Cape Town Rentals - Where Sanity Goes to Die

Finding a Home for the Boys: The Cape Town Edition

You’d think that helping two young men start their next chapter would be simple.

But no.

Not when the city in question is Cape Town, the land of ocean views, mountain backdrops, and rental prices that make you question every life choice you’ve ever made.

As most of you know, Matt is moving back to Cape Town, this time, he is dragging his best friend Liam along. It’s exciting, it’s huge, it’s the beginning of their independence. Naturally, Adrian and I want to make sure they start off on the right foot, somewhere safe, somewhere decent, somewhere close enough to The Silo so Matt isn’t commuting like a long-distance trucker. 

But there’s one tiny problem: finding somewhere to live that doesn’t require a small fortune and a prayer.

Cape Town is not cheap.
Cape Town near The Silo?
If you whisper “affordable” in that area, the buildings roll their eyes at you.

And honestly, I’d love to know why it’s so expensive, too. So, I dug a little deeper, partly out of curiosity, partly out of frustration, and partly because I needed to understand why my stress levels were suddenly doing the tango.

Why Is Cape Town So Expensive?

1. The Silo District is basically luxury on steroids

Art galleries, fancy restaurants, tourists, waterfront views, even the pigeons look like they have trust funds.

2. Everyone wants to live in Cape Town

Young professionals, creatives, remote workers, internationals, Joburg escapees, they all flock there. Demand is sky-high, supply is not, and the prices reflect it.

More demand + not enough places = ridiculous prices.

3. Airbnb has taken over

Many apartments that could be long-term rentals are being used for short-term stays. Which is great for tourists, but terrible for parents trying to house their children. Airbnb shrinks the rental pool and pushes prices up for locals

4. Safety and convenience cost money

Areas close to The Silo, Green Point, De Waterkant, Waterfront, are safe, central, and walkable. In Cape Town, those three words come with a premium price tag.

5. Cape Town is basically a global city now

People earning in dollars, pounds, and euros rent or buy there. Locals end up competing with international salaries.

Spoiler: we lose.

Our Cape Town Mission (aka: The Great Apartment Hunt)

Adrian and I spent the past few days in Cape Town trying to find a place for the boys.
I went in optimistic and came out… entertained, confused, and slightly traumatised.

First discovery: realtors in Cape Town apparently don’t work past Wednesday.
Truly.
By Thursday, it felt like the entire industry had packed up and gone on holiday.

We managed to view exactly two apartments. Two, in an entire city.

But here’s the silver lining, one of them we actually really liked. It ticked the boxes and it felt right.
It didn’t require selling a limb or taking out a second bond.

So now we wait.
Hold thumbs, cross fingers, light candles, send smoke signals, whatever works.

For the Parents Doing the Heavy Lifting…

Letting your child go, again, is emotional enough. Add Cape Town rental prices into the mix and suddenly you’re negotiating with the universe like it’s a hostage situation.

But here’s what I remind myself:

Matt is ready.
Liam is ready.
And Adrian and I are doing everything we can to give them a solid start.

They’ll land on their feet.
They always do.

When we finally secure an apartment, even if it’s tiny, quirky, or slightly questionable, it will be the beginning of their new chapter.

I’ll be here, cheering them on… and maybe pouring myself a well-deserved glass of wine after surviving the Cape Town real estate circus.