Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kourou and Cape Town

For one person, living is cheaper in Kourou: $174 a month against $1,527 in Cape Town, rent and utilities included – about $16,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kourou, French Guiana
Cape Town, South Africa
Kourou
🇬🇫 French Guiana
$174
/mo nomad
Cape Town
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,527
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $174 per month in Kourou vs $1,527 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Kourou $174
  • Cape Town $1,527

A couple spends around $303 per month in Kourou vs $2,417 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Kourou $303
  • Cape Town $2,417

A family of three spends $432 per month in Kourou vs $3,306 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Kourou $432
  • Cape Town $3,306

Kourou is about 89% cheaper than Cape Town, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Kourou sits 87% below the global median, while Cape Town is 13% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kourou
Cape Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$12.01 R 198
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$42.92 R 707
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$6.15 R 101
-
Cappuccino
-
$2.37 R 39.04
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.27 R 20.96
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.94 R 15.46
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.96 R 48.77
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.69 R 60.8
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kourou
Cape Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.32 R 21.73
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.00 €1.78
$1.21 R 19.87
65.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$2.20 R 36.26
-
Eggs
$6.61 €5.89
$3.10 R 51.1
113.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$8.73 R 144
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$6.89 R 114
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$9.26 R 153
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.32 €3.84
$1.83 R 30.08
136.07%
Banana (1kg)
$2.27 €2.02
$1.95 R 32.12
16.41%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.66 R 27.32
-
Tomato (1kg)
$7.77 €6.92
$2.14 R 35.19
263.08%
Potato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.16
$1.58 R 26.01
53.80%
Onion (1kg)
$6.90 €6.14
$1.47 R 24.29
369.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 €1.98
$1.35 R 22.18
64.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 €1.72
$1.14 R 18.85
70.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.58 R 59.0
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$6.05 R 99.7
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.39 R 22.95
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.18 R 35.90
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kourou
Cape Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.40 R 23.02
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$60.8 R 1,001
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$0.93 R 15.26
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.90 R 14.83
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.96 R 81.7
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.54 R 25.37
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$35.4K R 582.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$33.4K R 549.9K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kourou
Cape Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$117 R 1,929
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$25.71 R 424
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$39.41 R 649
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kourou
Cape Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$51.6 R 850
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.35 R 187
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$8.89 R 146
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kourou
Cape Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$308 R 5,069
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$8,141 R 134.2K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kourou
Cape Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$57.4 R 946
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$31.75 R 523
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$116 R 1,911
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$101 R 1,660
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kourou
Cape Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,422 €1,266
$1,047 R 17.2K
35.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$669 R 11.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,861 R 30.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,407 R 23.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,410 R 39.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,570 R 25.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kourou
Cape Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,630 R 26.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
10.89
-

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

Last update for Kourou: November 1, 2026

Last update for Cape Town: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kourou
–
Cape Town
$669
Groceries & Markets
Kourou
–
Cape Town
$223
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kourou
–
Cape Town
$182
Eating Out
Kourou
–
Cape Town
$174
Clothing & Footwear
Kourou
–
Cape Town
$138
Getting Around
Kourou
–
Cape Town
$72
Sport & Entertainment
Kourou
–
Cape Town
$69

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,422 in Kourou 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.

Good to know
🇬🇫 Kourou
🇿🇦 Cape Town
🕒 Local time
01:41 1:41 AM
06:41 6:41 AM
5 h ahead of Kourou
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
24,903
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
  • Kourou Cape Town 8,610 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kourou
  • 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
Kourou vs Cape Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kourou or Cape Town?
Cape Town costs about 779% more than Kourou, 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 Kourou and in Cape Town?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $261 per month in Kourou 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, Kourou or Cape Town?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cape Town, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,047 there versus $1,422 in Kourou.
How much does it cost to live in Kourou compared to Cape Town?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $174 in Kourou and $1,527 in Cape Town. That makes Kourou about 89% cheaper.
Are groceries more expensive in Kourou or in Cape Town?
Groceries cost about 29% more in Cape Town, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Kourou or in Cape Town?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Kourou, where all-in costs run around $174, than in Cape Town at $1,527. In Kourou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cape Town it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Kourou or Cape Town?
It depends on your priorities. Cape Town has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $174 in Kourou to $1,527 in Cape Town. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Kourou vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

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