Why Should You Move To Cape Town South Africa?
Hey Friends! The Cost Of Living In Cape Town South Africa makes it possible to Live For Around $920 – $3200 (ZAR 15,640 – ZAR 54,400) So You Want to Live in the Mother City, Cape Town South Africa On a budget? This article explains how we lived in Cape Town South Africa for under $1350 per month, how others did it, and how you can Live in Cape Town South Africa as an expat, traveler, retiree or just live there in general.
- We also included a few videos that will help you give even more information on this incredible country and one of the most beautiful cities in the world of Cape Town!
- We’ll explain all the important details about living in Cape Town – from the cost of living in Cape Town to tips on traveling the different cities and renting an apartment in Cape Town monthly, Utilities, healthcare, transportation, Things to do in Cape Town, and more.
- We’ll also provide a monthly cost of living in Cape Town table, so you can know how much money you’ll need to make each month to live comfortably in Cape Town South Africa. This article will be the most comprehensive on the internet and will continually be updated with updated information.
Cost Of Living in Cape Town South Africa Quick Facts:
- Cape Town South Africa has so many things to see:
- World-class weather
- World class surfing
- An Incredibly clean environment
- Some of the world’s most beautiful beaches
- Unique Nature
- Insane natural landscapes
- Incredible mountains
- Hikes, treks
- Stunning wildlife
- Incredible adventures to make
- Diverse unique cultures around the Cape Town
- A thriving digital nomad, expat community.
- Here’s a breakdown of some key expenses: Total Monthly Living Costs in Cape Town South Africa Is $920 – $3200 Per Month For all expenses, and if you budget smartly, you can expect to spend $1300 to $1800 per month for all expenses.
- Cape Town South Africa is 5.4 times cheaper than New York City, United States.
- With a monthly income of less than $2100 is possible to live well, and sometimes even as low as $1400 per month if you are on a tight, extreme budget, which we will discuss later in this article. The monthly rent in Cape Town South Africa, food and groceries, housing expenses, and transportation options in Cape Town South Africa are determined by your budget and spending habits.
- You would need around 2,100$ (34,500R ZAR) in Cape Town South Africa to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 9,300.00$ in New York, NY.
- Rent In Cape Town South Africa is 73% less than in New York City, New York.
- The average monthly cost of living in Cape Town South Africa is $800 For the Local Natives. Expats and Digital Nomads will spend more to keep up with their living standards of around $1200 to $1800 per month while Living in Cape Town.
- The City of Cape Town has great local food that you should try, which is another tip to save money. While living in Cape Town South Africa, try to eat at the local markets and supermarkets. You will save a lot of money doing this.
We’ve been digital nomads for almost 4.5 years. We also lived in Cape Town before and have been traveling the globe since then, so we’ll share our experiences with you! Let’s do it!
Table Of Contents
Our Personal Monthly Cost of Living in Cape Town South Africa: Table of expenses Breakdown 2024
This Is a table of expenses of everything we spent living as digital nomads each month in Cape Town South Africa to give you an idea of what your costs might be. Sometimes, we spent less or more depending on the month.
Our Monthly Cost of living In Cape Town South Africa went as follows:
- Rent and accommodation in Cape Town South Africa, $420 a month for a studio apartment condo near the local food markets and gyms, saved us even more on food and transportation.
- Food and Groceries Costs in Cape Town South Africa were $320 – $520 per month. We always ate the local food and street food and did weekly grocery shopping at the local supermarkets.
- Monthly Utilities in Cape Town South Africa were around $200 a month for electricity, water, wifi, and phone data from MTN combined.
- Gym Costs in Cape Town: We trained at MMA, Muay Thai, and jiujitsu gym and worked out at a local weightlifting gym. Altogether the cost was $90 per month.
- The cost of Transportation in Cape Town was around $100 to $200 per month between renting a scooter and uber.
- Activities and things to do in Cape Town South Africa were around $120 to $150 per month.
