Cape Town vs Las Terrenas: cost of living for digital nomads
Cape Town, South Africa and Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic, 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
- Las Terrenas is about 1% cheaper than Cape Town for a month of nomad living ($1,580 vs $1,600).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $700 in Las Terrenas against $720 in Cape Town.
- Las Terrenas scores higher on safety (7/10 vs 6/10).
- Cape Town is mediterranean; Las Terrenas is tropical.
Cape Town wins 1 of the measured lines; Las Terrenas wins 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Cape Town or Las Terrenas?
Las Terrenas is cheaper: about $1,580/month against $1,600/month in Cape Town, roughly 1% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Cape Town or Las Terrenas?
Las Terrenas scores higher on safety: 7/10 against 6/10 for Cape Town.
Which has faster internet, Cape Town or Las Terrenas?
Cape Town and Las Terrenas have about the same typical internet speed, 80 Mbps.
| Line | Cape Town | Las Terrenas |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,600 | $1,580 |
| Rent | $720 | $700 |
| Food | $430 | $400 |
| Transport | $60 | $60 |
| Coworking | $130 | $100 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 80 | 80 |
| Climate | mediterranean | tropical |
| City size | metro | small |
| Setting | coast | coast |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 9/10 | 7/10 |
Las Terrenas
Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic.
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): Cape Town November 10, 2026, Las Terrenas September 10, 2026.