Your Guide to Life as a Digital Nomad in Cape Town

If a place with beautiful people, beaches and mountains sounds like your type of city, then look no further than Cape Town as your next destination or digital nomad home base. Here is a complete guide on digital nomad life in Cape Town.

Introduction

Cape Town, also known as the “Mother City”, is the oldest city in South Africa. In 2020, it became South Africa’s biggest city in terms of population. It’s located between mountain and sea, with Table Mountain being the superstar of the city’s skyline. The question in Cape Town is not what there is to do, but what there is that you can’t do. This city has the best of both city life and nature, adventure and leisure, and work and play.

Practical information

Wifi

The average wifi speed in South Africa on mobile download speeds are at about 38 MPBS average, and 37 MBPS on fixed broadband.

It may not be the fastest in the world, but it is fast enough to work on.

Unfortunately, it can be unreliable. I didn’t experience much issues with the network in my 6 months there, however, I did experience many power outages that turned off the router.

SIM card

Every digital nomad in Cape Town should have a SIM card, with enough data for back up. In many cases, the locals of Cape Town are used to the power outages, and may have solar power or a back up solution to keep their router on when the power goes out.

But in case you don’t, get a SIM card with data. I used Vodacom, and they often have deals for their data packages.

I was able to load 50 GB of data onto my SIM card for 299 ZAR ($20 USD), which was more than enough.

Big tip: Get a basic plan at the airport, and load more data once you get into the city. They have better deals in the regular shops than the kiosk in the airport.

Getting Around

There is pubic transport in Cape Town, but the infrastructure is not very well developed, meaning it’s hard to get around everywhere using just the train.

It’s also worth noting that safety is a big issue. While in Cape Town, we were advised by basically everyone to not take the train or public transport for safety reasons.

With that said, I did take the train a couple times while there, just to see for myself. Nothing happened to me, but I still can’t recommend it. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and if the locals say it’s not a good idea, they are probably right.

There were also many news stories of people lighting the trains on fire (yeah, seriously) while we were there. It just doesn’t seem worth the hassle. I would recommend renting a car for your whole stay or using ride sharing apps.

Car Rental

Renting a car in Cape Town was actually really affordable and easy, especially if you aren’t traveling alone and can split the cost. It’s fairly easy to find parking in Cape Town, and when we did pay for parking it was never expensive.

I think for safety, comfort and convenience, renting a car is the best option for transport while you are here. Especially if you plan to do some road trips out of Cape Town (which you should!), you’ll need it sooner or later.

My only advice is, if you plan to rent a car, make sure your accommodation has a secure parking area. I’m talking about one with an electric fence, or a 24 hour security guard, or at the very least, is gated.

These are necessary precautions in Cape Town, unfortunately.

Ride Share Apps

If you don’t rent a car, you should plan to get around strictly using one of these apps. They are the safest way to get around, without a car.

Uber vs Bolt

What I did was download both Uber and Bolt. and I’d often compare the price for a ride on both apps, then select the cheaper one. In terms of service, they are both identical.

Usually, Uber was more expensive, but sometimes it was much cheaper.

Also, you should expect the prices to surge drastically during rush hour. These are generally in the morning, when people are headed to work, and again in the afternoon, but much worse.

Whether you use Uber, Bolt or rent a car, try to avoid driving between 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM and again at 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM, if you don’t want to waste time in traffic.

The Climate

The climate in Cape Town reminds me a lot of Central California. If you are familiar with this region, you’ll know that while there isn’t a real winter per say, there is quite a difference in climate depending on the time of year.

Also, you should remember that the weather here is reversed from what we have in the northern hemisphere, meaning the summers are from December to February, and winters are from June to August.

Summer

In summer, it’s hot and sunny, but with a breeze. It never gets too hot, unlike many other parts of South Africa that can be quite uncomfortable if you aren’t used to it. Most days in summer, the temperature is consistently between 27 – 29 degrees C (80 – 84 F)

The days are long, with the sun setting at almost 9 PM each evening. There is also little rainfall.

Winter

In winter, it gets considerably colder. The day time temperatures drop to 20 C (68 F), and at night it can get as cold as 12 C (53 F).

In winter it also rains more, and you get a lot more cloudy days. No matter what time of year you visit, you will experience the crazy wind in Cape Town at some point. However, these are less frequent in winter.

