Cape Town vs Nairobi — Cost of Living Comparison 2026
Which city is cheaper, safer, and better for remote workers? Here's the data.
NoodlePants Verdict — generated from live data
Nairobi edges out Cape Town on affordability with a Cost of Living index of 36 vs 40 (NYC=100; affordable vs affordable). Nairobi scores higher on safety (null/100), and Nairobi 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
Nairobi
Avg Rent 1BR (city centre)
US$750
US$650
Avg Rent 1BR (outside centre)
US$520
US$440
Cost of Living (NYC=100)
40
36
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 profileNairobi is better for…
See the Kenya country profileSee full city data — neighbourhood breakdowns, internet speeds & coworking scores
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