Are you considering a move to Cape Town, South Africa, and wondering about the cost of living? Cape Town is a diverse city with a lot to offer, but like any city, it comes with its own set of expenses. In this page, we'll break down the cost of living in Cape Town and help you understand whether $1504 per month is moderately priced, given the average monthly salary of $1499.61.
|
Restaurants |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
9.09 $ |
|
|
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
37.42 $ |
|
|
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
4.28 $ |
|
|
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
2.25 $ |
|
|
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
2.67 $ |
|
|
Cappuccino (regular) |
1.94 $ |
|
|
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
0.84 $ |
|
|
Water (12 oz small bottle) |
0.65 $ |
|
|
Markets |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
0.99 $ |
|
|
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
0.88 $ |
|
|
Rice (white), (1 lb) |
1.55 $ |
|
|
Eggs (regular) (12) |
2.14 $ |
|
|
Local Cheese (1 lb) |
7.69 $ |
|
|
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
4.72 $ |
|
|
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
6.34 $ |
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
1.41 $ |
|
|
Banana (1 lb) |
1.53 $ |
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
1.24 $ |
|
|
Tomato (1 lb) |
1.41 $ |
|
|
Potato (1 lb) |
1.15 $ |
|
|
Onion (1 lb) |
1.3 $ |
|
|
Lettuce (1 head) |
0.99 $ |
|
|
Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
0.9 $ |
|
|
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
4.54 $ |
|
|
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
1.14 $ |
|
|
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
1.68 $ |
|
|
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
2.67 $ |
|
|
Transportation |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
1.07 $ |
|
|
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
34.86 $ |
|
|
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
1.07 $ |
|
|
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
0.8 $ |
|
|
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
2.62 $ |
|
|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
1.24 $ |
|
|
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
17373.14 $ |
|
|
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
20273.79 $ |
|
|
Utilities (Monthly) |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
86.09 $ |
|
|
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) |
-- |
|
|
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
40.7 $ |
|
|
Sports And Leisure |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
31.82 $ |
|
|
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
6.87 $ |
|
|
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
5.75 $ |
|
|
Childcare |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
175.3 $ |
|
|
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
4127.25 $ |
|
|
Clothing And Shoes |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
44.07 $ |
|
|
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
28.92 $ |
|
|
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
81.29 $ |
|
|
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
73.29 $ |
|
|
Rent Per Month |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
635.18 $ |
|
|
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
418.38 $ |
|
|
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
1299.53 $ |
|
|
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
844.95 $ |
|
|
Buy Apartment Price |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
1991.12 $ |
|
|
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1333.08 $ |
|
|
Salaries And Financing |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
1499.61 $ |
|
|
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate |
11.18 % |
|
The monthly expenses for living in Cape Town come to a total of approximately $1504. This includes an average monthly rent of around $635 for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center, along with utilities costing about $106 per month. Additionally, other expenses such as groceries, transportation, dining out, and leisure activities for one person amount to approximately $401 per month.
Living in Cape Town appears to be relatively budget-friendly when considering the average monthly income of $1499.61. However, to enjoy a comfortable standard of living in Cape Town, you would likely need an income exceeding $1499.61.
In Cape Town, the average monthly post-tax salary hovers around $1499.61, and it isn't tied to any particular skillset or qualification.
The typical monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the central area of Cape Town is approximately $635. If you're open to living in a location outside the city center, you can expect to pay around $418.38 for such an apartment.
The expense for groceries in Cape Town can fluctuate based on personal choices and shopping patterns. Typically, an individual can budget around $307 per month for groceries. Nevertheless, the actual costs may change depending on various factors, including the specific items bought, the choice of stores, and the availability of discounts or special offers.
The cost of living in South Africa can vary significantly depending on the particular city you have in mind. Using a nationwide average might not provide accurate information. To get a more precise understanding, it's crucial to examine the cost of living in various cities throughout South Africa.
As amazingly fun and exciting Cape Town might be, you should be aware of the many dangers that await the unsuspecting tourists. This city has relatively high rates of crime. You should be vigilant and take all possible precautions measures to minimize the risk of something going wrong.
Public transport in South Africa is the scene of many criminal activities. Be aware of criminals waiting around at Cape Town airports and then following tourists to their accommodation to rob them. There have also been reports of luggage thefts at the airports. Rails and metro trains are also the locations where assaults and robberies have occurred. If you plan to take the train in Cape Town, always opt for the 1st Class, travel during the day and in a cabin with people. Avoid traveling to Cape Flats altogether.
Pickpocketing was once a serious problem in this city, but it has been on a decline during the past couple of years. Still, the riskiest locations where you may encounter petty theft are crowded places such as markets, public transport and bus, and train stations.
Cape Town may become a victim of occasional tsunamis coming from the Indian Ocean. Another danger is flooding. One of the bigger floods in South Africa occurred in 2011 killing 91 people.
Mugging and robberies are a much bigger issue here than petty theft. And though usually, the motive of these incidents is theft, rape is sadly not uncommon at all, so female tourists should be particularly cautious.
Threats are coming from extremists linked to Daesh (formerly referred to as ISIL), as well as threats from individuals inspired by terrorist groups, including Daesh, who might try to carry out so-called ‘lone actor’ attacks targeting public places.
There are a couple of popular scams, one of them involving criminals posing as "tourist police" with a goal to rob visitors. They are known to stop tourist buses, saying that they're checking identification and searching luggage. However there's no such thing as "tourist police" in South Africa, so be on the lookout. Then there are so-called "strollers", and they can be anyone from children to junkies. Their only goal is to rob you blind so keep your valuables well hidden.
Though many female travelers went to Cape Town and had no problems at all, this country might not be the safest choice for female solo travelers. Be very careful at night and avoid risky situations such as winding-up in deserted and poorly lit streets or finding yourself in an unknown area with strange people.
While U.S. citizens visiting Cape Town for tourism purposes do not need a visa for any stays shorter than ninety days, along with many other countries, some nationals do need a visa to enter Cape Town. Make sure your passports are valid for at least 30 days past your planned date of return from South Africa. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.
South African rand is the official currency in Cape Town. ATMs can be found throughout the country and credit cards are widely accepted.
The summer months are from December to February which is the best time to visit Cape Town. Though days are hot, the humidity is low, so it is not uncomfortable. The winter months that last from June to August can be wet, but it doesn't mean that it rains every day during this period.
Cape Town International Airport is the busiest and biggest airport serving the city of Cape Town. It is also the second-busiest airport in South Africa and third-busiest in Africa. It is located approximately 20 km from the city center.
Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Cape Town, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
| Average | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 76°F | 76°F | 74°F | 71°F | 67°F | 63°F | 63°F | 63°F | 65°F | 69°F | 71°F | 74°F |
| Temp | 69°F | 69°F | 67°F | 63°F | 59°F | 56°F | 55°F | 56°F | 58°F | 61°F | 64°F | 68°F |
| Low | 63°F | 63°F | 60°F | 56°F | 52°F | 49°F | 48°F | 49°F | 51°F | 54°F | 58°F | 61°F |
| Average | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 24°C | 24°C | 23°C | 21°C | 19°C | 17°C | 17°C | 17°C | 18°C | 20°C | 21°C | 23°C |
| Temp | 20°C | 20°C | 19°C | 17°C | 15°C | 13°C | 12°C | 13°C | 14°C | 16°C | 17°C | 20°C |
| Low | 17°C | 17°C | 15°C | 13°C | 11°C | 9°C | 8°C | 9°C | 10°C | 12°C | 14°C | 16°C |