Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cayenne and Cape Town

For one person, living is cheaper in Cape Town: $1,527 a month against $2,353 in Cayenne, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Cayenne, French Guiana
Cape Town, South Africa
Cayenne
🇬🇫 French Guiana
$2,353
/mo nomad
Cape Town
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,527
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $2,353 per month in Cayenne vs $1,527 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Cayenne $2,353
  • Cape Town $1,527

A couple spends around $3,829 per month in Cayenne vs $2,417 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Cayenne $3,829
  • Cape Town $2,417

A family of three spends $5,305 per month in Cayenne vs $3,306 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Cayenne $5,305
  • Cape Town $3,306

Cayenne costs about 54% more than Cape Town, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Cayenne and Cape Town sit above the global median – Cayenne by 74%, Cape Town by 13%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cayenne
Cape Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.08 €11.65
$12.01 R 198
8.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$111 €99.2
$42.92 R 707
159.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 €9.49
$6.15 R 101
73.17%
Cappuccino
$3.98 €3.55
$2.37 R 39.04
67.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 €3.10
$1.27 R 20.96
174.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 €2.66
$0.94 R 15.46
218.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.93 €3.50
$2.96 R 48.77
32.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 €3.90
$3.69 R 60.8
18.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cayenne
Cape Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.95 €3.52
$1.32 R 21.73
199.24%
White Bread (500g)
$4.99 €4.44
$1.21 R 19.87
312.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.00 €2.67
$2.20 R 36.26
36.36%
Eggs
$7.33 €6.53
$3.10 R 51.1
136.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$30.25 €26.94
$8.73 R 144
246.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.32 €14.53
$6.89 R 114
136.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$29.83 €26.56
$9.26 R 153
222.14%
Apples (1kg)
$4.80 €4.27
$1.83 R 30.08
162.30%
Banana (1kg)
$4.34 €3.87
$1.95 R 32.12
122.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.32 €4.73
$1.66 R 27.32
220.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$9.77 €8.70
$2.14 R 35.19
356.54%
Potato (1kg)
$4.70 €4.18
$1.58 R 26.01
197.47%
Onion (1kg)
$5.68 €5.05
$1.47 R 24.29
286.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.98 €3.54
$1.35 R 22.18
194.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 €1.69
$1.14 R 18.85
66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.31 €8.29
$3.58 R 59.0
160.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.74 €9.56
$6.05 R 99.7
77.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.89 €2.58
$1.39 R 22.95
107.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 €1.02
$2.18 R 35.90
-47.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Cayenne
Cape Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.18 €1.94
$1.40 R 23.02
55.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.96 €30.24
$60.8 R 1,001
-44.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.72 €5.09
$0.93 R 15.26
515.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.06 €3.62
$0.90 R 14.83
351.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.86 €7.00
$4.96 R 81.7
58.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.22 €1.97
$1.54 R 25.37
44.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.8K €39.9K
$35.4K R 582.8K
26.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.5K €40.5K
$33.4K R 549.9K
36.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cayenne
Cape Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 €195
$117 R 1,929
86.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.82 €39.02
$25.71 R 424
70.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.0 €60.5
$39.41 R 649
72.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cayenne
Cape Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.53 €31.64
$51.6 R 850
-31.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.48 €25.36
$11.35 R 187
150.93%
Cinema Ticket
$9.45 €8.41
$8.89 R 146
6.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cayenne
Cape Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$676 €602
$308 R 5,069
119.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K €9,251
$8,141 R 134.2K
27.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cayenne
Cape Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.4 €88.5
$57.4 R 946
73.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.3 €59.1
$31.75 R 523
108.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$128 €114
$116 R 1,911
10.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.7 €87.9
$101 R 1,660
-2.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cayenne
Cape Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$946 €842
$1,047 R 17.2K
-9.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$869 €774
$669 R 11.0K
29.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,800 €1,603
$1,861 R 30.7K
-3.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,767 €1,574
$1,407 R 23.2K
25.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,065 €2,729
$2,410 R 39.7K
27.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,448 €3,070
$1,570 R 25.9K
119.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cayenne
Cape Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,192 €1,952
$1,630 R 26.9K
34.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.5
10.89
-58.68%

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

Last update for Cayenne: November 2, 2026

Last update for Cape Town: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cayenne
$869
Cape Town
$669 23% $200
Groceries & Markets
Cayenne
$615
Cape Town
$223 63.7% $392
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cayenne
$331
Cape Town
$182 44.9% $148
Eating Out
Cayenne
$239
Cape Town
$174 27.1% $65
Clothing & Footwear
Cayenne
$176
Cape Town
$138 22% $39
Getting Around
Cayenne
$69
Cape Town
$72 4.4% $3.1
Sport & Entertainment
Cayenne
$54
Cape Town
$69 27.5% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $946 in Cayenne versus $1,047 in Cape Town. 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 34% higher in Cayenne, 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 $111 in Cayenne versus $43 in Cape Town. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $615 vs $223 – making Cape Town the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇬🇫 Cayenne
🇿🇦 Cape Town
🕒 Local time
22:29 10:29 PM
03:29 3:29 AM
5 h ahead of Cayenne
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
65,493 Capital
3,740,026 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

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

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cayenne Cape Town 8,560 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cayenne
  • Cape Town

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
Cayenne vs Cape Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cayenne or Cape Town?
Cayenne costs about 54% 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 Cayenne and in Cape Town?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,530 per month in Cayenne and $2,291 in Cape Town. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cayenne or Cape Town?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cayenne, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $946 there versus $1,047 in Cape Town.
How much does it cost to live in Cayenne compared to Cape Town?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,353 in Cayenne and $1,527 in Cape Town. That makes Cape Town about 35% cheaper.
How expensive is transport in Cayenne compared to Cape Town?
Public transport costs about 44% less in Cayenne. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cayenne or in Cape Town?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,353 in Cayenne and $1,527 in Cape Town. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Cayenne or Cape Town?
It depends on your priorities. Cape Town has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,527 in Cape Town to $2,353 in Cayenne. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Cayenne or to Cape Town?
If budget matters most, go with Cape Town. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cayenne makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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