Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the Central African Republic and Cape Town

For one person, living is cheaper in the Central African Republic: $418 a month against $1,568 in Cape Town, rent and utilities included – about $13,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Cape Town
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Cape Town Living Index

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🇨🇫 Central African Republic

$418

/mo nomad

Cape Town

🇿🇦 South Africa

$1,568

/mo nomad

🙂 Solo nomad: The Central African Republic is 44.8% cheaper than Cape Town without rent, and 73.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: The Central African Republic is 42.7% cheaper than Cape Town without rent, and 71.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.78 R 194

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.55 R 768

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.96 R 98.4

Cappuccino

$2.47 R 40.80

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 R 21.91

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 FCFA 1,029

$1.03 R 16.99

70.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 FCFA 2,050

$3.01 R 49.72

16.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.01 FCFA 2,932

$3.66 R 60.4

36.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$5.18 FCFA 3,031

$1.39 R 22.96

272.66%

White Bread (500g)

$4.36 FCFA 2,550

$1.19 R 19.60

266.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.17 FCFA 2,437

$2.11 R 34.84

97.63%

Eggs

$5.09 FCFA 2,975

$3.01 R 49.58

69.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.46 FCFA 4,948

$8.96 R 148

-5.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.68 FCFA 5,079

$6.65 R 110

30.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.52 FCFA 2,059

$9.29 R 153

-62.11%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 R 30.13

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 R 31.31

Oranges (1kg)

$7.02 FCFA 4,109

$1.75 R 28.83

301.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.24 FCFA 3,065

$2.09 R 34.41

150.72%

Potato (1kg)

$4.37 FCFA 2,554

$1.55 R 25.64

181.94%

Onion (1kg)

$6.00 FCFA 3,511

$1.49 R 24.53

302.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.55 FCFA 1,495

$1.30 R 21.41

96.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 FCFA 1,519

$1.16 R 19.19

124.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.18 FCFA 2,446

$3.71 R 61.2

12.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 FCFA 6,788

$6.06 R 100

91.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.87 FCFA 3,435

$1.39 R 22.85

322.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 FCFA 2,537

$2.20 R 36.32

97.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.51 R 24.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.0 R 1,006

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.63 R 10.33

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 R 25.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.81 R 79.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.52 FCFA 1,474

$1.58 R 26.08

59.49%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.5K R 585.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.7K R 523.8K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$116 R 1,920

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$28.37 R 468

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.69 R 671

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.85 R 806

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.13 R 184

Cinema Ticket

$8.83 R 146

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$261 R 4,314

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,702 R 110.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 R 914

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.27 R 532

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 R 1,939

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 R 1,766

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,387 FCFA 811.4K

$1,015 R 16.7K

36.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$715 R 11.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,801 R 29.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,330 R 22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,389 FCFA 812.7K

$2,331 R 38.5K

-40.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,656 FCFA 968.8K

$1,513 R 25.0K

9.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$841 FCFA 492.1K

$1,636 R 27.0K

-48.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.97

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

Last update for the Central African Republic: October 4, 2026

Last update for Cape Town: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Central African Republic

–

Cape Town

$715 45.3%

Groceries & Markets

Central African Republic

–

Cape Town

$222 14.1%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Central African Republic

–

Cape Town

$185 11.7%

Eating Out

Central African Republic

–

Cape Town

$174 11%

Clothing & Footwear

Central African Republic

–

Cape Town

$141 8.9%

Getting Around

Central African Republic

–

Cape Town

$75 4.8%

Sport & Entertainment

Central African Republic

–

Cape Town

$67 4.2%

Good to know

🇨🇫 Central African Republic

🇿🇦 Cape Town

🕒 Local time

08:47 8:47 AM

09:47 9:47 AM

1 h ahead of the Central African Republic

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

5,152,421

3,740,026 Capital

💱 Currency

Central African CFA Franc XAF Fr

South African Rand ZAR R

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 XAF = 1.71 USD

1,000 XAF = 1.52 EUR

100 ZAR = 6.06 USD

100 ZAR = 5.4 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, USD, EUR to XAF – Central African CFA Franc Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🌐 Central African CFA Franc (Fr)

Central African CFA Franc exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 585 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.71 USD). 1 EUR = 656 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.52 EUR).

South African Rand exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 16.5 ZAR (100 ZAR = 6.06 USD). 1 EUR = 18.5 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.4 EUR).

USD to XAF in detail →

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