Cape Town vs Goa: cost of living for digital nomads

Cape Town, South Africa and Goa, India, 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

  • Goa is about 31% cheaper than Cape Town for a month of nomad living ($1,100 vs $1,600).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $450 in Goa against $720 in Cape Town.
  • Goa scores higher on safety (7/10 vs 6/10).
  • Internet is faster in Cape Town: 80 Mbps typical against 40 Mbps.
  • Cape Town is mediterranean; Goa is tropical.

Cape Town wins 3 of the measured lines; Goa wins 5.

LineCape TownGoa
Monthly total (USD)$1,600$1,100
Rent$720$450
Food$430$250
Transport$60$70
Coworking$130$110
Safety (out of 10)6/107/10
Internet (Mbps)8040
Climatemediterraneantropical
City sizemetromid
Settingcoastcoast
Nomad score (out of 10)9/108/10

Goa

India's top nomad hub — beaches, cafés and a big community.

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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.