Cape Town vs Johannesburg — Cost of Living Comparison 2026
Which city is cheaper, safer, and better for remote workers? Here's the data.
Cape Town
South Africa
COL Index
40
affordable
Johannesburg
South Africa
COL Index
38
affordable
NoodlePants Verdict — generated from live data
Johannesburg edges out Cape Town on affordability with a NoodlePants COL Index of 38 vs 40 (affordable vs affordable). Johannesburg scores higher on safety (null/100), and Johannesburg wins on internet at ~—. Overall, Cape Town takes the Nomad Score crown with null/100 — best for .
* Some figures are country averages — full city-level data coming soon.Pro members get neighbourhood-level breakdowns.
Metric
Cape Town
Johannesburg
Avg Rent 1BR (city centre)
$750
$650
Avg Rent 1BR (outside centre)
$520
$470
NoodlePants COL Index
40
38
Safety Score
—
—
Internet Speed
—
—
Nomad Score
—
—
Healthcare Score
—
—
Digital Nomad Visa
Not available
Not available
Who is each city for?
Cape Town is better for…
See the South Africa country profileJohannesburg is better for…
See the South Africa country profileSee full city data — neighbourhood breakdowns, internet speeds & coworking scores
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