Here is a table of Expenses for what we personally spent in Cape Town South Africa:
| Our Personal Average Monthly Expenses In Cape Town South Africa | USD $ | South African Rand USD/ZAR ZAR |
| Our Rent and Accommodation in Cape Town South Africa Per Month | $420 | ZAR 7140 |
| Our monthly Utilities in Cape Town South Africa such as water, electricity, Wifi, Mobile phone plan from MTN | $200 | ZAR 3400 |
| Our Monthly Gym and MMA, Jiu Jitsu, and Muay Thai expenses in Cape Town | $90 | ZAR 1,530 |
| Our Monthly Cost of Food and Groceries expenses In Cape Town South Africa | $320 – $520 | ZAR 5,440 – ZAR 8,840 |
| Our Monthly Transportation Costs in Cape Town South Africa | $100- $200 | ZAR 1,700 – ZAR 3,400 |
| Our Monthly Activities and Things to do in Cape Town South Africa expenses | $120 – $150 | ZAR 2,040 – ZAR 2,550 |
| Monthly Health Insurance (SafetyWing, World Nomads) In Cape Town South Africa | $40 – $150 | ZAR 680 – ZAR 2,550 |
| Our personal Cost of Living In Cape Town South Africa Per Month Total Expenses | $1,290 – $1,730 | ZAR 21,930 – ZAR 29,410 |
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living in Cape Town South Africa Summary Cost Of Rent, Groceries, Transportation, Healthcare: $920 – $3200 Per Month
The cost of living in Cape Town South Africa ranges from $920 – $3200 per month. The cost of living in Cape Town South Africa is 73% lower than in New York City, United States. With a family of four estimated monthly costs of $2,400, depending on your spending habits, it could be more or less than what is listed here.
You can reduce your monthly budget in Cape Town significantly with research, budget planning, eating local food, shopping at the local supermarkets, and renting on Airbnb monthly or finding a cheaper apartment locally on Property24, Facebook marketplace, etc.
Living in Cape Town South Africa is highly affordable. You can live a greater quality of life here than back in the United States, etc. the good news is that there are a lot of cheap rent and accommodations, food, and transport options available anywhere.
- The range of costs is from $920 – $3200 + per month, depending on your budget and your spending habits.
- A budget food and grocery plan will cost you around $320 to $700 per month, although this will vary depending on your location and budget.
- Overall, a monthly budget of $1300 to $2000 is a realistic estimate for the cost of living in Cape Town South Africa. You should re-evaluate your budget and spending habits if you spend above that.
- A family of four estimated monthly costs is $2400.
- A single person estimated monthly costs are $1200 to $1500.
- On average, the cost of living in Cape Town South Africa is 73% lower than in the United States.
- On average, rent in Cape Town South Africa is 73% lower than in the United States.
- Transportation costs in Cape Town expect to spend an estimated $100 to $200 each month on transportation.
Estimated Monthly Cost Of Living In Cape Town South Africa: Table of Expenses 2024
The Cost of living in Cape Town South Africa table below is An intensive research poll of Digital Nomads, Expats, travelers, locals, retirees and Numbeo users that lived in Cape Town South Africa was used to put this together.
$1 USD equals 17.44 Cape Town South African Rand ZAR. This estimate is based on an extremely Strict Budget Vs A luxury Budget in Cape Town South Africa per month! The Cost Of Living Per Month In Cape Town South Africa is $1300 to $3150, depending on your spending habits! The lowest spend is $920 per month, which is the strictest budget.
