Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Athens or Cape Town?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Athens and Cape Town. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Athens or Cape Town?
Athens
Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.
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 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, 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 dayAthens €127Cape Town €91
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €127, while the average daily cost in Cape Town is €91. 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 Athens and Cape Town in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAthens €63Cape Town €36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAthens €126Cape Town €72
Compare Hotels in Athens and Cape Town
Looking for a hotel in Athens 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: Athens Hotel Prices and Cape Town Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Athens €27Cape Town €16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
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Airport Bus for Two€6.40
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Metro€1.50
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Metro€2.00
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Metro from Airport to City Center€8.00
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Taxi from Airport€35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- VipTransfer From /To Athens Airport - Lavrio Port : $207
- Vip Transfer From/To Athens Center - Rafina Port : $218
- Vip Transfer From/To Athens Center - Lavrio Port: $273
- Vip Transfer From /To Athens Center - Athens Airport : $218
- VIP High Class Limos & Chauffeurs Transfer to Athens: $66
- VIP Ferry Ticket From Piraeus Port To Santorini & Private Transfer Included: $250
- Transfer services from/to Athens Airport: $105
- Transfer from/to Piraeus Port and Athens city centre hotel: $41
- Transfer from/to Piraeus Port and Athens International Airport: $142
- Transfer from/to Athens International Airport to city centre: $126
- Transfer from/to Athens Airport and Athens City Centre: $197
- Transfer from and to Athens International Airport : $41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From 3-Day Safari and Coastal Tour with Transfer: $508
- From Group Transfer Only to Aquilla Game Reserve: $459
- Big 5 Aquila Safari Private Transfer with Park Fee From Cape Town: $300
- Jeep Dune Adventure Tour, Sandboarding & Transfer: $279
- Shark Cage Diving & Penguins Tour to Gansbaai with private transfers: $274
- Cape Town Morning or Afternoon Safari including private transfer: $254
- Aquila Safari Game Drive, Lunch & Shared Transfers from Cape Town: $252
- Whale Watching In Hermanus with Private Transfer: $250
- Pvt Airport to Hout Bay Transfer: $243
- Full Day Private Chauffeur and Transfer Services in Cape Town: $240
- 1 Day Helderberg Valley Winelands Tour with Private Transfers: $232
- Hermanus Wine Tour (Full Day Including Cape Town Transfers): $230
Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Cape Town?
Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Athens 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 dayAthens €37Cape Town €39
Typical Food Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
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Ice cream€3.00
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Souvlaki€2.20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Athens
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $24
- Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Lunch or Dinner: $26
- Street Food Tour Market & City Centre: $42
- Foodies’ Favorite Food tour: $46
- Greek Street Food Tour: $52
- Athens Street Food Tour: Explore City's Iconic Eateries: $52
- Street Food Tour with Local Guide and 7 Tastings: $57
- Koukaki Food Tour with a Local Friend: $60
- Traditional Greek Cooking Class and Organic Lunch on Poros: $60
- Greek Spirits & Meze, Food Tour in Athens: $62
- Greek Traditional Vegan Cooking Class with Meal: $64
- Alternative, truly authentic food tour in secret Athens: $64
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:
- Dinner At Mandela's - Cultural Township Dinner Experience: $28
- Cape Malay Cooking Class in Bo-Kaap: $41
- 3-Hour Malay Cooking Class & Lunch in Bo-Kaap: $43
- Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience: $55
- Sunset Champagne Cruise and 3-Course Dinner: $56
- Bo-Kapp Walking Tour and Malay Cooking Class: $59
- African Dinner, Drumming Experience with Transfer: $61
- African Dinner Experience from Cape Town: $61
- Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience: $62
- Cruise and Dine Dinner / Sunset Champagne Cruise and 3-Course Dinner: $71
- Cape Town Food tour (Includes all food) 4hrs: $76
- Private Cooking Class and Meal in Local Wynberg Cape Town Home: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Athens €36Cape Town €21
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
- Acropolis/Athens Highlights Private Evening Tour (5 hours) from Athens, Piraeus: $87
- Apostle Paul's Footsteps in Athens Christian Private Tour 4Hours: $142
- Athens Private Day Tour Best place to visit: $273
- Best Food Tasting Tour of Athens, taste 18+ iconic Greek foods! : $86
- DELPHI and THERMOPYLAE: Full Day Private Tour Visit Arachova 8 H: $204
- DISCOVER ATHENS IN 6HRS Private Tour BEST INTRODUCTION-FOR FIRST TIME VISITORS : $218
- EPIDAURUS & NAFPLIO : Private Full Day Tour From Athens 6 Hours : $174
- Food Experience in Athens including Unlimited Lunch : $63
- Layover Private Tour in Athens: $246
- Mycenae Lions Gate Epidaurus & Nafplio Full Day Private Tour 8H : $192
- Traditional Villages Full day Tour in Santorini: $59
- "Acropolis Half-day Tour and City Visit": $170
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: $137
- Bespoke Tour : Cape Point , Table Mountain & Penguin Colony : $257
- Cape Agulhas Full Day Private Tour: $192
- Cape Point Full Day Tour: $192
- Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope day tour Up to 10 persons: $66
