The Sunday Times reported University of Cape Town residence rooms for 2026 at R78,690 to R120,910 a year, depending on the building and room type. This guide sets out those figures, the payment rules in UCT’s own fees booklet and what I could not confirm.
Details come from UCT’s 2026 fees booklet and a Sunday Times report of 8 February 2026, checked on 30 October 2026. I could not open UCT’s own residence fee table, so the room prices below are the newspaper’s figures. All amounts are in South African rand (R).
Residence costs reported for 2026
| Residence | Room type | Amount for the year |
|---|---|---|
| Baxter Hall and Avenue Road | Single | R89,520 |
| Baxter Hall and Avenue Road | Double | R78,690 |
| Fuller Hall | As reported | R96,020 |
| Groote Schuur | Single | R90,990 |
| Medical Residence | As reported | R101,890 |
| Forest Hill and Meulenhof | Bachelor flats | R102,170 |
| Rondeberg Flats and TB Davie Court | Bachelor units | R120,910 |
The report described the Rondeberg and TB Davie figure as the highest among the universities it compared. Meals are extra at catered halls. UCT’s booklet estimates about R37,800 a year (R3,800 a month) for food in self-catering residences, and R45,000 for Health Sciences students.
Payments to plan for
- Deadline for 2026 first payments: 6 February 2026 for students already holding a housing offer.
- Late offers: the first payment is due before you sign into residence: R44,500 for catered and R29,500 for self-catered places.
- International students: the booklet says students from outside South Africa without permanent residence must make the first residence payment before registration, on top of international academic fees.
- Arrears: if outstanding fees exceed R10,000, a residence offer may be cancelled.
For a personal quote, contact UCT’s Fees Office at fnd-feeenq@uct.ac.za or +27 21 650 1704.
Private accommodation
I have not listed neighbourhoods or private rents, because I could not verify them against reliable sources. View any room in person or on a live video call, get a written lease and never pay before you have one.
FAQs about student accommodation in Cape Town
How much is a UCT residence?
The Sunday Times reported figures from R78,690 for a double room to R120,910 for bachelor units in 2026. Check UCT’s own schedule before you budget.
Do international students pay differently?
They must pay the first residence payment before registration, in addition to international academic fees, according to UCT’s booklet.
Sources
- University of Cape Town: 2026 fees booklet
- Sunday Times: students grapple with soaring university residence costs (8 February 2026)
All checked 30 October 2026.
