For families in Cape Town
Find an au pair in Cape Town.
A city of distinct suburbs, each with its own au pair market.
Cape Town families hire au pairs across the Southern Suburbs, the Northern Suburbs, the Atlantic Seaboard, Blouberg and the Helderberg, and each pocket has its own rhythm. What they share is a school day that ends early, serious extramurals, and traffic on the N1, N2 and M3 that makes a nearby, reliable au pair worth a great deal.
The city's universities, UCT, Stellenbosch, UWC and CPUT, supply most of the au pairs, and the market moves with the academic year: busiest in January and February, quieter over the December holidays when many students go home.
Areas we cover in Cape Town
- Southern Suburbs: Rondebosch, Claremont, Newlands, Constantia
- Northern Suburbs: Durbanville, Bellville, Brackenfell
- Atlantic Seaboard and City Bowl
- Blouberg and Table View
- Somerset West and the Helderberg
- Southern Peninsula: Fish Hoek, Noordhoek, Kommetjie
- Pinelands and Thornton
- Hout Bay
Matching uses your suburb and the au pair's location to favour people close to you, so school runs stay short. Your street address is never shown.
What to know as a family here
- Cape Town's live-out rates are just below Johannesburg's, with the Southern Suburbs and Atlantic Seaboard at the top.
- School holidays are long and many families want holiday cover; agree this upfront.
- Weather and the outdoors are part of childhood here, so an au pair who swims and drives is valued.
Where au pairs here come from: UCT, Stellenbosch University, UWC, CPUT, plus recent matriculants and gap-year candidates.
How it works in Cape Town
- 1
Tell us about your household
Your suburb in Cape Town, your children's ages, the hours you need and your non-negotiables.
- 2
See ranked matches
Every au pair who passes your must-haves is scored out of 100 with the reasons spelled out.
- 3
Send a request
One note from you. The au pair sees your household profile and decides whether to talk.
- 4
Chat, meet, agree
A private chat, then a call or a coffee. Our contract template covers the rest.
Questions families in Cape Town ask
How much is an au pair in Cape Town?
Live-out au pairs in Cape Town typically earn R70 to R125 an hour, or R7,000 to R12,500 a month for a 20 to 25 hour week. Live-in au pairs usually earn R6,000 to R10,500 a month plus room and board. The Southern Suburbs and Atlantic Seaboard sit at the top of the range.
Which Cape Town areas have the most au pairs?
The Southern Suburbs, because of UCT, followed by the Northern Suburbs and Stellenbosch. Families further out, in Blouberg, Noordhoek or the Helderberg, often do better offering live-in or a fuel allowance.
When should I start looking in Cape Town?
Late January, when university timetables settle, and again in July. Over December many student au pairs leave the city, so families needing holiday cover should plan early.
Guides for families
- How to hire an au pair in South AfricaA step-by-step guide for South African families, from deciding what you need to signing an agreement, with the mistakes to avoid.
- The after-school au pair: how the typical South African arrangement worksWhat a normal afternoon looks like, how families set the routine, and how to make school runs, homework and sport work for everyone.
- The au pair contract in South Africa, and what the law requiresWhat to put in a written au pair agreement, which labour laws apply to a household employer, and the UIF and Compensation Fund registrations you need.
- Au pair interview questions that actually tell you somethingThe questions South African families should ask, the questions au pairs should ask back, and how to run the chat, call and home visit.
Ready to meet au pairs in Cape Town?
Free for families and au pairs. Chat only opens when both of you say yes.
Get started free