Cost of Living Comparison Between Durban and Cape Town 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Cape Town is 13.5% higher than in Durban (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Cape Town is 28.9% higher than in Durban | |
| Rent Prices in Cape Town are 87.8% higher than in Durban | |
| Restaurant Prices in Cape Town are 27.0% higher than in Durban | |
| Groceries Prices in Cape Town are 10.8% higher than in Durban | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Cape Town is 2.1% higher than in Durban | |
Restaurants | Durban Edit |
Cape Town Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 130.00 R | 177.50 R | +36.5 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 575.00 R | 800.00 R | +39.1 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 90.00 R | 90.00 R | 0.0 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 35.00 R | 50.00 R | +42.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 40.00 R | 50.00 R | +25.0 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 36.29 R | 38.72 R | +6.7 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 16.25 R | 21.71 R | +33.6 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 12.78 R | 15.72 R | +23.0 % |
Markets | Durban Edit |
Cape Town Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 18.81 R | 20.78 R | +10.5 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 14.89 R | 17.32 R | +16.3 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 11.54 R | 15.82 R | +37.1 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 37.66 R | 41.85 R | +11.1 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 59.75 R | 68.46 R | +14.6 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 36.74 R | 42.97 R | +17.0 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 54.43 R | 61.65 R | +13.3 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | 13.48 R | 13.74 R | +2.0 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 12.27 R | 13.32 R | +8.6 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 11.63 R | 12.89 R | +10.8 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 11.32 R | 13.81 R | +22.0 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 11.76 R | 10.62 R | -9.8 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | 10.58 R | 10.89 R | +2.9 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 18.50 R | 19.28 R | +4.2 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 17.28 R | 18.87 R | +9.2 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 82.50 R | 100.00 R | +21.2 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 25.74 R | 24.04 R | -6.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 30.49 R | 32.50 R | +6.6 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 55.00 R | 55.00 R | 0.0 % |
Transportation | Durban Edit |
Cape Town Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 15.00 R | 16.00 R | +6.7 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 464.00 R | 990.00 R | +113.4 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 7.50 R | 20.00 R | +166.7 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 19.42 R | 28.97 R | +49.1 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 126.00 R | 82.50 R | -34.5 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 23.12 R | 21.69 R | -6.2 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 589,000.00 R | 425,000.00 R | -27.8 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 505,785.71 R | 498,395.65 R | -1.5 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Durban Edit |
Cape Town Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 2,644.84 R | 2,174.37 R | -17.8 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 525.55 R | 568.33 R | +8.1 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 634.26 R | 753.11 R | +18.7 % |
Sports And Leisure | Durban Edit |
Cape Town Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 550.00 R | 771.82 R | +40.3 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 142.50 R | 158.75 R | +11.4 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 120.00 R | 135.00 R | +12.5 % |
Childcare | Durban Edit |
Cape Town Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 3,756.60 R | 4,280.16 R | +13.9 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 84,550.00 R | 95,501.82 R | +13.0 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Durban Edit |
Cape Town Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 871.38 R | 968.50 R | +11.1 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 547.35 R | 611.90 R | +11.8 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 1,614.72 R | 2,085.00 R | +29.1 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 1,360.72 R | 1,535.71 R | +12.9 % |
Rent Per Month | Durban Edit |
Cape Town Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 7,248.33 R | 15,225.00 R | +110.0 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 6,135.71 R | 10,055.45 R | +63.9 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 14,376.92 R | 26,963.64 R | +87.5 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 10,446.15 R | 19,509.09 R | +86.8 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Durban Edit |
Cape Town Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 1,518.02 R | 3,240.97 R | +113.5 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 1,251.37 R | 2,159.72 R | +72.6 % |
Salaries And Financing | Durban Edit |
Cape Town Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 21,211.42 R | 27,899.67 R | +31.5 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 11.85 | 11.54 | -2.7 % |
| Last update: | 3 December 2025 | 3 December 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 63 | 191 |
Moving to Durban? Explore:
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Cities near Durban: | Cost of Living in Pietermaritzburg | 47.97 miles |
| Cost of Living in Port Shepstone | 75.30 miles |
| Cost of Living in Richards Bay | 110.01 miles |
| Cost of Living in Vryheid | 195.33 miles |
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 |