Cape Town is the most expensive of South Africa's 7 priced cities — $1,265 a month in essentials, 66% above East London at $762. The average net salary of $1,591 covers that 1.3×. 99 men per 100 women aged 20–39, measured at local municipality level. PM2.5 averages 16.7 µg/m³ a year, 3× the WHO guideline of 5. Jul averages 13°C, Jan 22°C.
Monthly cost breakdown
Rent outside centre plus utilities, groceries, dining and local transport make up the essentials figure. Not a full lifestyle budget.
| Item | Monthly USD |
|---|---|
| Rent, 1-bed outside centre | $674 |
| Rent, 1-bed city centre | $992 |
| Groceries | $126 |
| Dining out | $250 |
| Utilities | $155 |
| Local transport | $60 |
| Essentials / mo | $1,265 |
| Avg net salary | $1,591 |
| Rent, 3-bed outside centre | $1,276 |
| Rent, 3-bed city centre | $1,820 |
Single person, USD. Data updated July 29, 2026.
Everyday prices
What single items cost in Cape Town, in USD. The monthly figures above are built from these.
Eating out
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $12.00 |
| Meal for 2, mid-range, three courses | $46.79 |
| McMeal at McDonald's | $6.00 |
| Cappuccino, regular | $2.43 |
| Domestic beer, 0.5 L draught | $3.00 |
| Imported beer, 0.33 L bottle | $3.60 |
| Coke/Pepsi, 0.33 L | $1.32 |
| Water, 0.33 L bottle | $0.95 |
Groceries
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Milk, 1 L | $1.34 |
| White bread, 500 g | $1.22 |
| White rice, 1 kg | $2.16 |
| Eggs, 12 | $2.77 |
| Local cheese, 1 kg | $8.72 |
| Chicken fillets, 1 kg | $6.36 |
| Apples, 1 kg | $1.81 |
| Bananas, 1 kg | $1.83 |
| Tomatoes, 1 kg | $2.04 |
| Potatoes, 1 kg | $1.51 |
| Onions, 1 kg | $1.45 |
| Water, 1.5 L bottle | $1.15 |
Transport & bills
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| One-way ticket, local transport | $1.38 |
| Monthly transit pass | $59.99 |
| Taxi start | $0.60 |
| Taxi, 1 km | $1.47 |
| Gasoline, 1 L | $1.43 |
| Basic utilities, 85 m² flat | $115.92 |
| Internet, 60 Mbps+ | $39.55 |
| Mobile plan, monthly | $30.96 |
Leisure
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Gym, monthly | $47.18 |
| Cinema, one seat | $8.70 |
Dating-age sex ratio
Cape Town has 99 men per 100 women aged 20–39 (local municipality level). That is the 7th-highest of 10 South Africa cities we track. South Africa's national figure is 99.4 — about even.
A supply figure, 20–39. The dating-pool model is in Pro.
Climate & air
Ten-year monthly means, 2015–2024 — a climate profile, not a forecast.
| Month | Avg | Feels | Humidity | Cloud | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22.2°C | 21.7°C | 65% | 24% | 10 mm |
| Feb | 21.8°C | 21.3°C | 66% | 21% | 6 mm |
| Mar | 20.1°C | 19.5°C | 71% | 35% | 17 mm |
| Apr | 17.8°C | 16.6°C | 72% | 38% | 22 mm |
| May | 15.4°C | 14.2°C | 79% | 51% | 37 mm |
| Jun | 13.8°C | 11.9°C | 79% | 49% | 91 mm |
| Jul | 12.7°C | 10.6°C | 79% | 44% | 91 mm |
| Aug | 13°C | 11°C | 79% | 43% | 57 mm |
| Sep | 14.7°C | 12.7°C | 75% | 44% | 35 mm |
| Oct | 17.5°C | 16°C | 69% | 40% | 17 mm |
| Nov | 19°C | 17.6°C | 66% | 38% | 19 mm |
| Dec | 20.6°C | 19.9°C | 66% | 29% | 18 mm |
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