Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Jizan and Cape Town

For one person, living is cheaper in Jizan: $930 a month against $1,586 in Cape Town, rent and utilities included – about $7,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Jizan
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$930
/mo nomad
Cape Town
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,586
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Jizan 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 Jizan and in Cape Town actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $930 per month in Jizan vs $1,586 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Jizan $930
  • Cape Town $1,586

A couple spends around $1,530 per month in Jizan vs $2,425 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Jizan $1,530
  • Cape Town $2,425

A family of three spends $2,131 per month in Jizan vs $3,263 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Jizan $2,131
  • Cape Town $3,263

Jizan is about 41% cheaper than Cape Town, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Jizan sits 31% below the global median, while Cape Town is 17% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jizan
Cape Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.20 SAR 19.53
$12.14 R 200
-57.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.15 SAR 139
$45.34 R 747
-18.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.18 SAR 26.92
$5.88 R 96.9
22.11%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 SAR 6.34
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 SAR 6.91
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.16 SAR 11.88
$2.50 R 41.18
26.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 SAR 2.74
$1.27 R 20.94
-42.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 SAR 1.06
$0.98 R 16.14
-71.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.99 R 49.33
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.72 R 61.4
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jizan
Cape Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 SAR 6.61
$1.30 R 21.40
35.38%
White Bread (500g)
$0.94 SAR 3.53
$1.25 R 20.68
-24.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 SAR 8.40
$2.23 R 36.76
0.45%
Eggs
$2.97 SAR 11.15
$3.11 R 51.2
-4.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.95 SAR 29.82
$9.06 R 149
-12.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.09 SAR 19.08
$6.92 R 114
-26.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.87 SAR 55.8
$9.30 R 153
59.89%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 SAR 6.98
$1.84 R 30.25
1.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 SAR 5.90
$1.96 R 32.29
-19.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 SAR 7.79
$1.67 R 27.45
24.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.43 SAR 5.35
$2.17 R 35.70
-34.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 SAR 4.99
$1.57 R 25.81
-15.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.43 SAR 5.35
$1.48 R 24.45
-3.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 SAR 4.75
$1.30 R 21.41
-2.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 SAR 2.77
$1.13 R 18.60
-34.51%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.57 SAR 5.89
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 SAR 6.84
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 SAR 5.97
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.50 SAR 24.41
$3.60 R 59.3
80.56%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$6.15 R 101
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.38 R 22.66
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.14 R 35.20
-
🚌 Getting Around
Jizan
Cape Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.07 SAR 4.03
$1.50 R 24.65
-28.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.19 SAR 87.0
$60.8 R 1,001
-61.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.71 SAR 10.18
$0.59 R 9.71
359.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.24 SAR 12.15
$1.50 R 24.65
116.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.88 SAR 59.6
$5.11 R 84.2
210.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.61 SAR 2.29
$1.55 R 25.50
-60.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.6K SAR 163.5K
$36.2K R 596.5K
20.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.6K SAR 65.9K
$31.2K R 514.8K
-43.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jizan
Cape Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 SAR 388
$114 R 1,883
-9.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.07 SAR 139
$28.91 R 476
28.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.1 SAR 241
$39.73 R 654
61.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jizan
Cape Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 SAR 370
$49.01 R 808
101.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.70 SAR 141
$10.99 R 181
243.04%
Cinema Ticket
$16.03 SAR 60.1
$9.15 R 151
75.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jizan
Cape Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$199 SAR 749
$259 R 4,264
-22.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,125 SAR 15.5K
$6,794 R 111.9K
-39.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jizan
Cape Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.30 SAR 121
$56.2 R 926
-42.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.8 SAR 205
$32.41 R 534
68.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 SAR 450
$121 R 1,987
-0.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.80 SAR 176
$108 R 1,781
-56.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jizan
Cape Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$262 SAR 982
$1,021 R 16.8K
-74.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$132 SAR 494
$717 R 11.8K
-81.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 SAR 1,783
$1,824 R 30.1K
-73.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$361 SAR 1,353
$1,327 R 21.9K
-72.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$805 SAR 3,019
$2,391 R 39.4K
-66.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,542 R 25.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jizan
Cape Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,614 SAR 6,057
$1,639 R 27.0K
-1.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
10.97
-54.42%

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

Last update for Jizan: October 12, 2026

Last update for Cape Town: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jizan
$205
Cape Town
$183 10.6% $22
Groceries & Markets
Jizan
$197
Cape Town
$225 14.3% $28
Accommodation & Living
Jizan
$132
Cape Town
$717 444% $585
Sport & Entertainment
Jizan
$131
Cape Town
$67 48.5% $63
Clothing & Footwear
Jizan
$114
Cape Town
$143 25% $29
Eating Out
Jizan
$105
Cape Town
$176 67.5% $71
Getting Around
Jizan
$46
Cape Town
$75 61.3% $28

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $262 in Jizan versus $1,021 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 2% higher in Cape Town, 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 $37.00 in Jizan versus $45.00 in Cape Town. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $225 – making Jizan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇦 Jizan
🇿🇦 Cape Town
🕒 Local time
05:52 5:52 AM
04:52 4:52 AM
1 h behind Jizan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,743
3,740,026 Capital
💱 Currency
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, USD, EUR to SAR – Saudi Riyal Converter

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.22 SAR (1 SAR = 0.237 EUR).

South African Rand exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 16.48 ZAR (100 ZAR = 6.07 USD). 1 EUR = 18.52 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Jizan Cape Town 6,200 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Jizan
  • 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
Jizan vs Cape Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jizan or Cape Town?
Cape Town costs about 71% more than Jizan, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 Jizan and in Cape Town?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,394 per month in Jizan and $2,379 in Cape Town. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Jizan or Cape Town?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jizan, 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 Jizan compared to Cape Town?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $930 in Jizan and $1,586 in Cape Town. That's a gap of about 71%.
How expensive is transport in Jizan compared to Cape Town?
Public transport costs about 162% less in Jizan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Jizan or in Cape Town?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Jizan, where all-in costs run around $930, than in Cape Town at $1,586. In Jizan 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, Jizan or Cape Town?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jizan costs $930 versus $1,586 in Cape Town. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Jizan 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 – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Jizan or to Cape Town?
If budget matters most, go with Jizan. 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.

Jizan vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?