Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between La Rochelle and Cape Town

For one person, living is cheaper in Cape Town: $1,527 a month against $1,811 in La Rochelle, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

La Rochelle, France
Cape Town, South Africa
La Rochelle
🇫🇷 France
$1,811
/mo nomad
Cape Town
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,527
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,811 per month in La Rochelle vs $1,527 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • La Rochelle $1,811
  • Cape Town $1,527

A couple spends around $2,809 per month in La Rochelle vs $2,417 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • La Rochelle $2,809
  • Cape Town $2,417

A family of three spends $3,808 per month in La Rochelle vs $3,306 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • La Rochelle $3,808
  • Cape Town $3,306

La Rochelle costs about 19% more than Cape Town, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both La Rochelle and Cape Town sit above the global median – La Rochelle by 34%, Cape Town by 13%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Rochelle
Cape Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.50 €20.03
$12.01 R 198
87.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.9 €60.4
$42.92 R 707
58.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.77 €12.26
$6.15 R 101
123.90%
Cappuccino
$3.71 €3.30
$2.37 R 39.04
56.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 €2.56
$1.27 R 20.96
125.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 €1.20
$0.94 R 15.46
43.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.35 €6.54
$2.96 R 48.77
148.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66 €4.15
$3.69 R 60.8
26.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Rochelle
Cape Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 €1.29
$1.32 R 21.73
9.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 €1.68
$1.21 R 19.87
55.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 €1.68
$2.20 R 36.26
-14.09%
Eggs
$4.09 €3.64
$3.10 R 51.1
31.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.33 €17.21
$8.73 R 144
121.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.83 €10.54
$6.89 R 114
71.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.84 €15.89
$9.26 R 153
92.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.91 €2.59
$1.83 R 30.08
59.02%
Banana (1kg)
$2.35 €2.09
$1.95 R 32.12
20.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.84 €2.53
$1.66 R 27.32
71.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.76 €3.35
$2.14 R 35.19
75.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 €1.66
$1.58 R 26.01
18.35%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.78
$1.47 R 24.29
36.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.65 €1.47
$1.35 R 22.18
22.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35 €0.31
$1.14 R 18.85
-69.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.48 €12.90
$3.58 R 59.0
304.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.17 €8.17
$6.05 R 99.7
51.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 €2.14
$1.39 R 22.95
72.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.22
$2.18 R 35.90
14.22%
🚌 Getting Around
La Rochelle
Cape Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.65 €1.47
$1.40 R 23.02
17.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.86 €35.49
$60.8 R 1,001
-34.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.76 €2.45
$0.93 R 15.26
196.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.32 €1.17
$0.90 R 14.83
46.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.93 €26.65
$4.96 R 81.7
503.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.16 €1.93
$1.54 R 25.37
40.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9K €31.9K
$35.4K R 582.8K
1.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K €27.8K
$33.4K R 549.9K
-6.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Rochelle
Cape Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$138 €123
$117 R 1,929
17.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.35 €11.89
$25.71 R 424
-48.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.40 €29.74
$39.41 R 649
-15.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Rochelle
Cape Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.17 €27.75
$51.6 R 850
-39.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.35 R 187
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.81 €7.84
$8.89 R 146
-0.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Rochelle
Cape Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$564 €502
$308 R 5,069
83.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,946 €2,623
$8,141 R 134.2K
-63.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Rochelle
Cape Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 €76.9
$57.4 R 946
50.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.18 €34.89
$31.75 R 523
23.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 €97.2
$116 R 1,911
-5.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147 €131
$101 R 1,660
45.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Rochelle
Cape Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,052 €937
$1,047 R 17.2K
0.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$679 €604
$669 R 11.0K
1.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,550 €1,381
$1,861 R 30.7K
-16.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,204 €1,072
$1,407 R 23.2K
-14.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,547 €5,829
$2,410 R 39.7K
171.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,425 €3,940
$1,570 R 25.9K
181.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Rochelle
Cape Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,342 €2,085
$1,630 R 26.9K
43.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.79
10.89
-65.20%

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

Last update for La Rochelle: 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
La Rochelle
$679
Cape Town
$669 1.4% $9.7
Groceries & Markets
La Rochelle
$342
Cape Town
$223 34.8% $119
Eating Out
La Rochelle
$329
Cape Town
$174 47.1% $155
Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Rochelle
$185
Cape Town
$182 1.3% $2.3
Clothing & Footwear
La Rochelle
$172
Cape Town
$138 19.8% $34
Getting Around
La Rochelle
$56
Cape Town
$72 28.6% $16
Sport & Entertainment
La Rochelle
$49
Cape Town
$69 42.3% $21

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,052 in La Rochelle 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.

Salaries run about 44% higher in La Rochelle. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $68 in La Rochelle versus $43 in Cape Town. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $342 vs $223 – making Cape Town the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇫🇷 La Rochelle
🇿🇦 Cape Town
🕒 Local time
08:57 8:57 AM
09:57 9:57 AM
1 h ahead of La Rochelle
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
78,535
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 = 18.51 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • La Rochelle Cape Town 9,120 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • La Rochelle
  • 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
La Rochelle vs Cape Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, La Rochelle or Cape Town?
La Rochelle costs about 19% more than Cape Town, 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 La Rochelle and in Cape Town?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,716 per month in La Rochelle and $2,291 in Cape Town. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in La Rochelle compared to Cape Town?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,052 in La Rochelle and $1,047 in Cape Town. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How much does it cost to live in La Rochelle compared to Cape Town?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,811 in La Rochelle and $1,527 in Cape Town. That makes Cape Town about 16% cheaper.
How expensive is transport in La Rochelle compared to Cape Town?
Public transport costs about 34% less in La Rochelle. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in La Rochelle or in Cape Town?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,811 in La Rochelle and $1,527 in Cape Town. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: La Rochelle or Cape Town?
It depends on your priorities. Cape Town has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,527 in Cape Town to $1,811 in La Rochelle. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to La Rochelle or to Cape Town?
If budget matters most, go with Cape Town. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, La Rochelle makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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