Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Southampton and Cape Town

For one person, living is cheaper in Cape Town: $1,599 a month against $3,694 in Southampton, rent and utilities included – about $25,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Southampton
🇧🇲 Bermuda
$3,694
/mo nomad
Cape Town
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,599
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,694 per month in Southampton vs $1,599 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Southampton $3,694
  • Cape Town $1,599

A couple spends around $8,281 per month in Southampton vs $2,460 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Southampton $8,281
  • Cape Town $2,460

A family of three spends $12.9K per month in Southampton vs $3,320 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Southampton $12.9K
  • Cape Town $3,320

Southampton costs about 131% more than Cape Town, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Southampton and Cape Town sit above the global median – Southampton by 173%, Cape Town by 18%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Southampton
Cape Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$50.7 BMD 50.7
$12.07 R 199
320.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$151 BMD 151
$46.65 R 769
223.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.82 BMD 16.82
$6.20 R 102
171.29%
Cappuccino
$6.02 BMD 6.02
$2.50 R 41.13
140.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 BMD 2.98
$1.35 R 22.28
120.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 BMD 3.09
$1.00 R 16.47
209.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.55 BMD 7.55
$3.06 R 50.4
146.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.03 BMD 9.03
$3.67 R 60.5
146.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Southampton
Cape Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.79 BMD 4.79
$1.30 R 21.45
268.46%
White Bread (500g)
$7.98 BMD 7.98
$1.27 R 20.89
528.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.45 BMD 5.45
$2.17 R 35.68
151.15%
Eggs
$7.33 BMD 7.33
$3.09 R 50.9
137.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.09 BMD 23.09
$8.98 R 148
157.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$21.09 BMD 21.09
$6.99 R 115
201.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.30 BMD 19.30
$9.67 R 159
99.59%
Apples (1kg)
$8.88 BMD 8.88
$1.87 R 30.78
374.87%
Banana (1kg)
$6.79 BMD 6.79
$1.93 R 31.72
251.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.23 BMD 7.23
$1.77 R 29.13
308.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$8.49 BMD 8.49
$2.18 R 35.86
289.45%
Potato (1kg)
$5.86 BMD 5.86
$1.52 R 25.07
285.53%
Onion (1kg)
$4.13 BMD 4.13
$1.56 R 25.63
164.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$6.39 BMD 6.39
$1.32 R 21.74
384.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.39 BMD 3.39
$1.15 R 18.97
194.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.34 BMD 18.34
$3.72 R 61.4
393.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.79 BMD 23.79
$6.01 R 99.0
295.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.12 BMD 5.12
$1.34 R 22.13
282.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.20 BMD 4.20
$2.13 R 35.11
97.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Southampton
Cape Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.55 R 25.53
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$61.3 R 1,010
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.60 BMD 6.60
$0.60 R 9.85
1000.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.07 BMD 3.07
$1.54 R 25.36
99.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$70.9 BMD 70.9
$5.01 R 82.5
1314.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.10 BMD 2.10
$1.60 R 26.33
31.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K BMD 37.4K
$35.4K R 583.4K
5.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.4K BMD 43.4K
$34.7K R 570.9K
25.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Southampton
Cape Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$288 BMD 288
$119 R 1,955
142.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$148 BMD 148
$29.42 R 485
401.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$162 BMD 162
$39.81 R 656
307.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Southampton
Cape Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$50.8 R 836
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.93 R 180
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.37 BMD 13.37
$8.99 R 148
48.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Southampton
Cape Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,314 BMD 1,314
$261 R 4,303
403.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.9K BMD 24.9K
$6,966 R 114.8K
257.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Southampton
Cape Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.3 BMD 90.3
$56.1 R 925
60.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.2 BMD 70.2
$33.26 R 548
111.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$141 BMD 141
$121 R 1,999
15.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 BMD 131
$108 R 1,779
21.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Southampton
Cape Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,028 R 16.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,503 BMD 1,503
$720 R 11.9K
108.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,835 R 30.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$7,867 BMD 7,867
$1,360 R 22.4K
478.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,407 R 39.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,504 R 24.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Southampton
Cape Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$9,763 BMD 9,763
$1,649 R 27.2K
492.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.63
10.97
-21.33%

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

Last update for Southampton: October 19, 2026

Last update for Cape Town: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Southampton
$1.5K
Cape Town
$720 52.1% $784
Groceries & Markets
Southampton
$742
Cape Town
$226 69.5% $515
Eating Out
Southampton
$608
Cape Town
$177 70.9% $431
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Southampton
$598
Cape Town
$188 68.6% $410
Clothing & Footwear
Southampton
$195
Cape Town
$143 26.3% $51
Sport & Entertainment
Southampton
$27 *
Cape Town
$69 157% $42
Getting Around
Southampton
$22 *
Cape Town
$76 245% $54

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 492% higher in Southampton, 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 $151 in Southampton versus $47.00 in Cape Town. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $742 vs $226 – making Cape Town the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇲 Southampton
🇿🇦 Cape Town
🕒 Local time
23:22 11:22 PM
04:22 4:22 AM
5 h ahead of Southampton
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,260
3,740,026 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, USD, EUR to BMD – Bermudian Dollar Converter

Bermudian Dollar exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 1 BMD (1 BMD = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 BMD (1 BMD = 0.89 EUR).

South African Rand exchange rates as of October 25, 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
  • Southampton Cape Town 11,390 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Southampton
  • 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
Southampton vs Cape Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Southampton or Cape Town?
Southampton costs about 131% 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 Southampton and in Cape Town?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,542 per month in Southampton and $2,398 in Cape Town. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Southampton compared to Cape Town?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,694 in Southampton and $1,599 in Cape Town. That's a gap of about 131%.
How do childcare costs compare in Southampton and in Cape Town?
Kindergarten costs $1,314 per month in Southampton and $261 in Cape Town. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Southampton or in Cape Town?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cape Town, where all-in costs run around $1,599, than in Southampton at $3,694. In Cape Town it covers expenses comfortably, while in Southampton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Southampton or Cape Town?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cape Town costs $1,599 versus $3,694 in Southampton. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Southampton 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 Southampton or to Cape Town?
If budget matters most, go with Cape Town. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Southampton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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