Here is a table of expenses for a couple living in Cape Town South Africa per month:
| Average Monthly Expenses In Cape Town South Africa | USD $ | Cape Town South African Rand USD/ZAR ZAR |
| Rent (Homestay, Guesthouse, studio vs Full Private 2+ Bedroom Villa) In Cape Town South Africa | $300 – $1700 | ZAR 5100 – ZAR 28,900 |
| Electricity (Including water) In Cape Town South Africa | $50 – $200 | ZAR 850 – ZAR 2,550 |
| Mobile Phone (including SIM Card data) In Cape Town South Africa from Voda Com and MTN | $20 – $50 | ZAR 340 – ZAR 850 |
| Internet (WiFi) in Cape Town South Africa from Vodacom and MTN | $30 – $50 | ZAR 510 – ZAR 850 |
| Food (groceries, dining out, partying, nightlife) in Cape Town South Africa | $300 – $750 | ZAR 5,100 – ZAR 12750 |
| Transportation (motorbike, fuel, renting, Taxi) In Cape Town South Africa | $150 – $200 | ZAR 2,550 – ZAR 3400 |
| Healthy Activities (Gym, MMA, Yoga, Massages, etc) In Cape Town South Africa | $30 – $100 | ZAR 520 – ZAR 1700 |
| Health Insurance (SafetyWing, World Nomads) In Cape Town South Africa | $40 – $150 | ZAR 680 – ZAR 2,550 |
| Cost of Living In Cape Town South Africa Per Month Total Expenses | $920 – $3200 | ZAR 15640 – ZAR 54400 |
Cost Of Rent and Accommodation in Cape Town South Africa Summary: $250 – $2000
The Cost of Renting an apartment or Airbnb in Cape Town South Africa can be affordable if you stick to a structured budget. Renting an apartment in Cape Town South Africa will cost $250 to $650 for a simple apartment per month to $650 or more for a luxury apartment. Still, it’s important to research beforehand to ensure you are getting the best value for your money. Various rentals are available. We recommend using Airbnb, Property24, or Facebook marketplace. as you see in the video and image above you can rent beautiful places for an affordable price.
We recommend renting on Airbnb. It is a highly streamlined process, faster than going through a rental agency without paying an upfront deposit which as digital nomads this is a lot better.
- Renting an apartment monthly from Airbnb will be the best option if you want to live in Cape Town South Africa on a budget. On average, apartments in Cape Town South Africa cost $350 to $750 per month on Airbnb.
- Renting a home with two or more rooms will cost you around $650 or more per month.
- You’ll have to choose between renting a flat, studio, 2+ bedroom apartment, sharing the rent, hostels, guesthouses, bed, and breakfasts, and Couchsurfing, property24, Facebook marketplace, or Airbnb.
- To save money on total expenses, eat at the local food places in Cape Town South Africa, shop at the local supermarkets, and look for an apartment in Cape Town South Africa in the surrounding areas close to local markets, local food stalls, supermarkets, or local transportation areas. This is a fantastic tip.
- Digital Nomads in Cape Town South Africa and Expats in Cape Town South Africa are just a few of the Facebook groups available For you. Facebook groups are a fantastic resource! It is an excellent place to start.
When finding accommodation in Cape Town South Africa, it’s important to do your research. The cost of rent can vary greatly depending on where you decide to live. In general, central areas are more expensive than suburbs or rural areas.
Monthly Cost Of Rent and Accommodation in Cape Town South Africa: Table Of Expenses 2024
Here is a table of expenses for the Cost of Rent and Accommodation in Cape Town South Africa per month:
Average Monthly Rent and Accommodation In Cape Town South Africa | USD $ | South African Rand USD/ZAR ZAR |
| Studio Apartment in Cape Town South Africa | $250 – $750 | ZAR 4,259 – ZAR 12,750 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartment in Cape Town South Africa | $750 – $1200 | ZAR 12,750 – ZAR 20400 |
| 3+ Bedroom Apartment in Cape Town South Africa | $1200 – $2000+ | ZAR 20400 – ZAR 34000 |
Cost Of Transportation in Cape Town South Africa Explained
Public transport in Cape town may be a better option for those who don’t have a car or want to reduce their monthly expenses. I suggest renting a scooter monthly to explore Cape Town South Africa to its fullest potential and navigate your way around the traffic. Budget around $150 to $300 per month in transportation and exploring Cape Town.
