Cape Town, South Africa

Cost of Living in Cape Town, South Africa

Quick answer: As of 2026, living in Cape Town costs approximately $1,412 per month for one person including rent. That is 13% below the $1,620 global median across the 340 cities in the Voyica Cost of Living Index 2026. Against its own region, where the median is $861, Cape Town is on the more expensive side for Africa. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $1,014 per month, or $674 outside the centre. Housing therefore accounts for about 48% of a single person's total monthly cost here. A family of four should budget around $2,653 per month excluding rent. Day to day, an inexpensive restaurant meal runs about $12.45 and a monthly transit pass $62. For anyone weighing a longer stay, median internet speed is 48 Mbps and Cape Town scores 38/100 on safety (below average on safety). Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighbourhood, and exchange rates; figures come from crowd-sourced price data last refreshed June 2026. See the full Cost of Living Index →

Cape Town is a city in South Africa, where a single person can expect to spend about $1,412 per month including rent, food, and local transport. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $1,014 per month, or $674 outside the centre. Internet is workable at around 48 Mbps median download speed. On safety, Cape Town scores 38/100 — below average on safety for residents and visitors. Expect summer highs near 76°F and winter highs around 61°F, with roughly 279 sunny days a year.

Top for SurfTop for Party BeachTop for CoworkingTop for MountainTop for National ParkTop for WildlifeTop for RunningTop for Rooftop BarTop for Pub SceneTop for Art SceneTop for Green SpacesTop for HikingLGBTQ+ friendlyFamily friendlySafe tap waterMajor airport hub
Monthly Cost$1,412≈ $47/day
1BR Rent (Centre)$1,014
Internet48 Mbps
Safety38/100
Avg Temp69°F

Cape Town Cost of Living Breakdown

🍽️ Dining

Inexpensive Restaurant$12.45
Mid-Range Restaurant (2 People)$49.78
McDonald's Combo Meal$5.66
Cappuccino$2.43
Domestic Beer (Restaurant)$3.11
Bottled Water (Restaurant)$1.06

🛒 Groceries

Milk (1 Liter)$1.34
Bread (1 lb Loaf)$1.10
Eggs (12)$2.93
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)$2.78
Apples (1 lb)$0.83
Bananas (1 lb)$0.82
Tomatoes (1 lb)$0.87
Potatoes (1 lb)$0.72
Water (1.5L Bottle)$1.17
Wine (Mid-Range Bottle)$6.53
Cigarettes (Marlboro)$3.42

🚌 Transportation

One-Way Ticket$1.15
Monthly Transit Pass$62.23
Taxi Start$1.24
Taxi (1 Mile)$1.65
Gasoline (1 Liter)$1.34
VW Golf (New)$36,652.15

⚡ Utilities & Tech

Basic Utilities (Monthly)$135.55
Mobile Phone Plan$35.31
Broadband Internet$38.73

🎬 Lifestyle

Gym Membership (Monthly)$48.90
Cinema Ticket$8.56
Preschool (Monthly)$274.05
Intl. Primary School (Annual)$5,297.96

👔 Clothing

Jeans (Levi's 501)$59.31
Nike Running Shoes$125.87

🏠 Housing

Rent 1BR (City Centre)$1,014.14
Rent 1BR (Outside Centre)$674.37
Rent 3BR (City Centre)$1,735.79
Rent 3BR (Outside Centre)$1,269.89
Buy Price/sqft (Centre)$200.39
Buy Price/sqft (Outside)$139.64

📊 Summary

Avg Monthly Net Salary$1,706.61
Mortgage Interest Rate11.27%
Family of 4 (Monthly, excl. rent)$2,653.40
Single Person (Monthly, excl. rent)$737.70

Lifestyle & Quality of Life in Cape Town

Internet48 Mbps
Safety38/100
Healthcare69/100
Public Transit35/100
Walkability35/100
Nightlife47/100
Food Scene75/100
Fine Dining10/100
Coffee Culture75/100
Air Quality69/100
Green Spaces80/100
Culture55/100
Beaches75/100
Hiking82/100
Surfing75/100
Coworking Spaces35
US Visa-Free90 days

How Cape Town Ranks Among 340 Cities

Of the 340 cities Voyica tracks, Cape Town is cheaper than 55% of them, but sits in the bottom 14% for internet speed.

MetricCape TownWorld rankRank in Africa
Monthly cost$1,412#151 of 340#19 of 20
Safety38/100#291 of 340#17 of 20
Healthcare69/100#170 of 340#1 of 20
Internet speed48 Mbps#294 of 340#8 of 20
Walkability35/100#281 of 340#13 of 20
Public transit35/100#172 of 340#3 of 20
Food scene75/100#156 of 340#4 of 20
Air quality69/100#280 of 340#13 of 20

Rank 1 = most affordable, safest, and so on. Computed across every city in Voyica's dataset (June 2026 snapshot); ties share a rank.

Cheaper Alternatives to Cape Town

Cities with a similar mix of safety, food, culture, walkability and climate that cost at least 15% less per month than Cape Town.

Neighborhoods in Cape Town

Camps Bay · Woodstock · De Waterkant · Bo-Kaap · Green Point

Communities & Expat Groups

Cape Town Digital Nomads

Cape Town FAQ

How much does it cost to live in Cape Town?

A single person should budget around $1,412 per month in Cape Town, covering rent, groceries, transport, and basic lifestyle costs. A family of four typically needs about $2,653 per month excluding rent.

How much is rent in Cape Town?

A one-bedroom apartment in central Cape Town averages $1,014 per month, dropping to about $674 outside the centre. A three-bedroom in the centre runs about $1,736.

Is Cape Town safe?

Cape Town scores 38/100 on safety, which is below average on safety. Tourist safety is rated 35/100.

How fast is the internet in Cape Town?

Median download speeds in Cape Town are around 48 Mbps — workable for remote work and video calls. There are roughly 35 coworking spaces in the city.

Does South Africa offer a digital nomad visa?

South Africa does not currently offer a dedicated digital nomad visa. US passport holders can usually stay 90 days visa-free.

What is the weather like in Cape Town?

Cape Town sees summer highs around 76°F and winter highs near 61°F, with about 279 mostly sunny days a year and at least 1 mm of rain on about 67 days.

Cape Town in our travel guides

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