For over a decade, Cape Town has been recognised as one of the best cities in the world to live in. Because of this, it attracts a large number of expats every year, looking to make it home. This has driven up the cost of living in Cape Town, making it more costly to live here than any other city in South Africa.
But don’t let this deter you, with careful planning you can make it work. Cape Town’s estimated 5 million + population already do.
While planning for your move to Cape Town, take into consideration your specific needs, your income level, marital status and the number of dependents you have.
Table of content
Housing: The one biggest factor that could affect your cost of living in Cape Town
Housing will be your largest expense, typically getting 30 – 40% of your budget especially if you decide to live in the City Bowl area.
But, living in the City Bowl has its charms, the biggest advantage is how easy it is to get around.
To avoid the hassle of apartment hunting when I first arrived in Cape Town,I lived in an Airbnb in Green Point for over 2 years.
My apartment on Main Road offered major convenience: 5 minutes to Sea Point’s Promenade for a walk, 15 minutes drive to Camps Bay to enjoy the beach, walking distance to grocery stores, and a 10 minutes drive to both the city center and V&A Waterfront.
However, finding similarly central locations that won’t break the bank at reasonable prices has become more difficult since. Let’s explore your housing options:
Rent or buy?
Wars have been fought over this question for decades with no clear winners on either side.
💡 The answer depends on your situation, how much flexibility you need and if you’re the type that likes to change locations very often.
Renting a property
Nowadays, more people moving to Cape Town are choosing to rent instead of buy. This shift towards renting, low supply of rental units plus a growing influx of people into Cape Town has made the rental market very volatile.
Here’s how prices have evolved in the Atlantic Seaboard and City Bowl areas from 2022 to 2025:
Atlantic Seaboard & City Bowl rental cost change between 2022 and 2025
| Property Type | 2022 Price | 2025 Price | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2-Bed Unrenovated Flat |
R12,000-14,000 |
R20,000-25,000 |
Over 65% |
|
1-Bed Renovated Flat with Parking |
R12,000 |
R16,000 |
33% |
|
2-Bed Newly Built Flat |
R20,000 |
R30,000 |
50% |
|
Basic Houses/Cottages |
R18,000 |
R25,000+ |
39% |
Current Rental Snapshot by Area (2025)
| Area | Property Type | Price Range | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
|
City Bowl |
1-Bed Apartment |
R12,000-15,000 |
Central location |
|
City Bowl |
2-Bed Apartment |
R14,000-25,000 |
Price varies with parking |
|
Milnerton Central |
2-Bed Apartment |
R12,000 |
72m² average size |
|
Century City |
2-Bed Apartment |
R14,500-18,000 |
Security complexes |
|
Burgundy Estate |
2-Bed Property |
R15,000-17,000 |
Newer developments |
|
Milnerton |
3-Bed House |
R15,000-20,000 |
Free-standing |
|
Tijgerhof |
2-Bed (Furnished) |
R15,000 |
Family-friendly |
|
Royal Ascot |
2-3 Bed Apartment |
R13,000-18,000 |
Gated community |
|
Sunset Beach |
Furnished Accommodation
|
R15,000-25,000 |
Coastal living |
Average moving cost (2025)
Moving into a new apartment/house comes with other costs like security deposits, agency fees, and furnishing if you’re renting an unfurnished place.
As a local, your deposit would equal one month’s rent. But as a foreigner, expect to pay upwards of 2 month’s security deposit on your apartment.
| Expense Category | Cost (ZAR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Security Deposit |
R33,000 |
2 months required for foreigners |
|
First Month Rent |
R16,500 |
Green Point location |
|
Agency Fee |
R3,500 |
Standard rate |
|
Utility Connections |
R2,200 |
One-time setup |
|
Basic Furnishing |
R15,000 |
Essential items only |
|
Total Initial Investment |
R70,200 |
|
Owning a property in Cape Town
For those considering buying a property in Cape Town, you get very diverse options across different price points. Upmarket locations like Camps Bay and Clifton can cost upwards of R30 million, while more affordable suburbs such as Brackenfell, Durbanville, Observatory, and Elsies River offer properties between R1.5 million and R4 million.
Property ownership brings additional responsibilities and costs to consider:
- Moving cost,
- Furnishing expenses,
- Utility,
- Home insurance,
- Security
- Municipal rates and levies
- Bond registration and transfer costs
- Regular maintenance and repairs
Buying a property makes a lot of sense if you’re planning to set up base here and become a long-term resident. But it comes with high costs.
It can help you escape the roller-coaster of renting one but that also comes with additional commitment. You don’t get the flexibility of packing up and moving when things change.
