Addu City vs Cape Town: cost of living for digital nomads
Addu City, Maldives and Cape Town, South Africa, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Cape Town is about 2% cheaper than Addu City for a month of nomad living ($1,600 vs $1,640).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $700 in Addu City against $720 in Cape Town.
- Addu City scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 6/10).
- Internet is faster in Cape Town: 80 Mbps typical against 70 Mbps.
- Addu City is tropical; Cape Town is mediterranean.
Addu City wins 4 of the measured lines; Cape Town wins 4.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Addu City or Cape Town?
Cape Town is cheaper: about $1,600/month against $1,640/month in Addu City, roughly 2% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Addu City or Cape Town?
Addu City scores higher on safety: 8/10 against 6/10 for Cape Town.
Which has faster internet, Addu City or Cape Town?
Cape Town has faster typical internet: 80 Mbps against 70 Mbps in Addu City.
| Line | Addu City | Cape Town |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,640 | $1,600 |
| Rent | $700 | $720 |
| Food | $470 | $430 |
| Transport | $35 | $60 |
| Coworking | $95 | $130 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 70 | 80 |
| Climate | tropical | mediterranean |
| City size | small | metro |
| Setting | island | coast |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 5/10 | 9/10 |
Compare Addu City with
Compare Cape Town with
Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Addu City September 11, 2026, Cape Town November 10, 2026.