The public transportation system in Cape Town South Africa consists of mainly 11 transportation options:
- Try to rent a scooter monthly in Cape Town
- Use bolt taxi a bit cheaper than uber from Cape Town international airport and everyday transport
- use uber in Cape town
- Use the local metro train in Cape town.
- Use baz bus for exploring
- Use the Myciti Bus
- Carrier Vans
- Tour Buses
- Hire a private driver
- Rent a car, and This is the most expensive. I don’t recommend it, and Cape Town South Africa has crazy traffic, so possible to damage your car and you’ll have to pay more money.
- Domestic flights to other cities
Monthly Cost Of Transportation in Cape Town South Africa: Table of Expenses in 2024
Here is a table of expenses for the Cost of Public Transportation in Cape Town South Africa per month:
| Average Monthly Transportation Expenses in Cape Town South Africa | USD $ | South African Rand USD/ZAR ZAR |
| Monthly Transportation Costs in Cape Town South Africa including scooter rental and taxi | $100 – $300 per month | ZAR 1700 – ZAR 5100 |
| Cape Town South Africa Metro Train | $1 a day to $25 monthly | ZAR 17 – ZAR 400 |
Cost Of Food In Cape Town South Africa Explained: Monthly Food Table of Expenses 2024
Monthly Food Costs in Cape Town South Africa cost $300 to $750 per month. You can save money if you eat at local food places, local markets, supermarkets, and street food. We recommend this, or you will spend way too much at tourist food spots!
The Food in Cape Town South Africa is truly world class! Skip the touristy food spots and only eat at the local street food, supermarkets, and cheaper dining areas around town! The best food is at the local food stalls and street food.
We will also be making a dedicated article on the best food in Cape Town South Africa, so stay tuned for that. We will link it here!
Here is a table of expenses for the Cost of Food in Cape Town South Africa per month:
| Average Monthly Food Costs in Cape Town South Africa | USD $ | South African Rand USD/ZAR ZAR |
| Local Food Markets, Street food and Local Supermarkets and cheaper dining options Per month (Budget Food Costs) in Cape Town South Africa | $300 – $750 | ZAR 5,100 – ZAR 12,750 |
| Eating out at Mid range restaurants and expensive restaurants per month (No Budget) In Cape Town South Africa | $700 – $1000 + | ZAR 11,900 – ZAR 17000 |
Best Cost of Flights To Cape Town South Africa Tips
Did you know you can fly one way to Cape Town South Africa affordably? This is How:
- If you Fly to Cape Town South Africa One-Way From New York City, the cost is $550 to $700 per person.
- If you Fly to Cape Town South Africa from Europe and other Asian countries, the costs will be from $320 to $420 per person.
- You Can Check On Google Flights here!
- Also, if you Have Travel Credit Card Miles and frequent Flyer miles, you can fly to Cape Town South Africa For almost free!
- Try searching for low-cost airlines or fly during off-peak times or off-season. If you’re determined to visit Cape Town South Africa, book your flight as far in advance!
Healthcare Costs in Cape Town South Africa
Medical Tourism is massive in Cape Town South Africa. Many hospitals and clinics throughout Cape Town South Africa provide high-quality care at reasonable prices. With many doctors that studied in the USA, UK, and Australia. I recommend researching the best hospitals for expats in Cape Town South Africa.
We recommend The best travel health Insurance available by SafetyWing We always have travel insurance monthly for international trips and living abroad. It covers any health or medical procedure done.
We suggest you also have it, especially if you live in Cape Town South Africa as an expat, and we always use SafetyWing for international travel insurance and medical concerns. They start at $42 a month! It’s incredible and always reliable!
Cost of Taxes in Cape Town, South Africa by Percentage
Here is in-depth information for the cost of Taxes in Cape Town, South Africa for each type of Tax and make sure to contact a local Cape Town Tax Professional for more Information:
Individual Income Tax in Cape Town, South Africa
- Tax Type: Individual Income Tax
- Tax Rate: 18% – 45%
- Important Information:
- Progressive tax rates from 18% to 45% based on taxable income.