- 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: $96
- Day Tour in Robben Island, Bo-Kaap and Table Mountain : $166
- Long Walk to Freedom in Robben Island including Ticket & Afrogem: $156
- Mandela's Robben Island Museum Bo-Kaap Cape Town City Tour + Ferry ticket f/d: $165
- Penguins Private Tour- Cape of Good Hope & Cape Point Tour from Cape Town: $114
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAthens €23Cape Town €19
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
- Liquer tasting in Polykala's Distillery Show Room in Athens: $17
- Greek Wine Tasting: $23
- Premium Wine Tastings: $36
- Greek Wine Tasting Experience with a Sommelier: $43
- 1 Hour Private Four Greek Wine Tasting and Food Pairing in Athens: $44
- Old Town Athens Wine Tasting: $53
- Best rated Acropolis Wine Tasting : $54
- Greek food and wine tasting: $54
- 2 Hours Wine Tasting Odyssey in Athens: $54
- Rare Greek Wine Tasting w/Sommelier by the Acropolis: $59
- Acropolis Private Wine Tasting @ Finewine store : $61
- Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $79
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:
- Distillery Tour, rum and gin tasting: $7.13
- Experience South African Craft Rum tasting and distillery tour in Cape Town: $9.60
- African drum show & wine tasting at Silvermist: $24
- Drumstruck at Silvermist. Live African Drum Show & Wine tasting: $25
- Sip 15 Wines on a 3-Region Wine Tour with Cheese: $38
- Wine Tour: Paarl, Franschhoek & Stellenbosch incl 3 wineries: $38
- Three Region Wine Tour: $44
- Cape Winelands and Wine Tasting Full Day Tour: $47
- half day wine tour & Safaris[Morning /Afternoon]: $49
- Stellenbosch: Half-Day Wine Tour: $51
- Fullday Wine Tour: $51
- Stellenbosch Wine Tour half day from Cape Town: $54
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Cape Town, we can see that Athens is more expensive. And not only is Cape Town much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Athens is in Europe and Cape Town is in Africa, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Athens would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Athens 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 Athens Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Athens or Cape Town?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Athens. When comparing the sizes of Athens 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.
When is the best time to visit Athens or Cape Town?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Cape Town is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Athens has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Athens or Cape Town in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Cape Town. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Athens this time of year.
In July, Athens is generally a little warmer than Cape Townin January. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 27°C (81°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cape Town this time of the year. In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cape Town during summer. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 338 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Athens usually receives less rain than Cape Townin January. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryAthens 27°C (81°F)Cape Town 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Athens or Cape Town in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Athens as well as Cape Town. Many travelers come to Athens for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Athens is around the same temperature as Cape Town in the autumn. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 19°C (67°F) in October, and Cape Town fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in April.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cape Town. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Athens this time of the year. In the autumn, Athens often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin April. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 233 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets more rain in October than Cape Townin April. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilAthens 19°C (67°F)Cape Town 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Athens or Cape Town in the Winter?
Both Cape Town and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Athens in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Athens is cooler than Cape Town. Typically, the winter temperatures in Athens in January average around 10°C (51°F), and Cape Town averages at about 13°C (55°F)in July.
Athens usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during winter. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 193 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Athens usually receives less rain than Cape Townin July. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyAthens 10°C (51°F)Cape Town 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Athens or Cape Town in the Spring?
Both Cape Town and Athens during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Athens for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Athens is generally around the same temperature as Cape Townin October. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 16°C (60°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
In Cape Town, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Athens. In the spring, Athens often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin October. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 278 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets less rain in April than Cape Townin October. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberAthens 16°C (60°F)Cape Town 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Cape Town and Athens
| Athens | Cape Town | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (60°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
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.