Bo-Kaap has a safety index of 23 out of 100 (Higher reported crime). This is a relative measure comparing reported crime across Cape Town suburbs, not an absolute safety guarantee. The Cape Town Central precinct recorded approximately 18,380 crimes in the most recent annual period. Absolute crime volume is above the city average.

Is Bo-Kaap affordable?

Bo-Kaap is among the higher-value suburbs in Cape Town. The median property value of R3M places it in the 77th percentile, above most of the city. Note that these figures are based on the City of Cape Town General Valuation 2022 and reflect municipal valuations, not necessarily current market prices.

What are utility costs in Bo-Kaap?

The median monthly water cost per account in Bo-Kaap is R858, 30% above the city median of R658. The median monthly electricity cost per account in Bo-Kaap is R2,207, 16% above the median of CoCT-billed suburbs of R1,900.

What is the municipal debt in Bo-Kaap?

As of May 2026, the average outstanding municipal debt per account in Bo-Kaap is R41,300, 369% above the city median of R8,815. Figures include all account types, so may overstate household debt in areas with commercial activity.

Bo-Kaap

A suburb with higher reported crime, above-average property values, and responsive municipal services relative to Cape Town.

Safety23/100Safer than 6% of Cape Town suburbs (relative)Property2.5-3MTop 23%Schools383% matric pass rate Healthcare6 facilitiesmore access than most suburbs CouncilBelow avg complaints1d median resolution

Data current as of June 2026

The neighbourhood

What's it like to live here?

Bo-Kaap is a neighbourhood in Atlantic Seaboard, Cape Town, where property values sit in the upper quartile for Cape Town. The area's safety profile is among the more challenging areas for reported safety in Cape Town. There are several places of worship in the area. The dominant commuter mode is private vehicle.

How is the area changing?

In Bo-Kaap, crime levels are stable based on the most recent quarterly comparison. Property value growth has lagged behind inflation between valuation rolls.

What should buyers know?

Bo-Kaap is served by schools within reach, and matric results sit below the city average. In this area, the City typically resolves service complaints promptly. The suburb is well-served by nearby healthcare facilities.

Neighbourhood summary generated from StreetSignal data and reviewed by our team.

These statistics describe the suburb as a whole. Conditions vary between streets and neighbourhoods within any suburb.

For home buyers & families

Is Bo-Kaap safe?

Higher reported crime

Higher crimeModerateLower crime

53rd percentile among 744 suburbs · based on precinct-level data shared with 7 suburbs · Data: Q4 2025/2026 (Jan–Mar 2026) · relative index, not an absolute safety measure

Very highAbsolute crime volume

18 380 reported crimes per year · city median: 4 280

↑ 1.3% vs Q3 2024

Crime is higher than most of Cape Town. Contact crime (assault, robbery) dominates the reported crime profile. Check the breakdown below for specifics.

Detailed data

Safety index (resident-adjusted) How is this calculated?: 23 / 100
Contact crime rate: 1,063,765 per 100k residents
Station population: 128 777
Harm rate (per resident): 20/100
Harm volume (absolute): 27/100
Data period: Q4 2025/2026 (Jan–Mar 2026)
Source: SAPS via DataFirst · CC-BY 4.0

This data reflects crimes reported to SAPS Cape Town Central precinct, which covers Bo-Kaap and surrounding suburbs. Reported crime may differ from actual crime levels.Full methodology

Disagree with this score? Challenge the methodology ›

Source: SAPS via DataFirst · Q4 2025/2026

FOR BUYERS & INVESTORS

What do properties cost in Bo-Kaap?

77th percentile

Planned development

3 hectares of land in Bo-Kaap are earmarked for new development across 2 parcels, primarily Mixed Use (2ha).

Source: CCT District Spatial Development Framework (January 2023). Development areas indicate planning designation, not construction timelines.

The median property value in Bo-Kaap is R3M. Property values have grown by 1.1% per year since 2018.

A 1.1% annual growth rate (CAGR) over the valuation period.

Value band distribution – Bo-Kaap properties (GV2022)

1-1.5M

1.5-2M

2-2.5M

2.5-3M ◀

3-3.5M

3.5-4M

4-4.5M

Property values are based on the City of Cape Town's 2022 General Valuation roll. GV is an assessed value for municipal rating purposes; transaction prices frequently exceed GV. Recent sales transaction data and rental market data are not available as open data in South Africa.

