Cape Town vs Dubai: cost of living for digital nomads
Cape Town, South Africa and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 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 49% cheaper than Dubai for a month of nomad living ($1,600 vs $3,150).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $720 in Cape Town against $1,750 in Dubai.
- Dubai scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 6/10).
- Internet is faster in Dubai: 250 Mbps typical against 80 Mbps.
- Cape Town is mediterranean; Dubai is arid.
Cape Town wins 6 of the measured lines; Dubai wins 2.
| Line | Cape Town | Dubai |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,600 | $3,150 |
| Rent | $720 | $1,750 |
| Food | $430 | $650 |
| Transport | $60 | $90 |
| Coworking | $130 | $220 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 6/10 | 9/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 80 | 250 |
| Climate | mediterranean | arid |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | coast | coast |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 9/10 | 8/10 |
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.