Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montijo and Cape Town

For one person, living is cheaper in Cape Town: $1,586 a month against $1,889 in Montijo, rent and utilities included – about $3,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Montijo outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Montijo
🇵🇹 Portugal
$1,889
/mo nomad
Cape Town
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,586
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,889 per month in Montijo vs $1,586 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Montijo $1,889
  • Cape Town $1,586

A couple spends around $2,635 per month in Montijo vs $2,425 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Montijo $2,635
  • Cape Town $2,425

A family of three spends $3,380 per month in Montijo vs $3,263 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Montijo $3,380
  • Cape Town $3,263

Montijo costs about 19% more than Cape Town, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Montijo and Cape Town sit above the global median – Montijo by 40%, Cape Town by 17%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montijo
Cape Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.33 €10.97
$12.14 R 200
1.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.50 €40.47
$45.34 R 747
0.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.06 €8.06
$5.88 R 96.9
54.08%
Cappuccino
$2.58 €2.29
$2.50 R 41.18
3.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 €1.85
$1.27 R 20.94
63.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 €1.53
$0.98 R 16.14
75.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.38 €3.01
$2.99 R 49.33
13.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99 €3.55
$3.72 R 61.4
7.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montijo
Cape Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 €1.18
$1.30 R 21.40
1.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.14 €1.90
$1.25 R 20.68
71.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.04 €1.81
$2.23 R 36.76
-8.52%
Eggs
$3.38 €3.01
$3.11 R 51.2
8.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.73 €9.55
$9.06 R 149
18.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.95 €6.19
$6.92 R 114
0.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.33 €13.63
$9.30 R 153
64.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.77 €2.46
$1.84 R 30.25
50.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 €1.26
$1.96 R 32.29
-28.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.84 €1.64
$1.67 R 27.45
10.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.84 €2.53
$2.17 R 35.70
30.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.61 €1.43
$1.57 R 25.81
2.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.12 €1.88
$1.48 R 24.45
43.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 €1.44
$1.30 R 21.41
24.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.70
$1.13 R 18.60
-30.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.94 €5.29
$3.60 R 59.3
65.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.76 €6.01
$6.15 R 101
9.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 €0.80
$1.38 R 22.66
-34.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.40
$2.14 R 35.20
-26.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Montijo
Cape Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.17 €1.93
$1.50 R 24.65
44.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.19 €39.31
$60.8 R 1,001
-27.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.20 €1.96
$0.59 R 9.71
272.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 €0.91
$1.50 R 24.65
-32.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.29 €16.27
$5.11 R 84.2
257.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.14 €1.90
$1.55 R 25.50
38.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K €30.3K
$36.2K R 596.5K
-5.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.5K €33.4K
$31.2K R 514.8K
20.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montijo
Cape Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$136 €121
$114 R 1,883
18.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.08 €18.75
$28.91 R 476
-27.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.8 €51.4
$39.73 R 654
45.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montijo
Cape Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.97 €19.54
$49.01 R 808
-55.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.56 €15.62
$10.99 R 181
59.78%
Cinema Ticket
$7.91 €7.04
$9.15 R 151
-13.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montijo
Cape Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$457 €407
$259 R 4,264
76.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K €10.1K
$6,794 R 111.9K
66.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montijo
Cape Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 €58.4
$56.2 R 926
16.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.27 €33.15
$32.41 R 534
15.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.1 €63.2
$121 R 1,987
-41.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.0 €84.5
$108 R 1,781
-12.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montijo
Cape Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,176 €1,046
$1,021 R 16.8K
15.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$999 €889
$717 R 11.8K
39.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,698 €1,510
$1,824 R 30.1K
-6.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,421 €1,264
$1,327 R 21.9K
7.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,064 €2,726
$2,391 R 39.4K
28.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,230 €1,983
$1,542 R 25.4K
44.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montijo
Cape Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,113 €990
$1,639 R 27.0K
-32.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.67
10.97
-66.55%

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

Last update for Montijo: October 10, 2026

Last update for Cape Town: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montijo
$999
Cape Town
$717 28.3% $282
Groceries & Markets
Montijo
$259
Cape Town
$225 13.2% $34
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montijo
$215
Cape Town
$183 14.7% $32
Eating Out
Montijo
$197
Cape Town
$176 10.5% $21
Clothing & Footwear
Montijo
$121
Cape Town
$143 17.9% $22
Getting Around
Montijo
$60
Cape Town
$75 24.4% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Montijo
$38
Cape Town
$67 78.1% $30

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,176 in Montijo 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 47% higher in Cape Town, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Montijo versus $45.00 in Cape Town. Groceries tell a different story – $259 in Montijo vs $225 in Cape Town – so Cape Town wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Montijo
🇿🇦 Cape Town
🕒 Local time
22:49 10:49 PM
23:49 11:49 PM
1 h ahead of Montijo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
55,689
3,740,026 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

South African Rand exchange rates as of October 18, 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
  • Montijo Cape Town 8,560 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montijo
  • 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
Montijo vs Cape Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montijo or Cape Town?
Montijo costs about 19% more than Cape Town, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Montijo and in Cape Town?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,834 per month in Montijo 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, Montijo or Cape Town?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cape Town, 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 Montijo compared to Cape Town?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,889 in Montijo and $1,586 in Cape Town. That's a gap of about 19%.
How expensive is transport in Montijo compared to Cape Town?
Public transport costs about 37% less in Cape Town. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Montijo or in Cape Town?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cape Town, where all-in costs run around $1,586, than in Montijo at $1,889. In Cape Town it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montijo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montijo or Cape Town?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cape Town costs $1,586 versus $1,889 in Montijo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Montijo 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 Montijo or to Cape Town?
If budget matters most, go with Cape Town. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montijo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Montijo vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

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