Essentials
- City
- Simon's Town (Simonstad), Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
- Population
- Approximately 7,000 residents
- Internet Speed
- Fiber is common; average speeds 50-100 Mbps via providers like VumaTel or RSAWeb
- Currency & Banking
- South African Rand (ZAR); 1 USD ≈ 19.00 ZAR, 1 EUR ≈ 20.50 ZAR (March 2026 estimates)
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and high quality (City of Cape Town supply)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz; 🔌 Type M (large 3-pin) and Type N. Note: Loadshedding (planned outages) may occur; check 'Cape Town' in 'EskomSePush' app
- SIM Card
- MTN or Vodacom (Best coverage). 20GB data approx. R399 ($21)
- Banking for Expats
- FNB, Nedbank, and Standard Bank offer non-resident accounts; TymeBank for digital-first; Revolut/Wise work at most POS
- Accommodation
- Boutique guest houses, seaside villas, and Airbnbs
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards (Visa/MC) and Apple/Google Pay accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Property24, and Booking.com; Average monthly $1,200 - $1,800 for sea-view units
- Budget Accommodation
- Simon's Town Backpackers (St George's Street) - approx. R350 ($18) for dorms
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Historic Mile (St George's Street) for proximity to museums and Boulders Beach
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Glencairn or Froggy Pond (Quieter, better residential views, fiber connectivity)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Workshop17 (Kalk Bay branch - 10 min drive); Day passes around R300 ($16)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Lighthouse Café (St George's St) - Good Wi-Fi, excellent coffee, R45 for a flat white
- Networking Events
- Cape Town Digital Nomad Meetups (usually held in nearby Muizenberg or CBD)
- Social Events for Expats
- False Bay Yacht Club social nights and the 'Simon's Town Community' Facebook group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and Bolt (Note: Pickup times can be longer than CBD; approx R450 to Airport)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Cape Town Cycle Hire (Muizenberg/Kalk Bay area) - approx R250/day
- Best Beach Nearby
- Boulders Beach (Famous for African Penguins; Entry fee R190 for foreigners)
- Top Regional Airline
- Airlink or FlySafair (Operating from Cape Town International - CPT)
- Top International Airline
- South African Airways, British Airways, KLM, Emirates
- Highway Access
- M4 Main Road connects to M3 Highway towards Cape Town CBD (45-60 min drive)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Simon's Town Railway Station (Southern Line terminus; safety checks recommended before use)
- Public Transport Passes
- MyCiTi Bus 'myconnect' card (mostly serves CBD/Atlantic Seaboard, limited in South Peninsula)
- Regional Travel
- Metrorail Southern Line to Kalk Bay, Muizenberg, and Cape Town CBD
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- False Bay Hospital (Public) or Netcare Blaauwberg/Constantiaberg (Private - 30 min drive)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga Room (Kalk Bay) or private sessions at False Bay Yacht Club
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Virgin Active (Steenberg/Sun Valley - 12km away); Outdoor 'outdoor gym' at Seaforth
- Laundry Services
- Simon's Town Valet Service (St George's St) - approx R150 per load
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Mr D Food and UberEats
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Fish & Chips at Salty Sea Dog (approx R110); Cape Malay Curry
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- I Love Big Bay (Seaforth) or various cafes in nearby Kalk Bay like Olympia Cafe
- Best Dessert Spots
- The Sweetest Thing (St George's St) - Famous for homemade pies and cakes
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Woolworths Food (Quayside) and Spar (Glencairn)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Takealot.com (South Africa's Amazon equivalent; fast delivery to Simon's Town)
- Grocery Delivery
- Checkers Sixty60 (Delivery within 60 minutes)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The Monocle & Mermaid for cocktails; Kalk Bay main road for a livelier night scene
- Local Brewery
- Cape Town Union Brewery or Aegir Project Brewery (Noordhoek - 15 min drive)
- Wine Bars
- Vineyard visits in nearby Constantia Valley (e.g., Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia)
- Street Food Stalls
- Fish and chips stalls at Simon's Town Pier
- Popular International Cuisine
- Bertha's Restaurant (Seafood/Pasta) at the Quayside
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Boulders Beach Penguin Colony; Just Nuisance Statue (Jubilee Square)
- Museums & Art Venues
- The South African Naval Museum (Maclear Rd); Simon's Town Museum
- Historical Sites
- Martello Tower (built 1796); The Historic Mile architecture
- Religious Sites
- St. Francis of Assisi Anglican Church (Oldest in SA)
- Annual Events
- Navy Festival (usually April); Penguin Festival (October)
- Cultural Districts
- The Waterfront/Quayside Center
- Theater Venues
- Kalk Bay Theatre (10 min drive) - Dinner and a show
- Local Markets
- Jubilee Square Market (Weekends) - crafts and curios
- Music Scene
- Live acoustic sets at local pubs; Muizenberg jazz venues nearby
- Street Art
- Murals near the naval base gates
- Cooking Classes
- Cape Malay Cooking classes available via Airbnb Experiences in nearby Fish Hoek
- Art Galleries
- Studio 7 Gallery (St George's Street)
- Historic Buildings
- Admiralty House (1814)
- Local Heritage
- Strong naval tradition; Naval Jack and South African Flag
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Cape of Good Hope / Cape Point Nature Reserve (15 min drive)
- National Parks Nearby
- Table Mountain National Park (Simon's Town is inside its boundaries)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Red Hill Road (Stunning views); Hike to Admiral's Waterfall
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Chapman's Peak Drive (Nearby); Froggy Pond coastal walk
- Birdwatching Locations
- Boulders Beach and the surrounding coastal scrub for maritime birds
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Miller's Point (Designated braai/BBQ areas only; strict fire bans elsewhere)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Aramex (Global) / PostNet (Local - Longbeach Mall nearby)
- Tech Repair Services
- Incredible Connection (Sun Valley Mall - 15 min drive)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Simon's Town Recreation Centre
- Language Classes
- Xhosa or Afrikaans lessons at various Cape Town language schools
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Simon's Town Public Library (St George's St)
- Community Centers
- Simon's Town Civic Centre
- Gaming Lounges
- N/A (Primarily found in Cape Town CBD/Northern Suburbs)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- GrandWest Casino & Entertainment World (Goodwood - 45 min drive)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. R55,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = R2.2M / $115,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. R35,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = R1.4M / $73,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. R50,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = R3.0M / $157,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. R30,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = R1.8M / $95,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. R45,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = R3.6M / $189,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. R28,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = R2.2M / $115,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 27%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 20%
- Tax System
- Residence-based (Residents taxed on worldwide income)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (for income above R1.8M)
- VAT
- 15%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, comprehensive rules exist to prevent offshore tax avoidance
- Property Tax
- Municipal Rates (monthly) based on property valuation
- Property Transaction Tax
- Transfer Duty (Sliding scale; 0% up to R1.1M, up to 13% for high-value)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Remote Work Visa (proposed/active 2024-2026) offers zero tax for first 6 months if earning from abroad