Daily expenses that affect your cost of living in Cape Town
I remember burning through R7000 on groceries in my first month in Cape Town because I was shopping for groceries like a tourist. By asking around and learning from locals, I was able to bring my groceries below R5000. Here’s how I do it:
Groceries/food
| Store Type | Monthly Spend | What I Buy | Money-Saving Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Food Lover’s Market |
R2,000 |
Fresh produce, bulk items
|
Shop early mornings for best produce |
|
Checkers |
R1,500 |
Pantry staples, meat |
Use Xtra Savings card religiously |
|
Local Market |
R800 |
Fruits, vegetables |
Visit Oranjezicht City Farm Market on weekends. |
|
Total |
R4,300 |
|
Saved R2,700 from initial budget |
Transportation options when living in Cape Town
You have several choices for getting around Cape Town, each with its own cost implications:
Car Ownership Breakdown:
| Expense | Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Car Payment |
R4,500
|
Used VW Polo or Mazda Cx-3 |
|
Insurance |
R850 |
Comprehensive insurance cover |
|
Fuel |
R2,000 |
Mainly city driving |
|
Maintenance |
R500 |
Monthly set-aside |
|
Parking |
R750 |
Work + home |
|
Total |
R8,600 |
|
Alternative Transport Options:
| Method | Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Uber |
R3,000-4,000 |
Convenient, no parking. Plan for price-surges |
|
MyCiti Bus |
R800 |
Affordable, reliable but limited routes |
|
Walking |
Free |
Great for local areas but very weather dependent |
Essential monthly services when living in Cape town
| Service | Provider | Monthly Cost | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet |
Vodacom data bundle |
R429 |
|
|
Mobile |
MTN |
R299 |
Pre-paid beats contracts |
|
Electricity |
City of CT |
R850 |
Prepaid monitoring helps |
|
Water |
Included in rent |
|
Negotiate this in lease |
|
Total |
|
R1,948 |
|
Living in Cape Town: Lifestyle choices
Entertainment & Dining Scene
| Activity | Monthly Budget | Smart Savings |
|---|---|---|
|
Restaurants |
R2,500 |
Early bird specials |
|
Coffee shops |
R600 |
Loyalty cards |
|
Movies/Shows |
R400 |
Cinema specials |
|
Total |
R3,500 |
|
Fitness & Health
| Option | Monthly Cost | Value Analysis |
|---|---|---|
|
Virgin Active |
R1,200 |
Peak facilities |
|
Local Yoga |
R650 |
Class packages |
|
Hiking |
Free |
Table Mountain |
|
Total |
R1,850 |
|
Healthcare Considerations
Average healthcare cost:
- Medical Aid (Discovery Classic): R2,200/month
- Savings for GP visits: R300/month
- Prescription fund: R200/month
- Total: R2,700
(All the figures above are estimates and could increase or decrease depending on your situation.)
Seasonal cost variations that can impact your cost of living in Cape Town
| Season | Cost Impact | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
|
Summer (Dec-Feb) |
+50% on rent |
Book long-term stays early |
|
Winter (Jun-Aug) |
+40% on electricity |
Solar power, Solar lamps, thermal curtains. |
|
Spring (Sep-Nov) |
Best value |
Lock in yearly contracts |
|
Autumn (Mar-May) |
Moderate |
Stock up for winter |
Global context: Cost comparison with other popular cities
| Expense | Cape Town | Johannesburg | London | New York |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1-Bed Apartment |
R16,500 |
R12,000 |
R35,000 |
R45,000 |
|
Groceries |
R4,300 |
R4,500 |
R8,000 |
R10,000 |
|
Transport |
R3,500 |
R4,500 |
R6,000 |
R7,000 |
|
Entertainment |
R3,500 |
R4,000 |
R8,000 |
R10,000 |
|
Total |
R27,800 |
R25,000 |
R57,000 |
R72,000 |
Earning potential and career Landscape in Cape Town
Cape town has a high earning potential to support its lifestyle costs. The average falls between R 30,000 to R 55,000 per month, with industries like tech and finance paying significantly more.
| Industry | Monthly Salary | Range Growth Potential |
|---|---|---|
|
Tech |
R35,000 – R85,000 |
High |
|
Finance |
R30,000 – R70,000 |
High |
|
Marketing |
R25,000 – R55,000 |
High |
|
Tourism |
R18,000 – R45,000 |
Seasonal |
Making it work: A Practical Monthly Budget
| Category | Budget | Lesson Learned |
|---|---|---|
|
Housing |
R16,500 |
Sign a yearly contract in the Spring when demand is low. |
|
Utilities |
R1,948 |
Prepaid systems save money |
|
Groceries |
R4,300 |
Local markets change everything |
|
Transport |
R3,500 |
MyCiti + Uber use |
|
Healthcare |
R2,700 |
– |
|
Entertainment |
R3,500 |
Local knowledge is gold |
|
Savings |
R5,000 |
Peace of mind is priceless |
|
Total |
R37,448 |
– |
Summary
Cape Town can be as expensive or as affordable as you make it. To survive, engage with locals and learn the city rhythms. A big budget will help, but it’s not everything. If you do it right, you can have an excellent lifestyle working with R25,000 per month than some people with a budge of R60,000 per month.
- Leverage seasonal opportunities for great deals
- Take advantage of free attractions
- Build local connections for insider knowledge
- Get housing contracts during off-peak seasons
- Balance comfort with cost-effectiveness
- Choose areas with walking access
- Consider transport costs
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