Median GV2022: R3,025,000
Value growth (CAGR 2018–2022): +1.1% per year
City-wide value percentile: 77th percentile
Dominant value band: 2.5-3M
Source: CCT GV 2022 · Open Data Policy 27781
Vintage: General Valuation 2022 (municipal valuation, not current market price)

Source: City of Cape Town GV2022

FOR RESIDENTS

What do utilities cost in Bo-Kaap?

Computed from City of Cape Town billing data

Water

R858 / month

30% above city median

Electricity

R2 207 / month

16% above median of CoCT-billed suburbs

Water trend:Dec 2025: R1 211Jan 2026: R632Feb 2026: R858

Electricity trend:Dec 2025: R2 207Jan 2026: R1 244Feb 2026: R2 535

Monthly cost per account from City of Cape Town billing data. Water coverage: 647 suburbs. Electricity coverage: 384 suburbs.

INVESTMENT ACTIVITY

Development activity in Bo-Kaap

→ Stable

Bo-Kaap had 33 building plans approved in the last three financial years (FY22/23 to FY24/25), averaging 11 per year. Most were renovations and extensions.

3-year approvals: 33
Annual average: 11/yr
Avg project value: R1.4M

Building plans approved by the City of Cape Town (2014-2025). Approvals indicate planned investment, not completed construction. This data reflects formal building activity only and does not capture informal construction, backyard dwellings, or building work undertaken without a formal plan submission. In areas with high informality, actual construction activity may be substantially higher than these figures suggest. Source: CoCT Building Development Management (DAMS).

FOR PARENTS

How are schools in Bo-Kaap?

3 schools nearby

Bo-Kaap has 3 schools within reach. The area matric pass rate is 82.8%, below the city median of 90.0%. Schools include St. Paul'S Primary School (Bo-Kaap).

Adjusted pass rate: 82.8%; City median: 90.0%
Schools contributing: 1; 93 candidates
Median quintile: Q5; Q4-Q5

Q5
St. Paul'S Primary School (Bo-Kaap)
Public · Grades R–7 · 534 learners · 26.7:1 learner-educator ratio
Quintile 5School fees applyFavourable class size
Q5
Vista High School
Public · Grades 8–12 · 565 learners · 29.7:1 learner-educator ratio
Quintile 5School fees applyFavourable class size
Q5
Schotschekloof Mos Primary School
Public · Grades R–7 · 409 learners · 27.3:1 learner-educator ratio
Quintile 5School fees applyFavourable class size

Quintile 5 is the highest government-funding category - fees apply, but these are the best-resourced public schools in South Africa. Rankings set by the WCED against community socioeconomic index. Learner-educator ratio (LER) is from EMIS Q2 2025; under 30:1 is favourable by WCED standards, over 40:1 indicates strained capacity. What quintile means ›

Source: DBE EMIS · Q2 2025

FOR COMMUTERS

How connected is Bo-Kaap?

Vehicle-led mix

The most common way people get to work is by private vehicle (42%).

Commute mode share

Walking is the dominant transport mode at 41%. In the Cape Town context, this indicates structural necessity – limited vehicle ownership and insufficient public transport options.

Private vehicle

42%

Walking

41%

MyCiTi bus

10%

Minibus taxi

Cape Town transport context: In South African cities, transport mode is a socioeconomic proxy – high private vehicle = affluent, high minibus taxi = working class, high walking = structural necessity not preference. StreetSignal reports modal share rather than a walkability index, which would misrepresent SA urban mobility. Methodology ›

Dominant mode: Private vehicle (42%)
Source: CCT Household Survey 2024

Source: City of Cape Town Open Data · 2024

FOR RESIDENTS

What are living conditions in Bo-Kaap?

Full municipal services

Bo-Kaap has a service delivery index of 99 out of 100, above the city median of 84.5. 100% of dwellings are formal structures.

Computed from the City of Cape Town 2024 Household Survey, Schotschekloof survey group (43 households). direct.

› food spending share of 41.6% places households in the "under pressure" band (city median: 32.1%).› Adult food insecurity at 9.3% (above the city median of 2.9%).› Service delivery score of 99.4/100 indicates reliable access to municipal infrastructure.› Fully formalised housing stock with no informal structures recorded.› Fibre internet available to 67% of households.

