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Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Cape Town is 10% cheaper than Bangkok
| Lifestyle | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇹🇭 Bangkok | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $700/mo | $650/mo | -7% |
| Moderate | $1,000/mo | $900/mo | -10% |
| Comfortable | $1,500/mo | $1,350/mo | -10% |
Estimates for a single person. Based on World Bank PPP data and national statistics.
| Category | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇹🇭 Bangkok | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $700/mo | $500/mo | -29% |
| Groceries & Food | $200/mo | $180/mo | -10% |
| Dining Out | $100/mo | $60/mo | -40% |
| Transport | $35/mo | $32/mo | -9% |
| Utilities & Internet | $100/mo | $90/mo | -10% |
| Healthcare | $80/mo | $72/mo | -10% |
| Leisure & Personal | $70/mo | $63/mo | -10% |
Sources: Stats SA, World Bank / NSO (Thailand), World Bank. Updated Jan 2026.
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇹🇭 Bangkok | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (500g) | $1 | $2 | +87% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $1 | $2 | +78% |
| Eggs (12) | $2 | $2 | -10% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $4 | $3 | -11% |
| Rice (1 kg) | $1 | $1 | +10% |
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇹🇭 Bangkok | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bunny chow / local meal | $4 | $2 | -61% |
| Fast food combo meal | $4 | $28 | +536% |
| Cappuccino | $2 | $5 | +118% |
| Beer (0.5L, restaurant) | $3 | $3 | 0% |
| Wine (glass, restaurant) | $3 | $3 | +3% |
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇹🇭 Bangkok | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (City Bowl) | $700 | $550 | -21% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside | $450 | $320 | -29% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, center | $1,300 | $1,100 | -15% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside | $800 | $600 | -25% |
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇹🇭 Bangkok | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly transit (MyCiTi) | $35 | $38 | +9% |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | -17% |
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇹🇭 Bangkok | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $80 | $100 | +25% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $30 | $20 | -33% |
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇹🇭 Bangkok | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $30 | $35 | +17% |
| Cinema ticket | $6 | $6 | +2% |
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇹🇭 Bangkok | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $8 | $6 | -32% |
Explore more: Cape Town city guide | Bangkok city guide | South Africa | Thailand