Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Arusha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Arusha or Cape Town?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Arusha and Cape Town can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Arusha or Cape Town?
Arusha
Arusha is a city in East Africa's Tanzania, located at the base of volcanic Mt. Meru. It’s a gateway to safari destinations and to Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, lying some 100 kilometers northeast. To the west lies Serengeti National Park, home to wildlife including lions, rhinoceros, giraffes and leopards. Annual migrations feature huge herds of wildebeests crossing its plains. Arusha is Tanzania’s gateway to the northern circuit of stellar national parks and the starting point of many a memorable safari. It’s also a large, sprawling city which offers a nice break from the rigors of life on the African road – it has excellent places to stay and eat and, for the most part, it’s lush and green and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. Arusha is a great destination, and you're sure to enjoy your time here, no matter what your interests are.
Cape Town
Picture your travel bucket list. Is Cape Town on it? Yes, most people dream of visiting the "Mother City" of South Africa. As one of the most iconic places in the world, Cape Town is a world-class cosmopolitan city full of bustling nightlife, historical backdrops and a large gay community.
Cape Town is the most southern city in Africa with seasons turned upside down. In the southern hemisphere they experience the summer from December to February. During these months days can be hot and dry so be sure to gather in the shade and wear plenty of sunscreen. The winter from June to August is full of rainy days and cold nights.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best Camping Tours in South Africa, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in South Africa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayArusha $176Cape Town $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $176, while the average daily cost in Cape Town is $96. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Arusha and Cape Town in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personArusha $129Cape Town $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomArusha $258Cape Town $76
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Cape Town
Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Cape Town? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Arusha Hotel Prices and Cape Town Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Arusha $13Cape Town $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha
Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Around Moshi and Arusha in Tanzania: $75
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Moshi: $65
- Tanzanite Museum and Shopping Tour with Transfer: $40
- Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40
- Airport transfer: $45
- Airport Transfers, Arusha Airport and Kilimanjaro JRO: $70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Whale Watching In Hermanus with Private Transfer: $245
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cape Town HTL-APT(CPT): $44
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cape Town APT-HTL(CPT): $44
- Transport Shuttle Transfer from Constantia to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Transfer To Safari- Aquila From Cape Town Excluding Entry Fees Full Day: $155
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Simonstown to Cape Town Airport: $25
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Claremont to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Cape Town City Center (CBD) to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Camps Bay to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Shopping Mall Transfers: $21
- Shark Cage Diving: Full Day Tour Transfer: $86
- Shared Transfers to and from Safari Game Reserve (excluding entrance fees): $83
Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Cape Town?
Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Arusha change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayArusha $24Cape Town $41
Typical Food Prices in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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A Quick Lunch (for 2)$2.14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking and Sewing & Jewelry Workshops in Arusha: $27
- NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $50
- Africa health cuisine food tour: $106
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cape Town
For Cape Town, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- African Cooking with a Chef Founder: $27
- Dinner At Mandela's - Cultural Township Dinner Experience: $27
- Cape Malay Cooking with a Chef Founder: $28
- Cape Malay Cooking Class in Bo-Kaap: $40
- 3-Hour Malay Cooking Class & Lunch in Bo-Kaap: $43
- Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience: $54
- Sunset Champagne Cruise and 3-Course Dinner: $56
- Bo-Kapp Walking Tour and Malay Cooking Class: $59
- African Dinner, Drumming Experience with Transfer: $60
- Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience: $61
- Cape Town Food tour (Includes all food) 4hrs: $75
- Private Cooking Class and Meal in Local Wynberg Cape Town Home: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Arusha $45Cape Town $23
Tours and Activities in Arusha
For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Day Tour in Arusha National Park: $279
- Marangu waterfall & Coffee making Cultural Tour | BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS CO LTD : $150
- Materuni Waterfalls, Visiting Chagga Village, CoffeeTour Kikuletwa Hotsprings: $100
- Materuni waterfalls coffee tour & Chemka hot springs Day trip: $95
- "Ultimate Tanzanian Adventure: 5-Day Safari Experience": $4,275
- 1 Day Arusha National Park tour: $270
- 1 Day Best Of Tarangire National Park Tour on 4x4 Jeep: $675
- 1-Day Ngorongoro Crater Special Tour: $645
- 1-Day Tarangire National Park Tour: $267
- 12 Days Best Of Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Beach Tour: $8,775
- 12 Days Best Of Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Beach Tour: $8,745
- 1Day Safari Tour Tarangire National Park Join Group: $279
Tours and Activities in Cape Town
For Cape Town, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3 Wineries Private Tour in Stellenbosch, Paarl Tasting Included: $136
- Cape Agulhas Full Day Private Tour: $187
- Cape Point Full Day Tour: $187
- Cape Point Private Tour withTable Mountain and Penguin Colony : $252
- Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope day tour Up to 10 persons: $64
- Cape Town - Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens and City Tour: $280
- Cape Town Woodstock Street Art Walking Tour: $30
- CapeWinelands Private Tour to Stellenbosch,Franschhoek and Paarl: $94
- Day Tour in Robben Island, Bo-Kaap and Table Mountain : $163
- Private Cape Peninsula Tour : $113
- Private Tour Cape of Good Hope with Penguins : $109
- South African Traditional Braai (BBQ) Experience & Winetasting : $134
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayArusha $11Cape Town $20
Sample the Local Flavors in Cape Town
Also in Cape Town, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Experience South African Craft Rum tasting and distillery tour in Cape Town: $9.36
- African drum show & wine tasting at Silvermist: $19
- Drumstruck at Silvermist. Live African Drum Show & Wine tasting: $24
- Wine Tasting & Storytelling with SA Tapas add-on: $27
- From 3 Regions Wine Tour with 3 Estates, 15 Wines: $37
- Wine Tour: Paarl, Franschhoek & Stellenbosch incl 3 wineries: $38
- Three Region Wine Tour: $43
- Cape Winelands and Wine Tasting Full Day Tour: $46
- half day wine tour & Safaris[Morning /Afternoon]: $48
- Stellenbosch: Half-Day Wine Tour: $50
- Fullday Wine Tour: $51
- Stellenbosch Wine Tour half day from Cape Town: $53
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Cape Town, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. And not only is Cape Town much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cape Town would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cape Town and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Arusha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arusha than you might in Cape Town.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arusha Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Arusha or Cape Town?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Cape Town, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.