Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Yazd and Cape Town

For one person, living is cheaper in Yazd: $560 a month against $1,586 in Cape Town, rent and utilities included – about $12,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Yazd
🇮🇷 Iran
$560
/mo nomad
Cape Town
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,586
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $560 per month in Yazd vs $1,586 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Yazd $560
  • Cape Town $1,586

A couple spends around $869 per month in Yazd vs $2,425 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Yazd $869
  • Cape Town $2,425

A family of three spends $1,177 per month in Yazd vs $3,263 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Yazd $1,177
  • Cape Town $3,263

Yazd is about 65% cheaper than Cape Town, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Yazd sits 58% below the global median, while Cape Town is 17% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yazd
Cape Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.96 $3.96
$12.14 R 200
-67.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.05 $12.05
$45.34 R 747
-73.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.97 $4.97
$5.88 R 96.9
-15.48%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.29 $1.29
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.21 $1.21
$2.50 R 41.18
-51.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 $0.61
$1.27 R 20.94
-51.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 $0.98
$0.98 R 16.14
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.99 R 49.33
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.72 R 61.4
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yazd
Cape Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.68 $0.68
$1.30 R 21.40
-47.69%
White Bread (500g)
$0.49 $0.49
$1.25 R 20.68
-60.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.30 $2.30
$2.23 R 36.76
3.14%
Eggs
$1.19 $1.19
$3.11 R 51.2
-61.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.63 $4.63
$9.06 R 149
-48.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.46 $3.46
$6.92 R 114
-50.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.24 $10.24
$9.30 R 153
10.11%
Apples (1kg)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.84 R 30.25
-26.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.96 R 32.29
-18.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.67 R 27.45
-49.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.60 $0.60
$2.17 R 35.70
-72.35%
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 $0.38
$1.57 R 25.81
-75.80%
Onion (1kg)
$0.28 $0.28
$1.48 R 24.45
-81.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.57 $0.57
$1.30 R 21.41
-56.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.24 $0.24
$1.13 R 18.60
-78.76%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.79 $0.79
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 $0.51
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 $1.37
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52 $2.52
$3.60 R 59.3
-30.00%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$6.15 R 101
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.38 R 22.66
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.14 R 35.20
-
🚌 Getting Around
Yazd
Cape Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.15 $0.15
$1.50 R 24.65
-90.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.88 $9.88
$60.8 R 1,001
-83.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.43 $0.43
$0.59 R 9.71
-27.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 $0.27
$1.50 R 24.65
-82.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.84 $2.84
$5.11 R 84.2
-44.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.09 $0.09
$1.55 R 25.50
-94.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.1K $43.1K
$36.2K R 596.5K
18.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.3K $45.3K
$31.2K R 514.8K
45.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yazd
Cape Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$13.00 $13.00
$114 R 1,883
-88.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.57 $1.57
$28.91 R 476
-94.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$3.66 $3.66
$39.73 R 654
-90.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yazd
Cape Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.82 $18.82
$49.01 R 808
-61.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.04 $14.04
$10.99 R 181
27.75%
Cinema Ticket
$1.95 $1.95
$9.15 R 151
-78.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yazd
Cape Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$109 $109
$259 R 4,264
-57.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,214 $2,214
$6,794 R 111.9K
-67.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yazd
Cape Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.22 $24.22
$56.2 R 926
-56.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.77 $31.77
$32.41 R 534
-1.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 $85.1
$121 R 1,987
-29.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.3 $70.3
$108 R 1,781
-34.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yazd
Cape Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$288 $288
$1,021 R 16.8K
-71.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$227 $227
$717 R 11.8K
-68.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$796 $796
$1,824 R 30.1K
-56.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$380 $380
$1,327 R 21.9K
-71.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,141 $1,141
$2,391 R 39.4K
-52.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$537 $537
$1,542 R 25.4K
-65.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yazd
Cape Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$192 $192
$1,639 R 27.0K
-88.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
24.3
10.97
121.51%

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

Last update for Yazd: October 13, 2026

Last update for Cape Town: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Yazd
$227
Cape Town
$717 215% $490
Groceries & Markets
Yazd
$117
Cape Town
$225 92% $108
Clothing & Footwear
Yazd
$95
Cape Town
$143 50.1% $48
Eating Out
Yazd
$67
Cape Town
$176 161% $109
Sport & Entertainment
Yazd
$23
Cape Town
$67 196% $45
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yazd
$18
Cape Town
$183 904% $165
Getting Around
Yazd
$12
Cape Town
$75 511% $63

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $288 in Yazd 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 751% 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 $12.00 in Yazd versus $45.00 in Cape Town. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $117 vs $225 – making Yazd the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇷 Yazd
🇿🇦 Cape Town
🕒 Local time
03:31 3:31 AM
02:01 2:01 AM
1 h 30 min behind Yazd
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
486,152
3,740,026 Capital
💱 Currency
USD USD
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, EUR to USD – USD Converter

USD exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

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
  • Yazd Cape Town 8,220 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Yazd
  • Cape Town

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Yazd vs Cape Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Yazd or Cape Town?
Cape Town costs about 183% more than Yazd, 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 Yazd and in Cape Town?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $840 per month in Yazd 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, Yazd or Cape Town?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Yazd, 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 Yazd compared to Cape Town?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $560 in Yazd and $1,586 in Cape Town. That's a gap of about 183%.
How expensive is transport in Yazd compared to Cape Town?
Public transport costs about 515% less in Yazd. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Yazd or in Cape Town?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Yazd, where all-in costs run around $560, than in Cape Town at $1,586. In Yazd 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, Yazd or Cape Town?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Yazd costs $560 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 Yazd 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 Yazd or to Cape Town?
If budget matters most, go with Yazd. 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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