Cape Town for Digital Nomads: A No-Nonsense Guide

In the brutally cold winter (but South African summer), we decided to escape the Berlin bleakness and hop down to Cape Town, South Africa for a remote working stint.

Surprisingly, things went smoothly, despite some initial things we had heard, but this was thanks to the collated advice from a few kind-hearted South African friends who wanted to ensure that we had the time of our lives in this city.

So let's cut to the chase...the no-nonsense, no-BS guide filled with tips on how to maximize your digital nomad experience in Cape Town from even before you are there. As this is solely based on our fabulous experience, we leave out a lot of potentially amazing places and ideas, so feel free to use this as much as you want, but always remember to weave in your own adventures 😘.

FAQ: Being a Digital Nomad in Cape Town

Is Cape Town good for digital nomads?

Yes! Cape Town offers freaking stunning scenery, affordable luxury, great coworking spaces, and a vibrant expat scene. Just be prepared for load-shedding and some safety considerations.

Where do most digital nomads stay in Cape Town?

Green Point and Sea Point are the top choices for digital nomads, offering fast Wi-Fi, safety, and easy access to cafés and coworking spaces. They are also very safe!

Is Cape Town safe for digital nomads?

Cape Town is generally safe in well-frequented areas, but petty crime is an issue. Stick to safe neighborhoods, use rideshare apps, like Uber, and stay aware of your surroundings.

How much does it cost to live as a digital nomad in Cape Town?

A comfortable digital nomad lifestyle in Cape Town costs around $1,500–$2,500 per month, depending on your accommodation and lifestyle choices.

Does Cape Town have good Wi-Fi?

Yes, but always check Wi-Fi speeds before booking accommodation (we asked our AirBnb host directly before booking). Coworking spaces and certain cafés offer reliable high-speed internet. Keep mobile data as a backup.

Do I need a visa to enter South Africa?

If you are from most countries in the EU, the United Kingdom or the United States, you do not need a visa to South Africa and can stay in the country for up to 90 days, enough to experience the entirety of Cape Town's summer.

However, if you are looking to stay longer, South Africa offers a digital nomad visa, where you can stay in the country for up to 3 entire years! Read about the requirements and how to apply here.

How do digital nomads deal with load-shedding in Cape Town?

Invest in a portable charger, work from locations with backup power, and plan your schedule around power outage times using the ESP app.

You'll typically get a sunset like this everyday if you decide to do your Cape Town digital nomad stint in summer (Dec to March)

Before You Go: Digital Nomad Essentials & Best Areas to Stay in Cape Town

1) Get well-versed on safety in Cape Town and load-shedding

Load-shedding, what the hell is that? If you have a similarly dirty mind like us 💦, it is not what it sounds like. It is South Africa's way of dealing with the country's energy crisis by turning off electricity around various districts during pre-determined times of the day (usually for 2.5 hours at a time).

Rich or poor, it affects all South Africans in some way, shape, or form and as a digital nomad, you will also experience the pains and inconveniences around it as well. We will go into details on how to make load-shedding as smooth sailing as possible, but just know that it does exist.

And now the part where we become caring mothers and talk about safety and security, just so you don't rock up to Cape Town thinking everything is all roses, and you immediately have your phone stolen. While Cape Town is generally safe, the best advice we have gotten is to simply "be vigilant". Even in these planning stages of your trip, it is good to know that Cape Town's crime rate is a bit higher than some other digital nomad hotspots you may have experienced. There is economic disparity, noticeable racial segregation, and in turn it doesn't always feel safe on every corner you go to.

So while you are planning your trip and in the execution phase, make sure to keep this in the forefront of your mind. For sure don't let it hinder your decision to come to this magnificent city, but just remember to "be vigilant" (mom rant over, but I will reference this later on in the guide).

2) Use AirBnb or Vrbo to find accommodations in Green Point or Sea Point

After buying the flight down to Cape Town, the accommodation planning process commenced. My friend, Tilden, told us about the thriving AirBnb scene, so we got on it and sent him a few options. Without much prior knowledge of Cape Town, we sent him some cheaper, but sexy AirBnbs in the Central Business District (CBD), but these were swiftly rejected.

He mentioned staying in Green Point or Sea Point, while more expensive, was a more suitable option as they were much safer areas and also more relaxed vibes. So we went with his word and forked over a little more money for a place in Green Point. There are no regrets on that decision.