Cost of Living

Cape Town is not a budget destination, but it’s also not as expensive as most cities in the USA or Europe.

You can live very comfortably here if you are making full time income. I think on average I spent about $2000 USD a month here (not counting lockdown, where I obviously spent much less). That includes the cost of doing some weekend trips and traveling.

Accommodation

A room in a shared home can cost $400 – $600 USD, if you are living in a centrally located area, or along the sea.

A studio apartment is usually $600 – $800 USD a month. A one bedroom apartment will be $750 – $1000 USD

My favorite area, Camps Bay, is a bit more expensive. You can rent a studio here in the lower end, for $1200 – $1500 USD a month, but it will be quite small.

If you plan to rent a car, you might be able to get away with living in one of the suburbs. Here the rent will be slightly cheaper, like in the $350 – $400 USD price range for a room in a shared home.

Food

The cost of groceries in Cape Town is very similar to the prices I pay in Europe. You can buy a weeks worth food for like $70 USD. The cheapest super market chain is Checkers.

Eating out is not cheap, but for what you get I think it’s worth it. There is a huge variety in cuisine and restaurants available, and the quality of food is good. A meal at a lower end restaurant starts at about $10 USD, and can cost up to $30 USD a meal.

Transportation

The cost to rent a car for a month from Firefly (owned by Hertz) was about $520 USD. If you split this with at least one other person or more, it’s super cheap.

If you don’t want to rent a car, using Bolt or Uber is fine. Getting across the city will cost about $10 – $15 USD each way, so depending how often you will want to leave your area, I still think it’s cheaper to have a car.

The Gym

You don’t need a gym to stay fit while in Cape Town, as there are endless sports and outdoor activities you can do instead.

However, I will mention it because I found the gyms here to be really nice. Virgin Active is a chain, and can be found throughout the city. They are really modern and new, and well equipped, with most having a pool. The one in Seapoint even has a tennis court.

Unfortunately, you can only get a yearly membership, which starts at 670 ZAR ($44 USD) a month. You can cancel it, but you may pay a cancellation fee, which could be up to the sum of the cost of 3 months.

Another gym that was recommended, was BUC gym. This gym does not require any contract, and you can pay a daily, weekly or monthly price. This gym is strictly for weightlifting, as there is no pool or outdoor facility.

Where to Stay

Because of the extreme safety issues present in Cape Town, where you stay really matters. You basically should not stay in any part of the Cape Flats, and even some of the suburban areas, are questionable.

To keep it simple, I would recommend the following areas.

Camps Bay

This is my favorite area, by far. It is a safe residential area, located in an extremely beautiful area right in front of the sea and under Table Mountain.

You can literally walk to the beach from here, or walk to the hiking trailhead for entering Table Mountain. If you love nature, I can’t imagine a better area to base yourself.

You will live among mansions and some of the richest people in the country. But, it’s still possible to rent a single person apartment in this area at an affordable price.

I stayed in this exact flat in Camps Bay, listed at $1740 USD a month. It’s very safe, right next to a market, and I could even see the sunset from my window everyday.

Overall, apartments in this area can cost anywhere from $1200 – $2400 USD a month.

Seapoint

This is probably the most convenient and ideal area for a homebase, for the average digital nomad. It’s closer to the city center, and around more of the action.

While Camps Bay is a residential area, and definitely more on the quiet side, Seapoint has lots of cafes, bars, restaurants, and overall life, in its vicinity.

It’s still along the sea, and offers an amazing beachfront promenade, perfect for sunset walks or morning jogs. There’s also an awesome public pool open year round right next to the ocean.

You can get a one bedroom Airbnb apartment in Seapoint for $600 – $800 USD a month.

Woodstock

This area is popular for digital nomads as well. It’s an up and coming area, that recently got gentrified to an extent (in a good way).

It’s home to loads of hipster cafes and bars, and lots of street art. Some areas are still a bit dodgy, based on local hearsay, but I found it relatively safe during the day.

In Woodstock, there are rooms for rent on airbnb for as low as $350 – $450 USD a month.

Personally, I don’t prefer this area, because it isn’t near the beach.

Things to Do

You will never run out of things to do as a digital nomad in Cape Town, unless you hate nature, sports or meeting people. Here are the top things to enjoy while basing yourself in Cape Town.

