Cape Town vs Nairobi: cost of living for digital nomads
Cape Town, South Africa and Nairobi, Kenya, 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
- Nairobi is about 19% cheaper than Cape Town for a month of nomad living ($1,300 vs $1,600).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $580 in Nairobi against $720 in Cape Town.
- Both score 6/10 on safety.
- Internet is faster in Cape Town: 80 Mbps typical against 40 Mbps.
- Cape Town is mediterranean; Nairobi is temperate.
Cape Town wins 2 of the measured lines; Nairobi wins 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Cape Town or Nairobi?
Nairobi is cheaper: about $1,300/month against $1,600/month in Cape Town, roughly 19% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Cape Town or Nairobi?
Cape Town and Nairobi score the same on safety, 6/10 each.
Which has faster internet, Cape Town or Nairobi?
Cape Town has faster typical internet: 80 Mbps against 40 Mbps in Nairobi.
| Line | Cape Town | Nairobi |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,600 | $1,300 |
| Rent | $720 | $580 |
| Food | $430 | $360 |
| Transport | $60 | $50 |
| Coworking | $130 | $110 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 80 | 40 |
| Climate | mediterranean | temperate |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | coast | inland |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 9/10 | 7/10 |
Compare Cape Town with
Compare Nairobi 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, Nairobi November 9, 2026.