In the nearby vicinity we have the typical digital nomad necessities, such as hipster restaurants and cafés to work, a gym, and parks, plus some massive bonuses including Signal Hill right behind us (from which you can hike all the way to Lion's Head) and abundant seaside. You will get a relatively similar experience in nearby Sea Point, although I don't love the more commercial feel to it.

Vrbo is also another great site to look for longer-term rentals:

Here are some tips when looking on AirBnb or Vrbo for flats in Cape Town:

• Try to look for the monthly rate as there is often a steep cut in costs. Also, did you know on AirBnb, you can try to negotiate the price down? Feel free to counter-offer whatever the rate is, and what is the worst that can happen?
• Ask your landlord about the internet situation during load-shedding. They will likely not be able to ensure that you will have electricity during these load-shedding periods, but our landlord made sure we had Wi-Fi that ran on an inverter, so we were never without Wi-Fi while working

Some alternatives:

• If you are looking for a co-working, co-living situation, look no further than Neighbourgood
• If you are cool with hostel vibes for a little while, especially if you are solo traveling, email The Little Lemon Tree or book the Sunflower Stop (we stayed here at the end of our trip and was a great way for us to meet some other travelers -- albeit a bit of a younger crowd than we are used to)

Our AirBnb even has an occasional cat visitor!

3) Pre-book a car if you don't plan to Uber

Uber is the preferred method of getting around in Cape Town, but it isn't for everyone, so one of the other popular ways to get around is to rent a car. You can get perfect long term deals!

When we drove the Garden Route on a road trip before we settled in Cape Town, we used RentalCars.com and picked up and dropped off the car right at the airport.

Just beware that they drive on the left side of the road 😘, which for me was my very first time.

4) Get yourself a portable charger

As mentioned in #1, load-shedding will become a daily part of your vocabulary in Cape Town, so do yourself a favor and grab a portable charger if it is the only thing you bring in the end! We are fortunate enough to have relatively new computers, but there have been close calls where I have had to switch to a phone for a meeting. So from our experience, save yourself the stress and grab a portable laptop charger.

5) Download a few must-have apps: Uber and ESP

Whether you love it or hate it, Uber will become your best friend while you are in Cape Town for a few reasons. 1) It is cheap, 2) There isn't particularly reliable or wide-spread public transportation, and 3) circling back to the safety topic, it just sometimes feels safer to Uber than walk somewhere.

You may be able to pick up a free one-month trial on an Uber Pass, which reduces the amount you will need to pay per trip (which I usually tip back to the driver).

The other quintessential app to download before coming to Cape Town is called ESP, to once again, help you deal with the completely alien concept of load-shedding. In the app, you put in the area you are staying in, and it will give you the load-shedding schedule for that day and the next day. You can also turn on your push notifications, so you will get an alert 15- and/or 55-minutes before a load-shed...enough time to go run to a charger and juice up a bit or find an alternative source of internet.

Living & Working in Cape Town: How to Make the Most of Your Time & Budget

You've likely been flying a minimum of 12 hours (if you are coming from Europe) or 24 hours (if you are coming from the U.S.), time to settle in!

Here is a handy-dandy map of our favorite places that we will mention below:

6) Pick up a SIM card at the airport or get an eSIM

Right after baggage claim, you will have a few SIM-card options. Make it easy and go to Vodacom, which inside and outside Cape Town, has been more than reliable enough for my needs. At the time of writing this, I spent R199 (a little over 10 euros) for 20GB (lasting for 30 days). I had the new SIM in my phone in a matter of 3 mins and was on my way into the city.

An alternative is getting an eSIM, which is all the rage these days. We've used Airalo all around the world, and besides one time in Armenia where it didn't work well for us, it has been a godsend. It will be a bit pricier for a long-term stay, so I almost recommend getting it before leaving for Cape Town and then switching to a local SIM afterwards.

7) Shop at KWIKSpar to save, shop at Woolworths to SPLURGE

During our first shopping trip was at Woolworths, we kind of just threw a bunch of things for a barbecue in two baskets thinking that it was South Africa, so it wouldn't break the bank. But when we got the register, we realized we racked up a bill for about 100 euros. One of the culprits was a 12 euro tin of absolutely not special nuts...like what? Our verdict, Woolworths has it all and is of super high quality that you will hardly find anywhere else, but use it only for a fancy, occasional picnic.