Explore Table Mountain

Easily my favorite thing about Cape Town, is Table Mountain. Even without considering the endless sports activities you can do related to it, just seeing it towering high above the city, from wherever you are, brings a huge smile to my face.

There are many things to do on Table Mountain, that you can learn more about here.

Some of my favorite things to do on Table Mountain are visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden and hike the Pipe Track to Kasteelspoort.

But it doesn’t end there, you can also ride the cable car up or down, go mountain biking or even camping (I’m not sure if this is legal, but we met some locals who camp up there every month).

Hike Lions Head at Sunset

Lions Head is another iconic peak in Cape Town. It’s located just below Table Mountain on the northwestern side facing the Seapoint neighborhood.

For the average hiker, you can reach the peak in 90 minutes to 2 hours. My favorite time of day to hike it is during golden hour, so you can watch the sunset from the top. You also have the best view of Table Mountain from up there.

If you go for sunset, be sure to bring a headlamp or flashlight for the descent.

Camps Bay Beach

Camps Bay Beach is the most beautiful beach in Cape Town, but not the best for swimming. The water from the Atlantic is freezing! Unless you are really built for cold, you will probably enjoy this beach from the sand.

On this beach, you will be surrounded by beauty. You have Table Mountain behind you, a view of Lions Head to the right, and drop dead beautiful sunsets here every evening.

There are restaurants and bars on the main road, or you can go to Pick n Pay supermarket and grab snacks to have on the beach.

Clifton Beach

Clifton Beach is located right next to Camps Bay, but you have a steep ascent down some stairs to get to the beach below. It’s also a bit smaller, but feels a bit secluded, since its surrounded by cliffs and mansions.

Miuzenberg Beach

If you want to swim, Muizenberg Beach will be the beach for you. The water here is warm, because it’s coming from the Indian Ocean. This beach is also popular for surfing.

Visit Wineries in Stellenbosch

If I go back to Cape Town, I might base myself in Stellenbosch for a month. On top of having close access to all the wineries, the landscape in this area is stunning. There are loads of hiking trails, for those who want to explore more on foot.

The city of Stellenbosch is also super cute! My favorite wine-tasting bar is Stark-Conde Wines, with their tasting room located in the middle of a pond.

Swim with Penguins at Boulders Beach

You simply can’t leave Cape Town without paying these penguins a visit. The penguin colony is located at Boulders Beach, and although you have to pay to enter, it’s totally worth it. This is one of the only opportunities you may ever get to swim with penguins in the wild! And without going all the way to Antarctica, I might add.

Have a Braai

Braai, is the South African word for barbecue, and the locals sure do love to barbecue.

If you are a digital nomad, you can connect with locals and other travelers easily. I used Couchsurfing and facebook to join local groups to hear about upcoming meet-ups and events.

After you have some friends, you should definitely do at least one braai while here. If you’re feeling up for it, you can buy some exotic meats at the supermarket to barbecue. I never tried it, but I even saw an ostrich steak section in my local Pick n Pay!

Swim With Sea Lions

In Hout Bay, you can go snorkeling with sea lions. It was an amazing experience, although prepare for very cold waters.

The sea lion colony is on Duiker Island, not too far off shore, and can be reached by a short speed boat ride.

Once in the water, you will swim among the sea lions in a kelp forest. They are super playful and will swim right up to you! But, they are really fast and will be gone in a flash.

Drive to the Cape of Good Hope

This is a popular road trip from Cape Town. The Cape of Good Hope is marketed as the most southern tip of Africa, but this isn’t true. The southernmost tip is at Cape Aghuilas.

It’s still a very scenic road trip, taking you along the coast, showing off the beautiful scenery of this area. Once you arrive at the entrance and pay the entrance fee, the Cape of Good Hope can be reached on an easy, and very scenic hike.

Go Whale Watching

Whale season in Cape Town is from July to December. If you are here in this window of time, you can go for a boat tour to try and spot them. If you are lucky, you will get to see the whales up close.

Safety in Cape Town

The biggest downside to basing yourself in Cape Town is definitely the issue regarding safety. Cape Town is frequently ranked within the top 10 most dangerous cities in the world.

Safety precautions here need to be taken seriously, because unfortunately, the statistics are pretty grim.

