🇿🇦Cost of Living in Cape Town

South Africa · Population: 4,620,000 · Cost Index: 32/100

Cost of Living in Cape Town

South Africa · Africa

Nestled beneath the iconic Table Mountain, Cape Town is one of the most visually stunning cities on Earth. Its affordable lifestyle, world-class wine regions, and vibrant creative scene make it a top destination for remote workers and retirees.

4,620,000

Population

Cost Index

Safety Index

Quality of Life

Average Monthly Cost: $1,350 (single person, excluding rent)

Estimated monthly budget in Cape Town

Typical total monthly cost by household type.

Single person

$1,350

per month

Couple

$2,030

per month

Family of 4

$2,840

per month

Student

$1,010

per month

Estimates based on the average cost of living in Cape Town, scaled by household size. Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighbourhood and housing.

Cost Breakdown

Housing

Avg: $737.50

1-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)

$600.00

1-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)

$400.00

3-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)

$1,200.00

3-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)

$750.00

Food & Groceries

Avg: $5.35

Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant(per meal)

$6.00

Meal for 2 at Mid-Range Restaurant(per meal)

$30.00

McMeal at McDonald's(per meal)

$5.00

Milk (1 liter)(per liter)

$1.00

Bread (500g loaf)(per loaf)

$0.90

Rice (1 kg)(per kg)

$1.20

Eggs (12)(per dozen)

$2.30

Chicken Breast (1 kg)(per kg)

$4.50

Apples (1 kg)(per kg)

$1.50

Banana (1 kg)(per kg)

$1.10

Transportation

Avg: $9.74

Monthly Public Transit Pass(per month)

$45.00

One-Way Ticket (Local Transport)(per trip)

$0.80

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)(base fare)

$1.00

Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)(per km)

$0.70

Gasoline (1 liter)(per liter)

$1.20

Utilities

Avg: $48.33

Basic Utilities (85m² Apt)(per month)

$90.00

Mobile Phone Plan(per month)

$20.00

Internet (60 Mbps+)(per month)

$35.00

Healthcare

Avg: $25.00

Doctor Visit(per visit)

$35.00

Dentist Visit(per visit)

$30.00

Prescription Medicine (avg)(per prescription)

$10.00

Entertainment

Avg: $10.05

Fitness Club Monthly(per month)

$30.00

Cinema Ticket(per ticket)

$5.50

Cappuccino(per cup)

$2.20

Beer (0.5l) at Restaurant(per glass)

$2.50

Clothing

Avg: $48.67

Pair of Jeans (Levi's)(per pair)

$48.00

Summer Dress (Chain Store)(per item)

$28.00

Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas)(per pair)

$70.00

Popular Cape Town comparisons

Cape Town vs Johannesburg Cape Town vs Durban Cape Town vs Pretoria Cape Town vs New York Cape Town vs London Cape Town vs Tokyo Cape Town vs Singapore Cape Town vs Dubai

Frequently asked questions about Cape Town

Is Cape Town expensive to live in?

Cape Town has a cost of living index of 32 out of 100, where New York City scores 100. This makes it one of the more affordable cities we track.

How much money do you need to live in Cape Town?

A single person needs an estimated $1,350 per month to live in Cape Town, covering rent, food, transport and other essentials. A family or a more comfortable lifestyle will cost more.

What is the cost of living index in Cape Town?

Cape Town's cost of living index is 32 out of 100. The index is relative to New York City (100), so a score of 50 means overall costs are roughly half those of New York.

What is quality of life like in Cape Town?

Cape Town scores 50 out of 100 for quality of life and 35 out of 100 for safety in our index.

Data & sources

As an independent cross-check, the World Bank puts the overall price level in South Africa at 42 relative to the United States (=100) in 2024. View source

Cost figures on this site are independent estimates, cross-referenced with public data sources including World Bank, Numbeo, Eurostat, OECD.