The Cost of Living: Cape Town vs Joburg
Cape Town and Johannesburg are the two heavyweight cities in South Africa. Not that there aren’t many other wonderful towns and cities, but Cape Town and Johannesburg often get pitted against one another in the battle of which is the better city to live in.
Some people prefer Cape Town, and other Johannesburg, so it’s probably safer to just say that they’re both special cities, and each one suits different tastes. Choosing one over the other for subjective reasons is bound to end up in an argument.
What we can do though is compare the cost of living in each city. Let’s look at the facts and evaluate the stats.
Cost comparison
Based on research, it is indeed generally more expensive to live in Johannesburg than in Cape Town.
• Consumer prices in Johannesburg are 11.82% higher than in Cape Town.
• Restaurant prices in Johannesburg are 13.98% higher than in Cape Town.
• Groceries prices in Johannesburg are 6.37% higher than in Cape Town
However, it needs to be remembered that while you do have to pay more for the same lifestyle in Johannesburg as in Cape Town, it is likely that you will be making more money, which balances out the disparity. Johannesburg is a great place for business . The local purchasing power in Johannesburg is 15.15% higher than in Cape Town.
There is one aspect though in which Johannesburg is cheaper. The actual part of the living – in other words your accommodation. Cape Town is nearly 15% more expensive to rent in. The principle applies to buying property as well. In general you’ll pay less for houses for sale in Pretoria or Johannesburg, than in Cape Town.
Perhaps it’s because so many people want to move to Cape Town. Perhaps you have to pay a premium to have both the beach and the mountains in your view. Parts of Cape Town are more expensive than others of course. If you stick to the northern suburbs you’ll find the rent much more relaxed. But if you want to live in the CBD, be prepared to pay for the luxury of being in the heart of the Mother City.
It’s difficult to say which is the more expensive city to live in, because while costs are higher in Johannesburg, you’ll probably earn more there too. So if you’re trying to make a decision between the two cities, it’s best to look at other factors as well. Choose the city that suits you best: Cosmopolitan Cape Town, or energetic Johannesburg.