The True Cost of Car Ownership in Cape Town 2025
Think you know how much your car really costs? Most Cape Town residents are shocked when they see the full breakdown. Here's what car ownership actually costs vs monthly rental.
TL;DR
Owning a R300,000 car in Cape Town costs around R12,450/month when you include everything. Car rental starts from just R250/day (daily, weekly, or monthly options). You save thousands plus avoid a massive down payment.
Complete Cost Breakdown
Owning a R300,000 Car (5-Year Loan)
Monthly Payments
R300k @ 11% interest over 60 months
With R15,000 excess, clean record
1,200km/month @ R22/L, 10L/100km
Oil changes, filters, fluids
R8,000 set every 40,000km
Brakes, batteries, bulbs, wipers
Annual renewal averaged out
If you work in CBD or near Waterfront
Hidden Costs
30% in first 2 years = R90,000 loss
R90,000+ over 5 years
Plus R30,000-50,000 down payment just to drive off the dealership!
Monthly Car Rental in Cape Town
Only R3,900 refundable deposit - no massive down payment required!
Your Savings with Monthly Rental
That's R71,400+ in your pocket in just the first year!
When Each Option Makes Sense
Consider Buying If...
- You drive 40,000+ km per year
- You're 100% staying in Cape Town 5+ years
- You have R50,000+ for a down payment
- You enjoy maintaining and caring for cars
Choose Monthly Rental If...
- You want flexibility and no long-term commitment
- You hate unexpected repair bills
- You prefer predictable monthly costs
- You want to avoid debt and depreciation