Cost of living comparison
United States is 2.5 times more expensive than Cape Town.
- Restaurants
-
pay 2.3 times more in United States
- Groceries
-
pay 2.2 times more in United States
- Transportation
-
pay 42.3% more in United States
- Housing
-
pay 2.1 times more in United States
- Childcare
-
pay 5.8 times more in United States
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 2.2 times more in United States
- Clothing
-
pay 12.9% more in United States
The cost of childcare, restaurants, entertainment and sports, groceries, housing, and transportation in United States are more expensive than in Cape Town. Notably, childcare, restaurants, and entertainment and sports are significantly more expensive in United States.
If you lived in United States instead of Cape Town, you would:
pay 2.3 times more for restaurants
|
Cape Town
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$8.52
ZAR155.83
|
$18.59
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$5.11
ZAR93.50
|
$10.47
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.99
ZAR18.16
|
$2.50
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.78
ZAR14.28
|
$1.96
|
|
pay 2.2 times more for groceries
|
Cape Town
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.07
ZAR19.62
|
$3.49
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.13
ZAR75.57
|
$6.33
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.25
ZAR77.79
|
$3.91
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.53
ZAR46.33
|
$3.56
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.30
ZAR42.01
|
$5.16
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.73
ZAR13.37
|
$2.33
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.70
ZAR12.72
|
$0.78
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.69
ZAR12.58
|
$2.00
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.70
ZAR12.78
|
$2.16
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.55
ZAR10.04
|
$1.34
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.59
ZAR10.86
|
$1.38
|
|
pay 42.3% more for transportation
|
Cape Town
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.09
ZAR93.10
|
$3.61
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$42.60
ZAR779.15
|
$65.15
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$19,879.98
ZAR363,604.76
|
$31,583.67
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$9.54
ZAR174.53
|
$17.81
|
|
pay 2.1 times more for housing
|
Cape Town
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$43.29
ZAR791.73
|
$67.50
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$784.43
ZAR14,347.16
|
$1,655.99
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$505.72
ZAR9,249.66
|
$1,423.40
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$71.33
ZAR1,304.55
|
$148.34
|
|
pay 5.8 times more for childcare
|
Cape Town
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$207.06
ZAR3,787.16
|
$1,351.84
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$4,312.73
ZAR78,879.90
|
$22,265.44
|
|
pay 2.2 times more for entertainment and sports
|
Cape Town
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.56
ZAR46.75
|
$5.78
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.12
ZAR38.86
|
$5.04
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.95
ZAR54.02
|
$9.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$39.65
ZAR725.29
|
$50.84
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$6.82
ZAR124.66
|
$13.30
|
|
pay 12.9% more for clothing
|
Cape Town
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$53.53
ZAR979.05
|
$50.38
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$30.86
ZAR564.38
|
$40.66
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$104.97
ZAR1,919.83
|
$85.52
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$77.06
ZAR1,409.50
|
$111.08
|
|
Change currency:
Compare countries by overall cost of living
Help us improve these prices
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about United States or Cape Town. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.