Are you considering making the move to Cape Town and want to know how much living in Cape Town is going to cost you? Well, you aren’t the only one.
With hundreds of thousands of South Africans semigrating to Cape Town each year, the Mother City is set to pass 5 million inhabitants. And when you consider its booming tourism industry, growing economic hub and breathtaking beauty, it’s no wonder many are called to the slopes of Table Mountain.
However, all this opportunity comes with one major downfall — a high cost of living. In fact, Cape Town is considered the most expensive city in South Africa.
With that being said, this doesn’t mean that your Cape Town dreams are out of reach. It all depends on your own financial situation, industry, lifestyle and the area of Cape Town you choose to settle in.
To help you get an idea of how much you need to survive and thrive in the Mother City, here is the complete breakdown of the cost of living in Cape Town.
One of your main expenses will also be housing, especially in a city like Cape Town where housing is becoming more expensive and harder to find.
Here’s everything you need to know about the cost of housing in Cape Town.
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If you’re looking to invest in a property, the price will vary greatly depending on what area you’re looking at and the size of your property. To give you a general idea, here’s the breakdown of the average sale price in Cape Town for 2024 per number of rooms:
| Number of Rooms | Average Sale Price |
| 1 | R1.85 million |
| 2 | R2.35 million |
| 3 | R3.295 million |
| 4 | R6.95 million |
| 5+ | R12.495 million |
If you’d rather opt for renting over buying (which many are doing these days), you’ll need a sense of how much you’ll need for rent in Cape Town.
Unfortunately, rental prices are on the rise, with the asking price for a 2-bedroom apartment in Cape Town CBD jumping 40% from last year to an average of R24 750 per month.
Again, it’s important to remember that the neighbourhood and property size plays a big role, so let’s check out the average rental price for some areas in and around Cape Town :
| Cape Town Area | Average Rental Price |
| Southern Suburbs | R22 000 |
| Woodstock | R10 000 |
| Atlantic Seaboard | R25 000 |
| Constantia | R25 000 - R35 000 |
| City Bowl | R10 000 - R20 000 |
If you’re a student looking for affordable student accommodation in Cape Town, you can find cheaper rental prices ranging from R3 283 - R10 200.
On top of your monthly bond or rental payments, you still have to factor in the cost of utilities that keep your house running in order to calculate your total housing costs.
Here’s a general idea of the cost of utilities in Cape Town:
Water: For a family of 4 that uses around 10 500 litres of water per month, you can expect the water bill to be around R490, while it may be closer to R120 for one person using 2 325 litres per month.
Electricity: With the most expensive electricity prices in South Africa and the rising tariffs thanks to Eskom, the average electricity bill for 900 kWh used is R3 509 or R790 for 200 kWh.
Internet: Wifi in South Africa typically ranges from R230 - R3 000, depending on your speed, limit and whether or not it is fibre.
Another important and necessary expense is the cost of food. This too will have a lot of variation depending on what you buy and where you buy it from
For a basic estimate, the average monthly grocery bill for a family of 4 in Cape Town is R3 500 - R5 000.
Let’s break this down further by looking at the average price of some key grocery items in Cape Town:
| Food | Price |
| 2l of Milk | R38 |
| Loaf of Bread | R19 |
| 6 Eggs | R22 |
| 4 Chicken Breasts | R48 |
| Apples | R26 |
| 1kg of Potatoes | R24 |
| 9-Pack of Toilet Paper | R79 |
Now we all like to treat ourselves every once in a while by taking a break from cooking for a night and going out for dinner. Here are the typical price ranges you’ll find for the restaurants in Cape Town:
| Type of Restaurant | Typical Price Range |
| High-End Restaurant | R250 - R300 |
| Mid-Range Restaurant | R150 - R250 |
| Cheap Restaurant or Cafe | R80 - R150 |
| Fast Food Meal | R40 - R70 |
| Cappuccino | R37 |
And don’t forget that in Cape Town, it’s expected to add a 10% - 20% tip onto your bill’s total, so remember to factor that into the prices.
Unfortunately, Cape Town is not a very walkable city. So whether by your own car or public transport, you’re going to need to consider how much it’s going to cost you to get around the Mother City.
Like with most things at the moment, petrol costs are on the rise. How much petrol you use each month will vary based on how much you drive and your car’s fuel efficiency.
To give you a general idea, here’s the cost of filling up the tank for a few car models based on the 2024 coastal fuel prices:
| Car Model | Average Cost of Filling Up |
| Suzuki Swift | R779 |
| Toyota Urban Cruiser | R973 |
| Ford Ranger/Everest | R1 681 |
So, if you, for example, fill up your tank once a week, you can expect your fuel cost to range between R3 100 and R6 700, depending on your car.
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If you don’t have your own transport, don’t worry! Fortunately, Cape Town has one of the best public transport systems in South Africa, with the local government investing heavily in ensuring safe and effective transport for all.
One of Cape Town’s most popular forms of public transport is the MyCiti Bus, running all the way from the Northern Suburbs down through Khayelitsha and Hout Bay.
The MyCiti bus fares are as follows:
Single ticket: R11,90 (5 km) - R34,90 (60+ km)
Day pass: R88
Weekly pass: R290
Monthly pass: R990
Another option for getting around Cape Town, especially the surrounding suburbs, is with the train network. While it’s not considered as safe as the MyCiti buses, it’s significantly cheaper:
Single ticket: R10,50 - R23,50
Weekly pass: R80 - R195
Monthly pass: R250 - R605
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One of the major perks of living in Cape Town — you can never get bored! There is always an endless list of activities to keep you entertained, whether rain or shine, old or young, Cape Town has it all.
To spice up your life with a bit of fun, here’s a look at the average prices of some of Cape Town’s sources of entertainment:
| Entertainment | Average Price |
| Gym Membership | R200 - R1 400 |
| Movie Ticket | R110 |
| Wine Tasting | R25 - R250 |
| Table Mountain National Park Entrance | R40 |
| Artscape Theatre Ticket | R150 - R500 |
And if you have a tight budget and want to keep the expenses down — don’t worry! Cape Town also has loads of activities you can do for free, including its stunning beaches, beautiful nature walks and loads more.
While Cape Town’s cost of living may seem rather high, it also comes with higher paying salaries.
The average monthly salary in Cape Town for 2024 is R28 359, which equals an annual income of R340 312. According to Talent.com, you can expect entry-level positions to start at R192 700 per month while most experienced workers can make up to R3 685 817.
While the job market seems healthy in Cape Town, what’s the difference in the cost of living when compared to Johannesburg, Cape Town’s biggest economic rival?
Most South Africans wouldn’t hesitate to say that living in Cape Town is more expensive than in other parts of South Africa, including South Africa’s biggest city, Johannesburg. This is due to the rental and property market in Cape Town being a hot commodity.
Rental prices in Cape Town are around 36.6% higher than in Johannesburg.
Interestingly, consumables in Cape Town are slightly lower than in Joburg, which could be attributed to local produce being grown closer to the CBD.
Also, when comparing the two cities, transportation costs are higher in Johannesburg. But again, Cape Town is far smaller than the sprawling beating heart of the country, and petrol prices are lower at the coast too.
While Cape Town might save you a few bucks on certain expenses, all in all, it is slightly more expensive than Johannesburg. But those extra costs are considered worth it for many thanks to the improved quality of life that Cape Town offers its inhabitants.
While Cape Town may be on the expensive side, your moving costs don’t have to be.
With Wise Move, you can instantly connect with the most affordable and trusted movers that will get you and your belongings to Cape Town without breaking the bank.
Get your quote from Wise Move today and get started on your Cape Town adventure!
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