Cost of Living Comparison Between Durban and Cape Town 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Cape Town is 11.9% higher than in Durban (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Cape Town is 27.9% higher than in Durban | |
| Rent Prices in Cape Town are 90.1% higher than in Durban | |
| Restaurant Prices in Cape Town are 31.1% higher than in Durban | |
| Groceries Prices in Cape Town are 12.2% higher than in Durban | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Cape Town is 5.6% higher than in Durban | |
Restaurants | Durban Edit |
Cape Town Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 125.00 R | 200.00 R | +60.0 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 600.00 R | 800.00 R | +33.3 % |
| 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) | 39.00 R | 50.00 R | +28.2 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 36.00 R | 37.24 R | +3.4 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 16.45 R | 21.62 R | +31.5 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 13.11 R | 15.60 R | +19.0 % |
Markets | Durban Edit |
Cape Town Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 18.81 R | 20.97 R | +11.5 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 14.89 R | 17.82 R | +19.6 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 11.73 R | 15.82 R | +34.9 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 38.53 R | 42.67 R | +10.7 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 58.47 R | 68.46 R | +17.1 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 36.50 R | 42.97 R | +17.7 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 52.83 R | 61.65 R | +16.7 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | 13.35 R | 13.74 R | +2.9 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 12.00 R | 13.33 R | +11.1 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 11.67 R | 12.91 R | +10.6 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 11.36 R | 13.81 R | +21.6 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 11.39 R | 10.62 R | -6.8 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | 10.63 R | 10.89 R | +2.4 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 18.21 R | 19.28 R | +5.9 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 17.35 R | 18.87 R | +8.8 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 80.00 R | 100.00 R | +25.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 26.14 R | 24.11 R | -7.7 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 29.67 R | 32.50 R | +9.6 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 55.00 R | 55.00 R | 0.0 % |
Transportation | Durban Edit |
Cape Town Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 27.50 R | 20.00 R | -27.3 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 687.93 R | 490.00 R | -28.8 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 20.00 R | 25.50 R | +27.5 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 17.70 R | 32.19 R | +81.8 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 120.00 R | 100.00 R | -16.7 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 23.35 R | 21.70 R | -7.1 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 360,000.00 R | 380,000.00 R | +5.6 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 441,818.18 R | 459,927.78 R | +4.1 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Durban Edit |
Cape Town Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 2,826.03 R | 2,174.37 R | -23.1 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 519.88 R | 568.33 R | +9.3 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 591.06 R | 764.32 R | +29.3 % |
Sports And Leisure | Durban Edit |
Cape Town Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 625.00 R | 737.73 R | +18.0 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 164.00 R | 175.83 R | +7.2 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 125.00 R | 127.50 R | +2.0 % |
Childcare | Durban Edit |
Cape Town Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 3,672.17 R | 3,950.00 R | +7.6 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 82,044.44 R | 91,899.90 R | +12.0 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Durban Edit |
Cape Town Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 837.71 R | 968.50 R | +15.6 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 536.60 R | 611.90 R | +14.0 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 1,612.44 R | 2,085.00 R | +29.3 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 1,353.77 R | 1,535.71 R | +13.4 % |
Rent Per Month | Durban Edit |
Cape Town Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 6,946.15 R | 15,054.35 R | +116.7 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 6,400.00 R | 10,042.86 R | +56.9 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 13,750.00 R | 27,238.10 R | +98.1 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 10,571.43 R | 19,275.00 R | +82.3 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Durban Edit |
Cape Town Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 1,410.15 R | 3,140.11 R | +122.7 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 1,768.80 R | 2,024.94 R | +14.5 % |
Salaries And Financing | Durban Edit |
Cape Town Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 20,694.42 R | 27,944.38 R | +35.0 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 11.98 | 11.54 | -3.6 % |
| Last update: | 5 October 2025 | 9 November 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 62 | 187 |
Moving to Durban? Explore:
Moving to Cape Town? Explore:
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 |