- 45% top rate applies on income above R1.5 million.
- Tax free thresholds for under 65s and over 65s.
Value-Added Tax (VAT) in Cape Town, South Africa
- Tax Type: Value-Added Tax (VAT)
- Tax Rate: 15%
- Important Information:
- Standard VAT rate of 15% on goods and services.
- Certain basic food items are zero-rated.
- Compulsory registration threshold at R1 million turnover.
Corporate Income Tax in Cape Town, South Africa
- Tax Type: Corporate Income Tax
- Tax Rate: 28%
- Important Information:
- Base corporate tax rate of 28% for all companies.
- Special rates for small business corporations and micro businesses.
- Various tax incentives to attract investment.
Dividends Tax in Cape Town, South Africa
- Tax Type: Dividends Tax
- Tax Rate: 20%
- Important Information:
- Final tax of 20% on dividends paid by companies.
- To be withheld and remitted by companies paying dividends.
- Lower 15% rate applies in some cases.
Customs Duties in Cape Town, South Africa
- Tax Type: Customs Duties
- Tax Rate: 0% – 45%
- Important Information:
- Import duties levied on goods brought into South Africa.
- Rates vary from 0% to 45% depending on the product.
- To encourage local manufacturing.
Table of Tax Rates in Cape Town, South Africa
| Tax Type in Cape Town, South Africa | Tax Rate in Cape Town, South Africa |
|---|---|
| Individual Income Tax | 18% – 45% |
| Value-Added Tax (VAT) | 15% |
| Corporate Income Tax | 28% |
| Dividends Tax | 20% |
| Customs Duties | 0% – 45% |
Main FAQS Section About Cape Town South Africa
What is the monthly cost of living in Cape Town South Africa?
The cost of living in Cape Town South Africa, on average, is around $1300 per month. This includes rent, food, transportation, and other costs like utilities and phone bills.
What is the Cost of Accommodation in Cape Town South Africa?
The Cost of Accommodation in Cape Town South Africa costs around $250 to $750 per month.
Is Cape Town South Africa a safe country to travel to?
Regarding safety, Cape Town South Africa has its ups and downs like anywhere in the world, but as long as you stay safe and take the same precautions as you would in your home country, the same applies here.
How Much does it cost to live in Cape Town South Africa?
On average, living in Cape Town South Africa costs around $1300 to $1800 per month.
What is the Cost of Utilities in Cape Town South Africa?
The Utilities in Cape Town South Africa Cost around $50 to $200 per month, depending on your energy consumption!
What is the Cost Of Living in Cape Town South Africa Vs the USA?
The Cost Of Living in Cape Town South Africa is around 73% less than living in the USA, and the average monthly Cost of living in Cape Town South Africa is $1300 to $1800 per month in Cape Town South Africa vs $5500 to $8200 per month living in New York City, United States.
What is the Cost of Food in Cape Town South Africa vs the USA?
The Cost Of Food in Cape Town South Africa is 50% less than in the United States. Monthly Food Costs in Cape Town South Africa is from $300 to $600 per month.
What is the Cost Of Rent in Cape Town South Africa VS USA?
The Cost of Rent in Cape Town South Africa is 73% less Than in the United States A 1 bedroom apartment costs $250 to $650 per month on average, and 1 bedroom Apartment in New York City, United States, Costs over $2300 per month.
What is the Cost Of Accommodation in Cape Town South Africa vs the USA?
The Cost of Accommodation in Cape Town South Africa is 73.2% less Than in the United States; a studio bedroom apartment costs $250 to $650 per month on average, and 1 bedroom Apartment in New York City, United States, Costs over $2300 per month.
What is the Cost of Transportation in Cape Town South Africa vs the USA?
