Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Safi and Cape Town

For one person, living is cheaper in Safi: $585 a month against $1,586 in Cape Town, rent and utilities included – about $12,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Safi
🇲🇦 Morocco
$585
/mo nomad
Cape Town
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,586
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $585 per month in Safi vs $1,586 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Safi $585
  • Cape Town $1,586

A couple spends around $917 per month in Safi vs $2,425 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Safi $917
  • Cape Town $2,425

A family of three spends $1,250 per month in Safi vs $3,263 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Safi $1,250
  • Cape Town $3,263

Safi is about 63% cheaper than Cape Town, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Safi sits 57% below the global median, while Cape Town is 17% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Safi
Cape Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.04 MAD 29.65
$12.14 R 200
-74.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.72 MAD 202
$45.34 R 747
-54.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.55 MAD 44.41
$5.88 R 96.9
-22.62%
Cappuccino
$1.54 MAD 15.00
$2.50 R 41.18
-38.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 MAD 5.23
$1.27 R 20.94
-57.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 MAD 3.28
$0.98 R 16.14
-65.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.52 MAD 14.82
$2.99 R 49.33
-49.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 MAD 14.80
$3.72 R 61.4
-59.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Safi
Cape Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 MAD 7.95
$1.30 R 21.40
-36.92%
White Bread (500g)
$0.47 MAD 4.55
$1.25 R 20.68
-62.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 MAD 14.96
$2.23 R 36.76
-31.39%
Eggs
$1.73 MAD 16.84
$3.11 R 51.2
-44.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.87 MAD 67.0
$9.06 R 149
-24.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.85 MAD 66.8
$6.92 R 114
-1.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 MAD 87.6
$9.30 R 153
-3.44%
Apples (1kg)
$1.15 MAD 11.20
$1.84 R 30.25
-37.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 MAD 11.34
$1.96 R 32.29
-40.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.82 MAD 7.96
$1.67 R 27.45
-50.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.67 MAD 6.52
$2.17 R 35.70
-69.12%
Potato (1kg)
$0.61 MAD 5.91
$1.57 R 25.81
-61.15%
Onion (1kg)
$0.80 MAD 7.84
$1.48 R 24.45
-45.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.40 MAD 3.92
$1.30 R 21.41
-69.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 MAD 5.51
$1.13 R 18.60
-49.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.72 MAD 36.26
$3.60 R 59.3
3.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.35 MAD 71.6
$6.15 R 101
19.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 MAD 18.09
$1.38 R 22.66
34.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 MAD 17.33
$2.14 R 35.20
-16.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Safi
Cape Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 MAD 4.30
$1.50 R 24.65
-70.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.48 MAD 102
$60.8 R 1,001
-82.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.71 MAD 6.93
$0.59 R 9.71
20.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.55 MAD 5.32
$1.50 R 24.65
-63.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.02 MAD 58.7
$5.11 R 84.2
17.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 MAD 14.17
$1.55 R 25.50
-6.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K MAD 305.7K
$36.2K R 596.5K
-13.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K MAD 298.3K
$31.2K R 514.8K
-2.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Safi
Cape Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.89 MAD 350
$114 R 1,883
-68.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.31 MAD 100
$28.91 R 476
-64.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.94 MAD 331
$39.73 R 654
-14.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Safi
Cape Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.83 MAD 184
$49.01 R 808
-61.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.27 MAD 51.3
$10.99 R 181
-52.05%
Cinema Ticket
$3.54 MAD 34.55
$9.15 R 151
-61.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Safi
Cape Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$97.5 MAD 950
$259 R 4,264
-62.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,667 MAD 35.8K
$6,794 R 111.9K
-46.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Safi
Cape Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.69 MAD 387
$56.2 R 926
-29.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.43 MAD 326
$32.41 R 534
3.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.5 MAD 911
$121 R 1,987
-22.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.63 MAD 357
$108 R 1,781
-66.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Safi
Cape Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$279 MAD 2,718
$1,021 R 16.8K
-72.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$135 MAD 1,319
$717 R 11.8K
-81.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$466 MAD 4,548
$1,824 R 30.1K
-74.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$246 MAD 2,395
$1,327 R 21.9K
-81.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$892 MAD 8,693
$2,391 R 39.4K
-62.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$560 MAD 5,458
$1,542 R 25.4K
-63.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Safi
Cape Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$443 MAD 4,318
$1,639 R 27.0K
-72.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.55
10.97
-58.52%

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

Last update for Safi: October 13, 2026

Last update for Cape Town: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Safi
$166
Cape Town
$225 35.2% $59
Accommodation & Living
Safi
$135
Cape Town
$717 430% $582
Clothing & Footwear
Safi
$91
Cape Town
$143 56.1% $51
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Safi
$80
Cape Town
$183 128% $103
Eating Out
Safi
$71
Cape Town
$176 150% $106
Sport & Entertainment
Safi
$26
Cape Town
$67 160% $41
Getting Around
Safi
$16
Cape Town
$75 377% $59

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $279 in Safi 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 270% 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 $21.00 in Safi versus $45.00 in Cape Town. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $225 – making Safi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇦 Safi
🇿🇦 Cape Town
🕒 Local time
08:38 8:38 AM
09:38 9:38 AM
1 h ahead of Safi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
323,888
3,740,026 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, USD, EUR to MAD – Moroccan Dirham Converter

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 9.75 MAD (1 MAD = 0.103 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 MAD (100 MAD = 9.12 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
  • Safi Cape Town 7,910 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Safi
  • 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
Safi vs Cape Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Safi or Cape Town?
Cape Town costs about 171% more than Safi, 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 Safi and in Cape Town?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $878 per month in Safi 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, Safi or Cape Town?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Safi, 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 Safi compared to Cape Town?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $585 in Safi and $1,586 in Cape Town. That's a gap of about 171%.
How expensive is transport in Safi compared to Cape Town?
Public transport costs about 480% less in Safi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Safi or in Cape Town?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Safi, where all-in costs run around $585, than in Cape Town at $1,586. In Safi 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, Safi or Cape Town?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Safi costs $585 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 Safi 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 Safi or to Cape Town?
If budget matters most, go with Safi. 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.

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