City in Western Cape, South Africa
Cost of living in Cape Town
How much a month costs in Cape Town
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $1,680–2,520 (R28,000–42,000).
Prices in Cape Town
Typical 2026 ranges in ZAR, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | ZAR | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | R13,000–24,000 | $780–1,440 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | R8,500–15,000 | $510–900 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | R250–550 | $15–33 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | R1,500–3,500 | $90–210 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | R70–130 | $4.2–7.8 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | R220–420 | $13–25 |
| Cappuccino | R35–55 | $2.1–3.3 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | R40–75 | $2.4–4.5 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | R12–35 | $0.7–2.1 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | R80–160 | $4.8–9.6 |
| Work and life | ||
| Coworking day pass | R250–450 | $15–27 |
| Gym membership (month) | R500–1,200 | $30–72 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | R200–450 | $12–27 |
Value for money: 26/100
A value score of 26/100 means Cape Town gives more quality of life per dollar than 25% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 54/100. It's the 12th most affordable of 13 places we cover in South Africa.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across South Africa
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Jeffreys Bay | $1,020–1,620 | 76/100 |
| Port Elizabeth | $1,080–1,680 | 71/100 |
| Knysna | $1,140–1,800 | 69/100 |
| Durban | $1,200–1,920 | 61/100 |
| Pretoria | $1,200–1,920 | 56/100 |
| Hermanus | $1,320–2,040 | 57/100 |
| Plettenberg Bay | $1,320–2,040 | 60/100 |
| Stellenbosch | $1,440–2,160 | 51/100 |
| Johannesburg | $1,440–2,280 | 32/100 |
| Umhlanga | $1,440–2,280 | 52/100 |
| Franschhoek | $1,560–2,400 | 43/100 |
| Cape Town | $1,680–2,520 | 26/100 |
| Kruger National Park | $1,800–3,000 | 32/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Cape Town
Similar safety, lower cost, in Africa.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Aswan | Egypt | $478–803 |
| Dahab | Egypt | $536–861 |
| Djerba | Tunisia | $674–1,080 |
| Sousse | Tunisia | $674–1,080 |
| Addis Ababa | Ethiopia | $553–921 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Cape Town?
About $840–1,200 on a lean budget, $1,680–2,520 for a comfortable month and $3,600–6,000 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Cape Town?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs R13,000–24,000 ($780–1,440) a month in the center and R8,500–15,000 ($510–900) outside it.
How much does food cost in Cape Town?
A local meal is R70–130 ($4.2–7.8); a mid-range restaurant is R220–420 ($13–25) per person.
Is South Africa expensive?
Prices in South Africa are about 42% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Cape Town
Going to Cape Town solo?
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- MyCiTi
- Airports Company South Africa
- Cape Town Tourism
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.