Travel Budget for Johannesburg Visit Johannesburg on a Budget or Travel in Style

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

How much does it cost to travel to Johannesburg?

You should plan to spend around $93 (R1,764) per day on your vacation in Johannesburg. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $16 (R313) on meals
  • $16 (R301) on local transportation
  • $106 (R2,024) on hotels

A one week trip to Johannesburg for two people costs, on average, $1,296 (R24,702). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $93
    R1,764
  • One Week Per person
    $648
    R12,351
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $1,296
    R24,702
  • One Month Per person
    $2,777
    R52,932
  • One Week For a couple
    $1,296
    R24,702
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $2,592
    R49,403
  • One Month For a couple
    $5,555
    R105,864
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Johannesburg cost?

A one week trip to Johannesburg usually costs around $648 (R12,351) for one person and $1,296 (R24,702) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Johannesburg on average costs around $1,296 (R24,702) for one person and $2,592 (R49,403) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Johannesburg will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Johannesburg on average costs around $2,777 (R52,932) for one person and $5,555 (R105,864) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Johannesburg has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Johannesburg expensive to visit?

Prices in Johannesburg are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.

Within Africa, Johannesburg is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Lake Nakuru or Cape Town.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Johannesburg Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Johannesburg?

The average Johannesburg trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Johannesburg travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) R2,024 ($106)
Local Transportation 1 R301 ($16)
Food 2 R313 ($16)
Entertainment 1 R390 ($20)
Tips and Handouts 1 R625 - 1,875 ($33 - 98)
Alcohol 2 R44 - 131 ($2 - 7)
Accommodation Budget in Johannesburg
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Johannesburg is $53 (R1,012). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Johannesburg is $106 (R2,024). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $53
    R1,012
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $106
    R2,024

Hotel Prices in Johannesburg

Looking for a hotel in Johannesburg? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Johannesburg based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $54. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Johannesburg
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Johannesburg is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $16 (R301) per person, per day, on local transportation in Johannesburg.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $16
    R301

Recommended Services


Flights to Johannesburg
How much does it cost to go to Johannesburg? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Johannesburg
The price of renting a car in Johannesburg will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.


What did other people spend on Transportation in Johannesburg?

Typical prices for Transportation in Johannesburg are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Johannesburg, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Taxi Ride
    R60


Food Budget in Johannesburg
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Johannesburg can vary, the average cost of food in Johannesburg is $16 (R313) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Johannesburg should cost around $6.56 (R125) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Johannesburg is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $16
    R313

Recommended


Entertainment Budget in Johannesburg
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Johannesburg typically cost an average of $20 (R390) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $20
    R390

Recommended Activities


Tips and Handouts Budget in Johannesburg
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Johannesburg is $66 (R1,250) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Johannesburg is 5% - 15%.


  • Tips and Handouts1 For guides or service providers
    $66
    R1,250


Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in Johannesburg
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in Johannesburg is $28 (R539), as reported by travelers.


  • Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1
    $28
    R539


Alcohol Budget in Johannesburg
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $4.60 (R88) on alcoholic beverages in Johannesburg per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $4.60
    R88

Recommended


Water Budget in Johannesburg
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • On average, people spend $0.98 (R19) on bottled water in Johannesburg per day. The public water in Johannesburg is not usually considered safe to drink.


  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    $0.98
    R19


Johannesburg On a Budget
Johannesburg Johannesburg, South Africa
Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa with a population of over 3 million people. Most of the population is made up of South Africa's black residents, who predominately reside in the Soweto area. There are approximately half a million white residents and 300,000 residents of other descent. Half of the population live in the Soweto area as well as the nearby suburbs.

Johannesburg is at the economic center of the country, but there is a very extreme and obvious inequality of wealth distribution. While some of the population lives a first world quality of live, there remains a large portion of the population that lives a third world quality of life. This disparity has caused the city to have one of the world's highest crime rates, a fact that intimidates many travelers. Don't be disillusioned by this fact though, because it is very possible to travel safely and confidently in Johannesburg if you make wise decisions and take the necessary precautions.