With that said, I spent half a year in Cape Town, most of it by myself, and had zero incidents. Here are rules I suggest adhering to strictly:

1. Never walk around at night (not even in a group)
2. Lock your doors in both your car and home at all times
3. If your windows or doors have bars, use them
4. Keep money and electronics hidden in public and in your vehicle at all times
5. Don’t drive through dangerous areas unless you need to
6. Avoid the train and public buses
7. Do your research and know what areas to avoid
8. If you have to drive through dangerous areas, avoid stopping or slowing down (carjacking is common here)

These are all tips and instructions we got from locals, that they adhere to themselves. The first 2 months here, I was extremely on edge because of all the stories I had been told about crime in Cape Town.

While those horror stories are very real, they mostly happen in certain areas of Cape Town. You can avoid a huge percentage of your chances of an unsafe incident by sticking to “safe” areas.

Before you arrive, it may be confusing understanding which areas are and aren’t safe. You can refer to this map, which shows you the areas to avoid in red, and safer areas in green. Although is 2 years outdated, from my experience, it remains accurate.

Digital Nomad Life in Cape Town

There are many positives to digital nomad life in Cape Town, especially if you are an active traveler and love to get outdoors. There are also a couple downsides, that are pretty major. Here are the pros and cons of digital nomad life in Cape Town.

The Positives

Active lifestyle : There are countless outdoor activities and sports that you can do in Cape Town. Even ones you haven’t tried yet. Living in Cape Town means taking advantage of nature’s playground that is Table Mountain, or one of the many beaches. Whether you prefer mountain or ocean sports, you will never be bored in Cape Town.

The nature: I’ve never lived in a city with such an overwhelming amount of nature coexisting with city life, except maybe Honolulu. In Cape Town, you can literally be having coffee or working downtown, then on top of Table Mountain within an hour.

English is spoken: It’s easy to communicate and meet people because English is one of the national languages in South Africa.

Diversity and quality in food: I loved the food in Cape Town. First, there are so many options. You can really find any type of cuisine you will potentially crave here. There’s Vietnamese food, sushi, Ethiopian food, local barbecue and game meat, and even Mexican food.

Active social life: Although my South African friend said it’s hard to make friends with locals, I experienced the opposite. I found the social life in Cape Town to be really fun, and meeting people very easy.

Events and nightlife: Cape Town isn’t the place you go for raging clubs or anything like that, but there is still nightlife. Once a month, downtown they have a huge outdoor block party, with live music, street food and art. During summer, they also do outdoor movie screening on Table Mountain. There are always some upcoming events going on in Cape Town.

The Negatives

Loadshedding: Easily the most annoying part of living in Cape Town are the scheduled power outages, locally known as loadshedding. Luckily, locals are used to this, and they’ve found ways to live with it. These power outages are scheduled, so if you know when to expect them, they are quite manageable. You should download the Eskomsepush app, and you can use it to check the schedule for the upcoming loadshedding times in your area. Depending when you go, you may be lucky and have no loadshedding, or you may experience it multiple times a day.

The crime: The worst aspect of Cape Town is the safety. There is no way to sugarcoat it, this city is dangerous and if you want to live here you have to normalize a new level of vigilance. It can be exhausting at times to always be on high alert, but you kind of get used to it after a while.

Living in a bubble: Sometimes in Cape Town, I felt like I was existing in a gentrified bubble, especially since safety concerns stopped me from leaving the “white areas”. Racism exists here, but in a different way than I’ve experienced anywhere else. Sometimes, it was shocking to hear the things people felt so comfortable saying about a person because of their skin color.

Bad traffic: Because of the lack of development in public transportation, most people drive. The highways become extremely congested during peak hours, and sometimes at other random times of day. You will lose many hours sitting in traffic in Cape Town.

Crazy wind: Besides Iceland, I’ve never encountered wind like this. Sometimes despite seemingly perfect weather, we couldn’t do much outside because the wind is really that hectic. In Camps Bay, every other night, the wind would howl all night, shaking my entire apartment.

Final Say on Digital Nomad Life in Cape Town

I absolutely adored being a digital nomad in Cape Town. I had sky high expectations of this city long before I even set foot here, and it exceeded all those expectations. There are some challenges, but the rewards outweigh every negative, by a long shot. Come here and experience this amazing city for yourself!

Are you, or have you been a digital nomad in Cape Town? What do you think of it?