Salary Insights: What is a good salary in Cape Town?

I moved to Cape Town to advance in my chosen career path, and I never regretted it!

But wait, is it worth the move for you too? How much do you have to earn to live here?

A good salary in Cape Town is ZAR 30,000. It will help you live comfortably with enough money left for savings and leisure.

Now you know what you need to live here, do you think it’s high time to attempt your big break in the city? To help you prepare for it, here are more specifics on local salary and cost of living.

Cost of Living in Cape Town

As a single guy living in Cape Town, here are my monthly expenses just to give you an idea:

Basic Necessities	Cost Per Month
Utilities	ZAR 1,700
Transportation	ZAR 990 (train pass)
Rent for one bedroom apartment	ZAR 10,000
Groceries	ZAR 2,500

Salaries for Different Job Positions in Cape Town

Highest-Paid Jobs

The highest-paid jobs in Cape Town are surgeons and doctors with a salary range of ZAR 75,500–ZAR 241,000 a month.

Here’s a list of highly paid jobs available in the city:

Occupation	Salary Per Month
Surgeons/Doctors	ZAR 75,500–ZAR 241,000
Bank Managers	ZAR 38,200–ZAR 122,000
C.E.O.	ZAR 39,900–ZAR 117,000
C.F.O.	ZAR 37,600–ZAR 111,000
College Professors	ZAR 30,000–ZAR 105,000
Pilots	ZAR 29,600–ZAR 94, 200

Average Wage

The average wage for professional jobs in Cape Town is ZAR 397,027 per year or an hourly rate of ZAR 191. I’m slightly above average with an hourly of ZAR 250 as an I.T. professional.

Minimum Wage

The minimum wage for Cape Town is around ZAR 25.42 per hour, which is around ZAR 52,874 annually.

FAQs

How do salaries in Cape Town compare to other South African cities?

Cape Town’s salaries are higher than other South African cities, as Cape Town has a higher cost of living. Johannesburg is next on the list with an average annual salary of ZAR 295,000.

What factors influence salary levels in Cape Town?

The factors that easily influence salary levels in Cape Town are experiences, skills, education, and the industry of your preferred work.

How often are salary increases given in Cape Town?

Salary increases often happen annually in Cape Town, and that depends on the employee’s performance and the company’s policy. There’s usually an annual increase of 5% to 7% for professional job positions.