πA single person spends $1,009 per month in Jeffreys Bay vs $1,252 in Cape Town, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,537 per month in Jeffreys Bay vs $1,964 in Cape Town, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,065 per month in Jeffreys Bay vs $2,676 in Cape Town, rent included.
πJeffreys Bay is about 19% cheaper than Cape Town, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth Jeffreys Bay and Cape Town are more affordable than the global median β Jeffreys Bay25% lower, Cape Town7% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Jeffreys Bay
Cape Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.76RΒ 93.2
$10.94RΒ 177
-47.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.58RΒ 543
$44.43RΒ 718
-24.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.43RΒ 87.8
$5.16RΒ 83.4
5.23%
Cappuccino
$1.81RΒ 29.23
$1.98RΒ 32.09
-8.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73RΒ 11.73
$1.10RΒ 17.84
-33.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98RΒ 15.92
$0.82RΒ 13.24
19.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.79RΒ 28.94
$2.83RΒ 45.75
-36.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79RΒ 28.99
$2.59RΒ 41.81
-30.89%
π Groceries & Markets
Jeffreys Bay
Cape Town
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08RΒ 17.39
$1.15RΒ 18.64
-6.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.94RΒ 15.14
$1.05RΒ 16.98
-10.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70RΒ 27.54
$1.84RΒ 29.75
-7.61%
Eggs
$2.73RΒ 44.13
$2.46RΒ 39.79
10.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.84RΒ 94.5
$8.50RΒ 137
-31.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.62RΒ 74.7
$5.09RΒ 82.2
-9.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.02RΒ 113
$7.61RΒ 123
-7.75%
Apples(1kg)
$1.91RΒ 30.89
$1.51RΒ 24.46
26.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47RΒ 23.76
$1.47RΒ 23.81
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.48RΒ 23.98
$1.46RΒ 23.54
1.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65RΒ 26.60
$1.51RΒ 24.49
9.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38RΒ 22.30
$1.12RΒ 18.17
23.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20RΒ 19.39
$1.19RΒ 19.17
0.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08RΒ 17.52
$1.09RΒ 17.64
-0.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09RΒ 17.64
$0.93RΒ 15.08
17.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.83RΒ 45.77
$3.13RΒ 50.6
-9.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.68RΒ 59.5
$6.10RΒ 98.6
-39.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41RΒ 22.84
$1.35RΒ 21.78
4.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87RΒ 30.30
$1.73RΒ 28.02
8.09%
π Getting Around
Jeffreys Bay
Cape Town
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.62RΒ 26.16
$0.93RΒ 15.08
74.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$47.64RΒ 770
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14RΒ 18.36
$1.42RΒ 22.93
-19.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.90RΒ 14.53
$0.93RΒ 15.11
-3.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.14RΒ 67.0
$4.36RΒ 70.5
-5.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23RΒ 19.89
$1.23RΒ 19.91
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KRΒ 342.1K
$21.2KRΒ 343.2K
-0.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3KRΒ 392.1K
$24.1KRΒ 389.6K
0.65%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jeffreys Bay
Cape Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138RΒ 2,235
$99.9RΒ 1,615
38.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.1RΒ 907
$33.35RΒ 539
68.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.0RΒ 970
$40.86RΒ 661
46.89%
π Sport & Entertainment
Jeffreys Bay
Cape Town
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.90RΒ 500
$42.50RΒ 687
-27.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.76RΒ 93.2
$7.95RΒ 129
-27.55%
Cinema Ticket
$6.83RΒ 110
$6.87RΒ 111
-0.58%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Jeffreys Bay
Cape Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$130RΒ 2,096
$213RΒ 3,450
-39.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,426RΒ 71.6K
$5,342RΒ 86.4K
-17.15%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Jeffreys Bay
Cape Town
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.7RΒ 820
$56.0RΒ 905
-9.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.25RΒ 521
$32.52RΒ 526
-0.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.0RΒ 1,423
$114RΒ 1,849
-23.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.6RΒ 1,302
$83.5RΒ 1,350
-3.51%
π Accommodation & Living
Jeffreys Bay
Cape Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$369RΒ 5,970
$764RΒ 12.4K
-51.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$328RΒ 5,302
$523RΒ 8,452
-37.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$673RΒ 10.9K
$1,407RΒ 22.7K
-52.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$580RΒ 9,382
$1,025RΒ 16.6K
-43.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$812RΒ 13.1K
$2,343RΒ 37.9K
-65.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$780RΒ 12.6K
$1,488RΒ 24.1K
-47.58%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Jeffreys Bay
Cape Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,641RΒ 26.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.51
11.77
-2.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jeffreys Bay: June 8, 2026
Last update for Cape Town: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $369 in Jeffreys Bay versus $764 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.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Jeffreys Bay versus $44.00 in Cape Town. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $174 vs $187 β making Jeffreys Bay the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Jeffreys Bay vs Cape Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jeffreys Bay or Cape Town?
Cape Town costs about 24% more than Jeffreys Bay, with the gap driven mainly by 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 Jeffreys Bay vs Cape Town?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,513 per month in Jeffreys Bay and $1,878 in Cape Town. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Jeffreys Bay or Cape Town?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jeffreys Bay, 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 Jeffreys Bay compared to Cape Town?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,009 in Jeffreys Bay and $1,252 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 Jeffreys Bay and Cape Town?
Kindergarten costs $130 per month in Jeffreys Bay 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 $1,500/month in Jeffreys Bay or Cape Town?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jeffreys Bay, where all-in costs run around $1,009, than in Cape Town at $1,252. In Jeffreys Bay 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, Jeffreys Bay or Cape Town?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jeffreys Bay costs $1,009 versus $1,252 in Cape Town. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Jeffreys Bay or Cape Town?
If budget matters most, go with Jeffreys Bay. 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.
Jeffreys Bay vs other spots: cost of living compared