No amount of money in the world will replace staring in open-mouthed wonder at Table Mountain every day, but a garden wouldn’t be bad.

We’ve done a number of property price checks of late, because it’s fun to imagine what decisions I would make if I could afford to buy something, so how about a comparison of a Gardens property and a Craighall property.

That’s in Jozi, in case you’re one of those Capetonians who has never been to the Big Smoke.

Let’s start in the City Bowl and head to Gardens, famous for that shopping centre and the most raucous 24-hour petrol station in the city.

For a cool R4 475 000, you can snap up a 115 m² two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment.

Some info from the Private Property listing:

Situated on a quiet street on the edge of the city, Nelsons View offers the convenience and excitement of urban living with the feeling of a weekend escape, without having to fuel the car or fight the traffic…

Once in your apartment, you’re not only easily connected to your community but with digital fibre cabled DSTV in every apartment and a fibre enabled building you also have a high-speed access to the world.

All apartments come fitted with newly fitted modern kitchens boasting Bosch ovens and engineered stone counter tops. In the bathrooms you will be treated to a clean and fresh look and feel boasting top quality Hansgrohe fittings, Geberit flush systems and modern glass frameless shower doors.

All of this is sophistication is pulled together by the original and restored Beachwood floors. Modernised security and together with revamped access control provide secure off-street parking for all units.

Yeah, as you can see they haven’t been completed yet.

Now we’re off to Craighall Park in Jozi, and Private Property again, where R4 500 000 will land you – wait for it – a six-bedroom, four-bathroom, double-garage whopper.

Oh, sorry, one of the bedrooms is in the separate bachelors’ apartment above the garage.

This magical home hidden amongst the trees, nestled between two separate garden areas is perfect for a big family with children.

The 5 bedroom double story house is the perfect mix between old world charm and new contemporary finishes.

The property includes:

-A separate bachelors apartment above the garage perfect for a young working professional or family in laws, including a bathroom and kitchenette.

-An outdoor office with a bathroom hidden amongst the avo tree provides a great working opportunity in the back garden.

– An outdoor laundry room with space for up to 4 machines

– A two bedroom cottage in the garden perfect for a rental or staff quarters.

-A salt water pool and tree house towering from the central Jacaranda tree provide a lovely homey feel that makes you feel like you are not in the middle of Johannesburg.

-Two separate gates means catering up to 10 parking spaces inside the property.

It’s not a house, it’s a home, as they might say in The Castle.

10 parking spots does seem a little excessive, but I guess that’s because in Jozi when people say they’re coming over for a catch-up dinner they actually arrive.

Then again, it’s not like they’re going to be cracking sundowners at the beach.

It’s a privilege to live in Cape Town, but it’s a privilege that doesn’t come cheap.

[source:privateproperty&privateproperty]