Cape Town's coastal real estate boom is creating a stark divide between luxury rentals and informal settlements. Airbnb prices for two-bedroom apartments in prime areas like Sea Point reach $350 nightly, nearly 40% of the median monthly income. This surge is displacing residents like Lizanne Domingo, who faces a two-hour commute from her 35-mile-away home. The city's 38% housing price increase over six years exacerbates the crisis, with 70% of downtown housing dedicated to tourism. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis acknowledges the tension between tourism's $1.7 billion annual revenue and affordable housing needs.

While government initiatives aim to build subsidized units, residents fear District Six evictions symbolize apartheid-era displacement. The crisis highlights Cape Town's struggle to balance economic growth with social equity.