In our neighborhood, we soon after discovered KWIKSpar, which is a much cheaper alternative. The quality of the food is still good, but you will not cry at the end of every register visit. There is also Shoprite around too, which is the most affordable of them all.

8) Join Virgin Active Gym

Alright, so the honeymoon phase is still happening, as I don't think it ever goes away being in this city, but maybe you're missing your workout routine by this point. If you are staying in Green Point or Sea Point, you have the most glorious gym cum indoor swimming pool cum outdoor swimming pool cum fitness classes cum cafe/co-working space in one place. Plus, not to be completely vane, but there is so much eye candy it is actually quite motivating.

For about 100 euro for a single month, you have access to everything within Virgin Active. That may seem a bit expensive, but I feel like it has honestly been one of my highlights of my time in Cape Town. The atmosphere of the place has made me excited about working out and when I want to "pretend" I am working at 3pm on a Friday, I have a pretty quiet outdoor pool I can retreat to.

We tend to go in the morning, when it is admittedly a bit more crowded than we like, but it is a must if you are one of those nomads like us that need a fitness routine to function.

The outdoor pool at Virgin Active, our favorite take-a-break-from-work spot

9) Find some cozy work spaces

Hopefully you have taken some vacation days and explored the city by now, but maybe it's time to get back to work. The flat is great, but you want to find some cozy places to work from and see some people. Well, Cape Town has the places to do it, whatever your style is. Just beware that most places will still experience load-shedding, and you should hopefully have a charged laptop or a portable charger as mentioned before.

If you are one of these cafe-goers, Cape Town has some of the best places, and they won't get mad at you for having just a coffee and staying there for several hours.

Here are some of our favs around the Green Point area:

• Park cafe - Adorable, airy, colonial-style place in the heart of Green Point where they will be playing throwback tunes and serving up cheap eats (try the vegetable pesto sandwich and their bottled kombucha). They have a nice shaded outdoor area to the side where you can get some shit done.
• Nourish'ed - The café at the same location as the aforementioned Neighbourgood, this place is a digital nomad haven and albeit a little slow on the service, has nice vibes and good Wi-Fi.
• Bootlegger coffee - There are a few of these around the area and in general is a nice, spacious coffee shop with reliable internet and tasty food.
• (Believe it or not) Virgin Active - Nü Cafe - Another shout-out to Virgin Active. While the internet isn't great, it is a nice place to get some admin things done after you have a workout, without having to go very far. I will generally just use my hotspot there and have a coffee or healthy shake in the interim.
• Cushty Neighbourhood Deli - A bakery with delish fresh salads and a few nice working stations if you can snag them.

If you prefer co-working:

• Ideas Cartel - A bit of a walk away from the area we suggested staying in, but is in a beautiful industrial building, and they are immune to load-shedding 💦!

10) Start work early, end work early

The vibe I get here is that people thrive during the daylight hours, so try to end your day a bit earlier, so you still have a few hours before sun-down.

Take advantage of the nature in the late afternoon hours and do one of these if you are feeling adventurous:

• A sunset, lion's head hike
• Take a gondola up Table Top Mountain

Table Mountain Gondola ride

Sunset hike at Lion's Head

Or, go relax at one of these favorite places to watch the sunset:

• La Perla - Damn good bottles of wine and fried calamari
• Rockpool - An awesome little outdoor place overlooking the sea with dangerous Coronaritas (coronas inserted in margaritas) and decent food
• Cause and Effect - Camps Bay - While there is a street between you and the beach, it is a banging place for an end of the day cocktails and a seafood platter
• Blondie - Whoa whoa whoa, this is in the CBD, but it gives us such summer vibes and has extremely creative cocktails and tapas. No sea-side view here, but just a fab atmosphere.

Get the seafood platter at Cause and Effect 😋

(Bonus and probably not necessary to reiterate) Be vigilant

Okay, mom here again for a brief second. Just be careful, go by your gut, and if you are feeling unsafe, make sure to call an Uber home.

So there you have it! Obviously this post is more just covering Green Point and Sea Point, but if you loosely follow these steps, your digital nomad experience in Cape Town will conquer all other digital nomad experiences.

Happy (and blurry) digital nomads in Cape Town