The Cost of Transportation in Cape Town South Africa is 50% less than in The USA; monthly Transportation Costs in Cape Town South Africa Costs from $130 to $200 per Month.
What is the Food Expenses In Cape Town South Africa?
The Food expenses in Cape Town South Africa is from $250 to $700 per month. Make sure to eat the local Food to save more!
What is the Rental Expenses In Cape Town South Africa?
The monthly rent for a 1-bedroom in Cape Town South Africa is from $300 to $650.
What is the Expenses for a Single Person in Cape Town South Africa?
The Expenses for a Single Person in Cape Town South Africa is from $1200 to $1800 per month all expenses.
What is the average cost of Rent In Cape Town South Africa?
The Average cost of rent in Cape Town South Africa is around $250 to $650 Per Month in Cape Town South Africa.
What is the average Cost of Accommodation In Cape Town South Africa?
The Average cost of accommodation in Cape Town South Africa is $300 to $640 per month.
What is the average Cost of Transportation In Cape Town South Africa?
The average cost of transportation in Cape Town South Africa is about $3 USD per day or $100 to $200 per month.
What is the Average cost of Utilities in Cape Town South Africa?
The Average cost of Utilities in Cape Town is around $50 to $200 per month.
What is the Cost of living in Cape Town South Africa?
The Cost of Living in Cape Town is around $1200 to $1800 Per Month For all expenses.
What is the Cost of Mobile Phone SIM and Internet Data In Cape Town South Africa?
The Cost of Phone Data and internet in Cape Town is around $20 to $50 per month with Vodacom and MTN.
What is the Cost of Food in Cape Town South Africa?
The Cost of Food in Cape Town South Africa costs around $300 to $650 per month; try to eat at the local restaurants and street food for the best and cheapest food to stay on budget!
Is Cape Town South Africa a cheap country to live in?
Cape Town South Africa’s cost of living is approximately 73% less than the USA. Cape Town is Extremely cheap and affordable to live in.
Is Cape Town South Africa a good place to live?
Yes, Cape Town South Africa is a great and safe place to Live! However, take the same precautions as you would in your home country.
What is the average salary in Cape Town South Africa?
The Average Monthly Salary in Cape Town South Africa is 31,000 ZAR Cape Town South African Rand equals $1,766 United States Dollars.
What is a good salary to live in Cape Town South Africa?
A great Salary to live on in Cape Town South Africa is around $3000 per month.
Cost Of Living in Cape Town South Africa Conclusion
We hope that you have found this blog post helpful! We have summarized the cost of living in Cape Town South Africa and provided a table of expenses, provided information on rent, accommodation, food costs, and more! We will be continually updating this blog post! Also, below are many excellent travel resources that will help you in your Journey around the world!
We created a full post On The Cost Of Living in South Africa Click Here!
and check out our full post on The Cost Of Living in Johannesburg South Africa Click Here!
We also wrote, an in-depth guide on the Cost of Living in Durban Click here!
Travel Resources and Reliable Sources For South Africa
- Travel Insurance: We always have travel insurance monthly for international trips and living abroad. We suggest that you also have it. And we always use SafetyWing for international travel insurance and medical concerns. SafetyWing is one of the few policies covering Covid-19, starting at $42 a month! It’s incredible and always reliable! SafetyWing is perfect for Digital Nomads and long-term travelers!
- Heath and Safety: We use the travel guides on the CDC website to research recommended precautions.
- Official South Africa Tourism Board Tourist Friendly Site
- The South African Government Tourism Board
If you want to keep up with our travels, go ahead and follow us on our travel page on Instagram @onelifepassport! Comment below what else you would like to know/see about our experiences traveling the world! Also, check out our YouTube Channel!
Check out our recent blog posts about Africa:
- MONTHLY Cost Of Living in South Africa 2024 [Budget Guide]
- COST Of Living In Johannesburg South Africa 2024 [VIDEO Guide]
- COST Of Living In Durban South Africa 2024 [VIDEO GUIDE]
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