Cape Town vs Funchal: cost of living for digital nomads

Cape Town, South Africa and Funchal, Portugal, 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 6% cheaper than Funchal for a month of nomad living ($1,600 vs $1,700).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $720 in Cape Town against $850 in Funchal.
  • Funchal scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 6/10).
  • Internet is faster in Funchal: 100 Mbps typical against 80 Mbps.
  • Both have a mediterranean climate.

Cape Town wins 3 of the measured lines; Funchal wins 4.

LineCape TownFunchal
Monthly total (USD)$1,600$1,700
Rent$720$850
Food$430$430
Transport$60$40
Coworking$130$120
Safety (out of 10)6/109/10
Internet (Mbps)80100
Climatemediterraneanmediterranean
City sizemetromid
Settingcoastisland
Nomad score (out of 10)9/108/10

Funchal

Madeira's capital and home of the original Digital Nomad Village — safe, scenic, EU-based.

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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.