Which is cheaper, Cape Town or Nairobi?

Nairobi is cheaper, with a NoodlePants Cost of Living index of 36 vs 40 for Cape Town. A 1-bedroom in the city centre averages $650 vs $750.

Which is better for digital nomads, Cape Town or Nairobi?

Cape Town edges ahead with a NoodlePants Nomad Score of null vs null, factoring in internet (—), affordability and community.

All city comparisons

Cape Town vs Nairobi — 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

affordable

Nairobi

Kenya

COL Index

affordable

NoodlePants Verdict — generated from live data

Nairobi edges out Cape Town on affordability with a NoodlePants COL Index of 36 vs 40 (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)

$750

$650

Avg Rent 1BR (outside centre)

$520

$440

NoodlePants COL Index

Safety Score

—

Internet Speed

—

Nomad Score

—

Healthcare Score

—

Digital Nomad Visa

Not available

Who is each city for?

Cape Town is better for…

See the South Africa country profile

Nairobi is better for…

See the Kenya country profile

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