkoping
$129 80.2% $58
Sport & Entertainment
Cape Town
$69
Norrkoping
$66 4.8% $3.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,047 in Cape Town versus $692 in Norrkoping. 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 88% higher in Norrkoping. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Cape Town versus $83 in Norrkoping. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $381 – making Cape Town the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇿🇦 Cape Town
🇸🇪 Norrkoping
🕒 Local time
06:41 6:41 AM
05:41 5:41 AM
1 h behind Cape Town
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,740,026 Capital
98,088
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 9.81 SEK (1 SEK = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 11.01 SEK (100 SEK = 9.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cape Town Norrkoping 10,290 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cape Town
  • Norrkoping

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 Norrkoping: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cape Town or Norrkoping?
Norrkoping costs about 18% more than Cape Town, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Norrkoping?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,291 per month in Cape Town and $2,699 in Norrkoping. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cape Town or Norrkoping?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Norrkoping, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $692 there versus $1,047 in Cape Town.
How much does it cost to live in Cape Town compared to Norrkoping?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,527 in Cape Town and $1,799 in Norrkoping. That makes Cape Town about 15% cheaper.
How expensive is transport in Cape Town compared to Norrkoping?
Public transport costs about 41% 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 Norrkoping?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,527 in Cape Town and $1,799 in Norrkoping. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cape Town or Norrkoping?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cape Town costs $1,527 versus $1,799 in Norrkoping. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Cape Town or to Norrkoping?
If budget matters most, go with Cape Town. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Norrkoping makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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