🇿🇦 Africa
Cape Town, South Africa
Africa ✓ Live Numbeo data See South Africa country profile →
Stunning lifestyle city; affordable for USD earners; crime requires caution
Climate
Rainfall, humidity, and the best months to visit: see the full Cape Town climate profile →
Internet speeds
Measured medians from 26,030 real speedtests within 10 km of the city center (Q1 2026) — not advertised ISP numbers.
| Download | Upload | Latency | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed broadband | 106 Mbps | 83.6 Mbps | 6 ms | 24,207 |
| Mobile | 105 Mbps | 16.4 Mbps | 30 ms | 1,823 |
Speedtest® by Ookla Global Fixed and Mobile Network Performance Maps, © Ookla. Accessed 2026-07-18. Your building's wiring and ISP plan matter more than the city median. Compare all cities in the Internet Speed Explorer →
Cost of living breakdown
USD converted from local prices at baseline rates (1 USD = 16.19 ZAR, 2026-06-16). Use the Cost of Living Explorer for live exchange rates.
| 💰 Monthly budgets | USD | Local |
|---|---|---|
| Individual (excl. rent) | $742 | ZAR 12,015 |
| Individual all-in (excl. rent + 1BR center) | $1,804 | — |
| Family of 4 (excl. rent) | $2,688 | ZAR 43,525 |
| Average net salary (after tax) | $1,701 | ZAR 27,541 |
| 🏢 Rent & property | USD | Local |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR city center | $1,062 | ZAR 17,188 |
| 1BR outside center | $660 | ZAR 10,679 |
| 3BR city center | $1,792 | ZAR 29,010 |
| 3BR outside center | $1,288 | ZAR 20,847 |
| Buy price / sqft — center | $218 | ZAR 3,526 |
| Buy price / sqft — outside | $142 | ZAR 2,303 |
| 🍽️ Food & dining | USD | Local |
|---|---|---|
| Cheap meal (1 person) | $12.35 | ZAR 200 |
| Mid-range dinner (2 people) | $49.41 | ZAR 800 |
| Fast food combo | $6.18 | ZAR 100 |
| Beef (per lb) | $3.89 | ZAR 63.02 |
| Taxi (per mile) | $2.44 | ZAR 39.43 |
| ⚡ Utilities & lifestyle | USD | Local |
|---|---|---|
| Basic utilities / mo | $121 | ZAR 1,952 |
| Phone plan / mo | $34 | ZAR 550 |
| Internet / mo | $42 | ZAR 677 |
| Gym membership / mo | $50 | ZAR 807 |
| Cinema ticket | $9.27 | ZAR 150 |
| Preschool / mo | $274 | ZAR 4,433 |
| International school / yr | $6,270 | ZAR 101,502 |
| New car (Corolla equiv.) | $36,381 | ZAR 589,000 |
Visa, taxes & legal in South Africa
Country-level research that applies to living in Cape Town — each row links to the full comparison dashboard.
| Tourist entry (US passport) | 90 days visa-free |
| Digital nomad visa | Digital Nomad (Remote Work) Visa → gazetted 2024, operational rollout through Mar 2025 — income requirement ~R650,000/yr (~$3,000/mo) → reduced from the original R1M proposal — compare all countries → |
| Path to permanent residency | Retired/financially-independent routes can lead to PR; DNV unclear |
| Tax if you become resident | Worldwide system · top rate 45% top — tax breakdown → |
| Family-law exposure (payer) | Obligation 7/10 · cross-border collection 5/10 — legal detail → |
Everything about the country in one place: South Africa profile for American nomads →
Location
Compare with nearby cities
Data last updated · Source: Numbeo