Cape Town vs Taipei: cost of living for digital nomads

Cape Town, South Africa and Taipei, Taiwan, 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 11% cheaper than Taipei for a month of nomad living ($1,600 vs $1,800).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $720 in Cape Town against $800 in Taipei.
  • Taipei scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 6/10).
  • Internet is faster in Taipei: 150 Mbps typical against 80 Mbps.
  • Cape Town is mediterranean; Taipei is tropical.

Cape Town wins 6 of the measured lines; Taipei wins 2.

LineCape TownTaipei
Monthly total (USD)$1,600$1,800
Rent$720$800
Food$430$450
Transport$60$70
Coworking$130$150
Safety (out of 10)6/109/10
Internet (Mbps)80150
Climatemediterraneantropical
City sizemetrometro
Settingcoastinland
Nomad score (out of 10)9/108/10

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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.