πA single person spends $1,031 per month in Durbanville vs $1,280 in Cape Town, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,636 per month in Durbanville vs $2,017 in Cape Town, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,242 per month in Durbanville vs $2,755 in Cape Town, rent included.
πDurbanville is about 19% cheaper than Cape Town, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth Durbanville and Cape Town are more affordable than the global median β Durbanville23% lower, Cape Town5% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Durbanville
Cape Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82RΒ 177
$11.06RΒ 181
-2.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.25RΒ 726
$45.39RΒ 744
-2.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.14RΒ 84.3
$5.09RΒ 83.4
0.98%
Cappuccino
$1.98RΒ 32.49
$2.08RΒ 34.09
-4.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86RΒ 14.13
$1.16RΒ 19.08
-25.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55RΒ 8.95
$0.89RΒ 14.64
-38.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.18RΒ 35.75
$2.84RΒ 46.55
-23.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54RΒ 41.70
$2.45RΒ 40.15
3.67%
π Groceries & Markets
Durbanville
Cape Town
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15RΒ 18.84
$1.10RΒ 17.99
4.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10RΒ 18.06
$1.10RΒ 17.97
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89RΒ 31.06
$1.83RΒ 30.03
3.28%
Eggs
$2.45RΒ 40.18
$2.50RΒ 41.02
-2.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.45RΒ 139
$8.65RΒ 142
-2.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.33RΒ 87.4
$5.06RΒ 83.0
5.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.75RΒ 127
$7.58RΒ 124
2.24%
Apples(1kg)
$1.57RΒ 25.70
$1.57RΒ 25.76
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.42RΒ 23.31
$1.41RΒ 23.18
0.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50RΒ 24.58
$1.50RΒ 24.66
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52RΒ 24.87
$1.53RΒ 25.10
-0.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.09RΒ 17.83
$1.09RΒ 17.80
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.23RΒ 20.12
$1.18RΒ 19.39
4.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04RΒ 17.08
$1.06RΒ 17.38
-1.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00RΒ 16.39
$0.99RΒ 16.19
1.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.15RΒ 51.6
$3.11RΒ 51.0
1.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.22RΒ 102
$6.36RΒ 104
-2.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34RΒ 22.03
$1.37RΒ 22.45
-2.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71RΒ 28.02
$1.75RΒ 28.77
-2.29%
π Getting Around
Durbanville
Cape Town
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.62RΒ 26.52
$0.92RΒ 15.03
76.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$48.28RΒ 792
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41RΒ 23.18
$1.38RΒ 22.59
2.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.93RΒ 15.30
$0.93RΒ 15.26
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.40RΒ 72.1
$4.37RΒ 71.6
0.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26RΒ 20.59
$1.20RΒ 19.68
5.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6KRΒ 354.9K
$21.6KRΒ 354.1K
0.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4KRΒ 399.5K
$24.0KRΒ 393.7K
1.48%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Durbanville
Cape Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$100RΒ 1,640
$101RΒ 1,664
-1.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.32RΒ 530
$32.97RΒ 541
-1.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.02RΒ 673
$40.85RΒ 670
0.42%
π Sport & Entertainment
Durbanville
Cape Town
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.95RΒ 508
$42.59RΒ 698
-27.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$7.89RΒ 129
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.89RΒ 113
$6.62RΒ 109
4.08%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Durbanville
Cape Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$216RΒ 3,541
$213RΒ 3,490
1.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,327RΒ 87.4K
$5,331RΒ 87.4K
-0.08%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Durbanville
Cape Town
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9RΒ 917
$54.6RΒ 896
2.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.69RΒ 536
$33.27RΒ 546
-1.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111RΒ 1,826
$114RΒ 1,878
-2.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.8RΒ 1,390
$84.0RΒ 1,377
0.93%
π Accommodation & Living
Durbanville
Cape Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$367RΒ 6,013
$767RΒ 12.6K
-52.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$339RΒ 5,557
$525RΒ 8,604
-35.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693RΒ 11.4K
$1,440RΒ 23.6K
-51.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$688RΒ 11.3K
$1,008RΒ 16.5K
-31.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$850RΒ 13.9K
$2,240RΒ 36.7K
-62.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$780RΒ 12.8K
$1,451RΒ 23.8K
-46.26%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Durbanville
Cape Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,035RΒ 17.0K
$1,707RΒ 28.0K
-39.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.77
11.77
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Durbanville: April 12, 2026
Last update for Cape Town: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $367 in Durbanville versus $767 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.
π°Salaries run about 65% higher in Cape Town, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $44 in Durbanville versus $45 in Cape Town. Groceries tell a different story β $190 in Durbanville vs $188 in Cape Town β so Cape Town wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Durbanville vs Cape Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Durbanville or Cape Town?
Cape Town costs about 24% more than Durbanville, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 Durbanville vs Cape Town?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Durbanville and $1,919 in Cape Town. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Durbanville or Cape Town?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Durbanville, 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 Durbanville compared to Cape Town?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Durbanville and $1,280 in Cape Town. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Durbanville and Cape Town?
Kindergarten costs $216 per month in Durbanville and $213 in Cape Town. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Durbanville or Cape Town?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Durbanville, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Cape Town at $1,280. In Durbanville 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, Durbanville or Cape Town?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Durbanville costs $1,031 versus $1,280 in Cape Town. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Durbanville compared to Cape Town?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Durbanville or Cape Town?
If budget matters most, go with Durbanville. 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.
Durbanville vs other spots: cost of living compared