Access to basic services

99City median: 85

Piped water: 100.0%
Flush toilet: 100.0%
Weekly refuse: 97.7%
Grid electricity: 100.0%

Housing & tenure – Mixed tenure community

100City median: 68

Formal dwellings: 100.0%
Owner-occupied: 69.8%
Rented: 20.9%

Environmental risk – Moderate risk exposure

28risk index · higher = greater risk · City median: 26

Flooding risk: 4.7%
Fire risk: 2.3%
Violent crime: 4.7%
Non-violent crime: 7.0%

Economic structure – Moderate material pressure

Food spending share: 41.6%; Share of income spent on food
City median: 35.3%
Under pressure, limited discretionary income · 40th percentile
Hardship dimensions: 1; Areas of material need (out of 8)
Grant income share: 34.0%; of households receiving grants
Monthly savings: R372; Weighted mean per household

Digital inclusion – Fibre-connected suburb

Home fibre: 67.4%; City median: 46.5%
Mobile only: 23.3%
No access: 7.0%

Food security

Adult food insecurity: 9.3%; City median: 18.3%
Child food insecurity: 9.3%; City median: 13.0%
Food insecurity prevalence: 9.3%; City median: 22.3%

Demographics & community

Avg household size: 3.7 people
Avg children per household: 0.6

Asset ownership

Computer access: 55.8%
Fridge ownership: 97.7%
Property ownership: 0.0%
Geyser ownership: 86.0%
Borehole access: 0.0%

Home-based economy

Home-based business: 16.3%; of households operate a home-based business
WFH full-time: 2.3%
WFH part-time: 2.3%

Source: City of Cape Town 2024 Household Survey. Survey group: Schotschekloof. direct.

Energy access

Free basic electricity

5.6%

City median

9% of electricity connections in Bo-Kaap receive free basic electricity under the City's indigent support programme. Free basic electricity is a constitutional entitlement providing a monthly allocation to qualifying households. The proportion reflects the reach of the City's indigent support in this suburb, not a measure of poverty.

Source: CCT prepaid electricity data (2025/11/30 to 2026/01/31). Covers prepaid connections only. Credit-metered households are not included. 1,026 connections.

Source: City of Cape Town household survey · 2024

FOR RESIDENTS

How responsive are municipal services in Bo-Kaap?

Highly responsive

The City of Cape Town resolves service requests in Bo-Kaap in a median of 1 day, compared to the city-wide median of 1 day. This is based on 3,834 service requests to the City of Cape Town.

Computed from City of Cape Town service request data

Infrastructure problems get fixed fast. The median resolution under one day means Bo-Kaap residents experience responsive municipal service – a signal of well-maintained infrastructure and efficient complaint routing.

Median days to resolve
City median: 1

55th

Percentile
across Cape Town

37%

Resolved
same day

Power outage (13%)No supply (5%)Street lights out (5%)Sewerage overflow (4%)Water leak (4%)

Service requests logged: 3 834
Requests resolved: 78% (3 005 of 3 834)
75% resolved within: 4 days
90% resolved within: 11 days
Source: CCT service request database

Community & faith

Places of worship

8 registered

Islamic

Christian

Places of worship per suburb from City of Cape Town open data, supplemented with OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Coverage: 373 of 744 suburbs.

Municipal complaints

Complaints & top issues

Below city average

Complaint rate How is this calculated?: 0.0 per 1,000 households
Total complaints: 3 757
Unresolved: 22.0%

Top issues: Power outage (475), No supply (182), Street lights out (168)

Source: City of Cape Town C3 service requests

MUNICIPAL FINANCE

Municipal debt in Bo-Kaap

369% above city median

Computed from City of Cape Town financial data

Municipal debt in Bo-Kaap averages R41 300 per account, compared to the city median of R8 815.

R41 300

per account

369% above city median

Trend:Mar 2026: R39 914Apr 2026: R41 300May 2026: R41 860

Breakdown as of May 2026

Property rates: R8 277 635
Electricity: R4 873 134
Water: R10 910 685
Refuse: R932 017
Sewerage: R7 768 216
City-wide cleaning: R265 862
Improvement district: R0

Outstanding municipal arrears from City of Cape Town financial records. Coverage: 741 suburbs. Per-account figures available for 582 suburbs.

FOR FAMILIES

What services are near Bo-Kaap?

Well served

Healthcare access

6 within 5km

Nearest public: Schotscheskloof Satellite · Community Day Centre · 0.2 km
Nearest private: Netcare Christiaan Barnard Hospital · Private Hospital · 1.8 km
Public facilities: 3
Private facilities: 3

This suburb has access to both public and private healthcare within 5 km.

The nearest fire station to Bo-Kaap is Roeland Street, 2.0 km away. The nearest public pool is Long Street Swimming Pool, 0.9 km away. The nearest clinic is Schotscheskloof Satellite, 0.2 km away.

Nearest clinic: Schotscheskloof Satellite · 0.2 km
Nearest library: Central · 1.3 km
Nearest park / open space: Upperbloem Pos · 0.06 km