Accommodations are not cheap anywhere in the world, this is applicable to South Africa. If you are planning to move to South Africa, Cape Town and you are weighing your options.
In this guide, I have written extensively on residential areas in Cape Town and all you need to know.
Top 9 Residential Areas In Cape Town (2023)
1. Llandudno
This area is one of the high income residential areas in cape town. Affluent homeowners flock to this coastal area for the stunning architecture and breathtaking vistas. In Llandudno, a property with three bedrooms might cost anything from R12 million to R15 million.
Although patterns may change, the majority of homebuyers in the area are between the ages of 36 and 49, and 50 and 64.
2. Plumstead
If a village can exist in the middle of London’s Greenwich or Cape Town, then the fairly large suburb of Plumstead, just south of Wynberg, divided into two by the Main Road and the railway line, could easily be mistaken for the English village after which it is named.
Plumstead is the “Cinderella” of Wynberg and Diep River; it is populated by retirees and young artists who are renovating homes from the 1940s and 1950s to create contemporary masterpieces.
The streets of Plumstead are a mishmash of tree species, and the residences here still have modest walls and off-street parking that isn’t hidden by six-meter barricades. Those taking their dogs for a stroll in the area often engage in friendly conversation with their neighbors as they pass each other’s front doors.
3. Constantia
This is one of the –top residential areas in cape town. Constantia, a posh suburb of Cape Town, is highly sought after because it is the ideal place to raise a family in the city. With only a 17.7-kilometer distance to the heart of the city, many residents choose to work there. Although the cost of a home in Constantia is still higher than the city average.
4. Wynberg
The Old Wynberg Village, located only 10 kilometers from the heart of Cape Town, has been designated as an urban conservation area and is home to one of the largest collections of historic properties in a recognized conservation area in and around Cape Town, if not in the entire country.
Even though many of Wynberg’s historic cottages have been purchased by businesses such as galleries, picture framers, and antique shops, a drive through the village reveals charming cottages and tangled trees and bushes that make for wonderful little havens away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The Wynberg Historic District, with its many historic buildings, churches, and parks, is well worth seeing, and the Muizenberg Cape Town Tourism offices have several self-guided walks available.
Larger homes and traditional tree-lined alleys may be found in other parts of Wynberg, yet even these are sought after by Capetonians and visitors alike due to their historic charm. As you approach Main Road, the area’s safety drops, but there’s still a good selection of stores, including an used CD shop that’s perfect for students and a few places to score a bargain on new or used furniture.
Nearby attractions in Wynberg include the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, the Rhodes Memorial, and the Maynardville Park and Open Air theatre, where visitors can watch a presentation of Shakespeare’s works from December to February (picnic baskets and blankets are encouraged).
5. Woodstock
Incredibly, this vibrant neighborhood was once a rural village called Papendorp a hundred years ago; now, Woodstock is a hotspot for the inner-city resurgence that has just swept the region by storm.
Woodstock, like many Cape Town suburbs, is split in half by Main Road: upper Woodstock, with its larger, graceful and carefully restored Victorian semi-detached homes, reminiscent of Observatory a little further along Main Road, and Woodstock proper, which managed to survive the trauma of the Group Areas Act to become a mixed-race suburb associated with crime, litter, and dilapidated drug hovels despite its fantastic views out over the harbor.
6. False Bay
The name “False Bay” comes from the fact that early mariners mistaken Hangklip for Cape Point. Today, False Bay is the largest real bay in South Africa and one of the great bays of the globe.
The 33-kilometer swim across False Bay, from Rooiels to Miller’s Point, has been attempted 20 times, with only three successful completions. This is not surprising, given that approximately 90% of those who have tried have failed.
Seaside hamlets and villages dot the whole length of the False Bay coast, their winding streets dotted with unique boutiques, inns, and eateries. This variety bodes well for the availability of scenic picnic areas and vantage points all year round, but especially during the months when whales migrate into the harbor to calve.
7. Kuilsriver
Kuils River is located at the base of the Bottelary Mountains, a place that is only now being “discovered” by tourists looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of Cape Town in favor of a more rural experience without going too far from the city.
The airport is even closer to Kuils River than it is to Cape Town. In the 1600s, it served as a cattle fold for the Dutch East India Company and then as a way station on the road to Stellenbosch.
Although large firms like Coca-Cola and Nampak are headquartered in Kuils River, original farms and small holdings are still visible and farming is still practiced in the area.
8. V&A Waterfront
This trendy and well-liked district is also one of the city’s safe residential areas in cape town. There are a number of high-end establishments, such as hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs, all within walking distance of one another.
Waterfront is a gated community equipped with numerous surveillance cameras and armed guards. It is the central hub for City Sightseeing bus services and is home to the Aquarium and the Robben Island Museum. It’s a fantastic spot to stay if you don’t mind being surrounded by hordes of tourists every day.
9. Sandhurst
Sandhurst is without question one of the most affordable places to live in Cape Town. It’s not hard to picture that the elite of society make their homes in Sandhurst’s massive mansions.
Assuming that understated elegance is your style, the low population density of Sandhurst is likely one of the most appealing aspects of a visit there. Sandhurst is a suburb of the busy metropolis that formed more than 50 years ago, and its residents like to live in stately rather than trendy residences.
Despite its proximity to Sandton’s Central Business District, the suburb of Sandhurst remains peaceful, leafy, and sedate thanks to the lack of cluster projects and the enormous grounds on which homes are set.
Naturally, the suburb’s entrances are boomed and security is tight. The streets are constantly monitored, and every home has a six-foot wall or higher surrounding it.
Sandhurst is actually off-limits to the general public. The neighborhood is located on the northwestern slope of the city, offering stunning views of the Magaliesberg, and is only a few minutes away from the heart of Johannesburg, including Sandton City, Hyde Park shopping, the Inanda Club, the Wanderers Cricket Club, and the area’s top private schools.
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Conclusion
If you are seriously contemplating moving from your current location to an area with affordable places to live in Cape town, we have discussed all the options you can weigh in course of your relocation.