Bangkok vs Cape Town: cost of living for digital nomads

Bangkok, Thailand 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 7% cheaper than Bangkok for a month of nomad living ($1,600 vs $1,720).
  • Bangkok scores higher on safety (7/10 vs 6/10).
  • Internet is faster in Bangkok: 230 Mbps typical against 80 Mbps.
  • Bangkok is tropical; Cape Town is mediterranean.

Bangkok wins 3 of the measured lines; Cape Town wins 1.

LineBangkokCape Town
Monthly total (USD)$1,720$1,600
Rent$720$720
Food$420$430
Transport$60$60
Coworking$130$130
Safety (out of 10)7/106/10
Internet (Mbps)23080
Climatetropicalmediterranean
City sizemetrometro
Settinginlandcoast
Nomad score (out of 10)9/109/10

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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. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.