FIRE Number for Cape Town, South Africa

A modest but safe apartment in Observatory, Woodstock, or the city-bowl fringe, right on the MyCiTi line and walking distance from markets. Days lean on Cape Town's free assets — Table Mountain trails, the Sea Point promenade, and public beaches — with cheap café lunches and mostly home cooking. Transport is the MyCiTi bus, minibus taxis, and the occasional Uber; no car. Cover is a bare Discovery Core/entry hospital plan, so a chronic condition would strain this budget, and load-shedding is managed the low-tech way. Frugal and careful, but genuinely pleasant.

A newer, secure apartment in Sea Point, Gardens, or the Camps Bay fringe, with mountain or sea glimpses. Dining out across Cape Town's strong restaurant scene becomes a default rather than an event, and weekends mean the winelands, Hermanus, or a Garden Route drive in a modest owned car (or unlimited ride-hail). Full Discovery Classic Comprehensive cover puts private specialists and top hospitals fully in play. A small inverter/UPS handles load-shedding without drama, and fast fibre covers the rest.

A superb Clifton or Camps Bay apartment with sea views, kept by a full-time housekeeper/cook with a part-time driver. Dining is near-daily at world-class restaurants with fine wine, and international concierge cover will fly you out if needed. A luxury owned car, full solar and backup, and a discretionary budget for charters, high-end shopping, art, and first-class travel put almost nothing out of reach. This is the Atlantic Seaboard done exceptionally well — a prime sea-facing address, staff on hand, and the winelands and coast at the weekend.