Johannesburg's climate is subtropical highland. The summer months, between October and April, have hot days and cool evenings with frequent afternoon thunderstorms. The winter months, between May and September are dry with sunny days and cold nights, with temperatures dropping below 40 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Snow is extremely rare, although freezing temperatures may occasionally occur.
Sights
There are plenty of interesting attractions and sights in Johannesburg. The city's Central Business Disstrict was heavily revitalized leading up to the 2010 World Cup. Of particular interest are the Newtown and Market Theatre areas. This is the city's cultural district and has many music venues and a decent nightlife. Also make sure you visit the Top of Africa, which is Africa's tallest building, and check out some of the museums and art galleries in the area such as the Johannesburg Art Gallery, the Standard Bank Gallery, and the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre. In the city's northern suburbs you'll find the Johannesburg Planetarium, the South African National Museum of Military History, the James Hall museum of Transport, and Cherie De Villiers Gallery.

Many visitors head to the Soweto area as well. Popular sights in the area include the Mandela Family Museum, the Apartheid Museum, and the Absa Money Musuem.
Neighborhoods
Notable neighborhoods in Johannesburg include Soweto, Newtown (downtown), Sandton, Rosebank, Parkhurst, Melville, Alexandra, Braamfontein, and Fourways. Soweto is the largest and most famous black township and the home of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Newtown has been revitalized and has a lot to offer visitors looking for culture and music. Sandton is located in the northern suburbs and is a business and entertainment hub. Rosebank, also in the northern suburbs, has many shopping and entertainment areas. Parkhurst is often compared to Soho or Greenwich Village. Melville is a nice area to walk around with restaurants, bars, and tree lined streets. Alexandra is a historic area with a variety of tours available. Braamfontein is the university area and Fourways has many shopping and entertainment areas.

Activities
There are some interesting tours that you can arrange in Johannesburg. Township Tours to Soweto will guide you through the Soweto region. Make sure you only use official tour operators. Sophiatown Heritage Tours are informative and fascinating as well. Walking tours begin at the original 1930s house of Dr AB Xuma.

Other areas of interest include the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, Constitution Hill, Lesedi Cultural Village, Lion Park, Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, and Gold Reef City.

Outside of the city are plenty of activities and options which make for great day trips or multi-day excursions. One of the best things to do is to visit the Panorama Route in South Africa, as it offers amazing mountain landscapes, hiking, and nice places to stay.
Food and Dining
As a large, international city, you can expect to find almost any type of food in Johannesburg at any range of budget. There are some specific streets that have a high concentration of great restaurants worth checking out. 4th Avenue in Parkhurst is an upmarket area with a lot of cafes and restaurants. Illovo Junction also has a growing number of restaurants. 7th Street, in Melville, has a variety of restaurants that appeal to the student population. Gleneagles Road in Greenside is also a great option on weekends when the music scene is thriving. Grant Avenue in Norwood has some simple restaurants that offer pizza, Italian, or sushi. For good Indian food head to Fordburg and Cyrildene has the best Chinese restaurants. In the central business district you'll find the best restaurants around the Market Theatre in New Town.

Transportation
Public transportation is not ideal in Johannesburg, as the city was designed specifically for vehicular travel. To make your way from the airport, the Gautrain is the best option. If you're traveling within the city, you can find buses and minicabs, but the system can feel informal and chaotic with no real designated stops. Instead you'll have to flag the buses down yourself. The safer bus option is to use the double decker metro buses that are more organized and easier to understand.

Many people choose to rent a car while they're in town. Make sure you have an excellent map and a good GPS system as it is easy to get lost. Taxis are also available at the airport and in some areas of Sandton and the city center. You should only use the normal sedan taxis which have meters and fixed prices. Make sure you are quoted a fair price in advance and negotiate if the price seems unreasonable.
Related
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.