Cost of Living Comparison Between Cape Town and San Francisco, CA 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in San Francisco, CA is 148.9% higher than in Cape Town (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in San Francisco, CA is 190.6% higher than in Cape Town | |
| Rent Prices in San Francisco, CA are 286.4% higher than in Cape Town | |
| Restaurant Prices in San Francisco, CA are 183.8% higher than in Cape Town | |
| Groceries Prices in San Francisco, CA are 194.0% higher than in Cape Town | |
| Local Purchasing Power in San Francisco, CA is 48.3% higher than in Cape Town | |
Restaurants | Cape Town Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
180.00 R (10.73 $) |
503.26 R (30.00 $) |
+179.6 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
800.00 R (47.69 $) |
2,432.41 R (145.00 $) |
+204.1 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
90.00 R (5.37 $) |
251.63 R (15.00 $) |
+179.6 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
50.00 R (2.98 $) |
134.20 R (8.00 $) |
+168.4 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
50.00 R (2.98 $) |
150.98 R (9.00 $) |
+202.0 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
38.77 R (2.31 $) |
96.14 R (5.73 $) |
+148.0 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
21.00 R (1.25 $) |
54.21 R (3.23 $) |
+158.2 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
16.67 R (0.99 $) |
44.95 R (2.68 $) |
+169.7 % |
Markets | Cape Town Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
20.83 R (1.24 $) |
26.58 R (1.58 $) |
+27.6 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
17.25 R (1.03 $) |
80.23 R (4.78 $) |
+365.0 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
15.82 R (0.94 $) |
49.80 R (2.97 $) |
+214.8 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
41.85 R (2.49 $) |
104.25 R (6.21 $) |
+149.1 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
67.92 R (4.05 $) |
184.01 R (10.97 $) |
+170.9 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
42.97 R (2.56 $) |
103.18 R (6.15 $) |
+140.1 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
61.65 R (3.67 $) |
181.51 R (10.82 $) |
+194.4 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
13.74 R (0.82 $) |
53.98 R (3.22 $) |
+292.7 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
13.32 R (0.79 $) |
22.27 R (1.33 $) |
+67.3 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
12.89 R (0.77 $) |
42.44 R (2.53 $) |
+229.3 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
13.81 R (0.82 $) |
58.85 R (3.51 $) |
+326.1 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
10.62 R (0.63 $) |
28.56 R (1.70 $) |
+169.1 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
10.89 R (0.65 $) |
32.94 R (1.96 $) |
+202.6 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
19.28 R (1.15 $) |
50.26 R (3.00 $) |
+160.6 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
18.96 R (1.13 $) |
49.08 R (2.93 $) |
+158.9 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
100.00 R (5.96 $) |
301.95 R (18.00 $) |
+202.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
24.04 R (1.43 $) |
51.09 R (3.05 $) |
+112.5 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
32.50 R (1.94 $) |
61.66 R (3.68 $) |
+89.7 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
55.00 R (3.28 $) |
218.08 R (13.00 $) |
+296.5 % |
Transportation | Cape Town Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
17.00 R (1.01 $) |
50.33 R (3.00 $) |
+196.0 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
995.00 R (59.31 $) |
1,509.77 R (90.00 $) |
+51.7 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
20.00 R (1.19 $) |
69.62 R (4.15 $) |
+248.1 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
28.97 R (1.73 $) |
54.80 R (3.27 $) |
+89.2 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
82.50 R (4.92 $) |
654.23 R (39.00 $) |
+693.0 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
21.70 R (1.29 $) |
21.21 R (1.26 $) |
-2.3 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
425,000.00 R (25,334.95 $) |
620,650.40 R (36,998.00 $) |
+46.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
498,395.65 R (29,710.19 $) |
437,153.06 R (26,059.42 $) |
-12.3 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Cape Town Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
2,174.37 R (129.62 $) |
3,832.63 R (228.47 $) |
+76.3 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
568.33 R (33.88 $) |
1,119.05 R (66.71 $) |
+96.9 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
698.00 R (41.61 $) |
1,184.59 R (70.62 $) |
+69.7 % |
Sports And Leisure | Cape Town Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
771.82 R (46.01 $) |
1,911.62 R (113.95 $) |
+147.7 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
158.75 R (9.46 $) |
366.96 R (21.88 $) |
+131.2 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
135.00 R (8.05 $) |
285.18 R (17.00 $) |
+111.2 % |
Childcare | Cape Town Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
4,280.16 R (255.15 $) |
52,099.18 R (3,105.72 $) |
+1,117.2 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
95,501.82 R (5,693.02 $) |
704,560.16 R (42,000.00 $) |
+637.7 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Cape Town Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
958.10 R (57.11 $) |
1,164.39 R (69.41 $) |
+21.5 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
604.55 R (36.04 $) |
784.22 R (46.75 $) |
+29.7 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
2,052.38 R (122.35 $) |
1,681.71 R (100.25 $) |
-18.1 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
1,535.71 R (91.55 $) |
2,116.15 R (126.15 $) |
+37.8 % |
Rent Per Month | Cape Town Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
15,414.00 R (918.85 $) |
57,744.70 R (3,442.26 $) |
+274.6 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
10,226.96 R (609.65 $) |
45,531.48 R (2,714.21 $) |
+345.2 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
26,963.64 R (1,607.35 $) |
97,115.75 R (5,789.23 $) |
+260.2 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
19,509.09 R (1,162.97 $) |
78,260.92 R (4,665.26 $) |
+301.2 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Cape Town Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
3,240.97 R (193.20 $) |
17,223.72 R (1,026.73 $) |
+431.4 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
2,159.44 R (128.73 $) |
14,726.23 R (877.85 $) |
+581.9 % |
Salaries And Financing | Cape Town Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
27,899.67 R (1,663.15 $) |
120,212.20 R (7,166.05 $) |
+330.9 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 11.45 | 6.34 | -44.6 % |
| Last update: | 10 December 2025 | 17 December 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 193 | 195 |
Moving to Cape Town? Explore:
Moving to San Francisco, CA? Explore:
Cities near Cape Town: | Cost of Living in Durbanville | 18.43 miles |
| Cost of Living in Somerset West | 27.94 miles |
| Cost of Living in Paarl | 38.17 miles |
Cities near San Francisco, CA: | Cost of Living in Oakland, California | 10.67 miles |
| Cost of Living in Piedmont, California | 12.31 miles |
| Cost of Living in Berkeley, California | 13.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in Alameda, California | 15.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in San Rafael, California | 18.32 miles |
| Cost of Living in San Mateo, California | 21.47 miles |
| Cost of Living in Belmont, California | 24.19 miles |
| Cost of Living in Walnut Creek, California | 24.48 miles |
| Cost of Living in Redwood City, California | 26.16 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hayward, California | 26.70 miles |