Which place is cheaper, Johannesburg or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Athens or Johannesburg?
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 Johannesburg. 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 Johannesburg?
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.
Johannesburg
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Athens, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Athens, The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, and The Best Eco Tours in South Africa.
-
Athens Prices
Greece PricesJohannesburg Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAthens €154Johannesburg €95
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €154, while the average daily cost in Johannesburg is €95. 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 Johannesburg in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAthens €63Johannesburg €48
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAthens €126Johannesburg €96
Compare Hotels in Athens and Johannesburg
Looking for a hotel in Athens or Johannesburg? 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 Johannesburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Athens €27Johannesburg €14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
-
Airport Bus for Two€6.40
-
Metro€1.50
-
Metro€2.00
-
Metro from Airport to City Center€8.00
-
Taxi from Airport€35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One way Private Transfer Athens City Center to / from Piraeus Port: $21
- From Athens Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Rafina Port: $25
- Athens Airport (ATH) Private Transfer to Athens Hotels/Piraeus: $26
- Santorini: Private Airport and Port Transfer Service: $26
- From Private Transfer between Piraeus Port: $26
- Private Transfer from Piraeus Port to Athens City: $27
- Departure Transfer from Athens City to Piraeus Port: $27
- Piraeus Port: Private One-Way Transfer to Athens City Center: $27
- Piraeus port to Athens hotels Private arrival transfer: $28
- Athens City to Piraeus Port Cruises Terminal Private Transfer: $29
- Athens city to Piraeus port Private transfer: $29
- Athens hotels to Athens Airport(ATH) - Departure Private Transfer: $30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Johannesburg
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Johannesburg:
-
Taxi Ride€2.86
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
- Pilanesberg Transfer from Johannesburg and Pretoria : $217
- Private Land Rover transfer to Sun City from Johannesburg and PTA: $192
- Transfers Between OR Tambo and Pilanesburg : $191
- Suncity Transfer: $188
- Executive Airport Transfers - OR Tambo to Sandton : $176
- Private Transfer from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport (JNB) to Pretoria hotels: $173
- JHB: Lesedi Cultural Village Tour TRANSFER&ENTRANCE INCLUDED: $146
- Go Karting & Transfer to Lanseria Included: $133
- Johannesburg Quad Biking & Return Transfer: Haartebeespoort: $133
- Abseiling & Return Transfer Included Lanseria: $133
- South Africa Airport Transfer, Johannesburg Guided day Tour: $130
- Johannesburg Airport (JNB) to Johannesburg Round-Trip Transfer: $127
Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Johannesburg?
Prices for flights to both Johannesburg 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
-
Food Meals for one dayAthens €64Johannesburg €26
Typical Food Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
-
Ice cream€3.00
-
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: $27
- Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Lunch or Dinner: $29
- Authentic Athens Food Tour: $35
- "A Night in Dinner and Music Under the Stars": $56
- Athens walking and tasting food tour.: $57
- Greek Street Food Tour: $61
- Street Food Tour - Sample the Food the Locals Love: $68
- Traditional Greek food tour in hidden spots: $71
- Traditional Cooking Class with Drinks: $72
- 6-Course Greek Dinner on a Rooftop with Wine: $74
- The Bizarre Food Tour of Athens: $75
- Athens's original vegan food tour: $75
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johannesburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.
- Maboneng Street Art and Street Food Tour: $50
- Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $77
- Zulu Food Cooking & Dining Experience with a local Chef: $78
- A Private Traditional Cape Malay Cooking Class, with a MKR Finalist: $95
- Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $97
- Lesedi Cultural Experience + Lunch or Dinner: $114
- Lesedi Cultural Village with lunch or dinner cultural food: $122
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Athens €36Johannesburg €19
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
- A Neoclassical Capital: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.50
- Herakleidon Museum of Ancient Greek Technology: Entry Ticket: $6.82
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Athens: $6.93
- The Best of Piraeus: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $6.99
- Neighborhood of the Gods Smarthphone GPS APP Audio Walking Tour: $7.50
- Ancient Agora: Audiovisual self-guided tour with 3D models: $7.95
- Traditional Greek Food: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Athens: $7.99
- Acropolis Self-Guided Audiovisual Tour w/ 3D Models: $9.09
- Acropolis: 3D representations & audiovisual self-guided tour: $9.09
- Cats of Self-Guided Mobile Tour in Plaka: $9.09
- Acropolis Self-Guided Audiovisual Tour with 3D Models: $9.25
- Athens Exploration Private Game and City Tour on your Phone: $9.25
Tours and Activities in Johannesburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
- Golf Tour, Sun City , Gary Player Course - Rated the Best: $222
- Half-Day Safari Tour of the Magaliesberg Mountains by Zipline: $119
- Private Full Day Johannesburg apartheid museum and Soweto Tour : $108
- Rhino and Lion Park Safari Tour : $134
- Soweto Private half day tour: $73
- (Meet the Artist)Art Gallery & Street Art tour with lunch: $36
- 1 Day Full Johannesburg Top Attractions Tour: $278
- 1 Day Pilanesberg Safari with Tour Guide: $271
- 2 Days Kruger Fly-in Big 5 Safari Tour from Johannesburg: $987
- 2-Day Kruger National Park Safari Tour from Johannesburg: $927
- 2-Day Kruger Overland Big 5 Safari Tour: $835
- 3 Day Kruger Safari Tour from Johannesburg: $926
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayAthens €23Johannesburg €4.18
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: $19
- Thursday & Friday Night Pub Crawl for Professionals in Athens: $25
- Athens Party Pub Crawl with Unlimited Drinks & Club Access: $25
- Athens Old Town: Wine Tasting based on Ancient Greek Grapes: $40
- Old Town Acropolis Wine Tasting: $56
- Best rated Acropolis Wine Tasting : $57
- Greek food and wine tasting: $57
- Acropolis Private Wine Tasting @ Finewine store : $65
- Wine Tasting with a Sommelier under the Acropolis: $67
- Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $89
- Small-Group Wine Tour in Athens with Tasting: $90
- Ancient Corinth & Nemea Wine Tasting (up to 15 in a Luxurious Mercedes Minibus): $152
Sample the Local Flavors in Johannesburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Johannesburg:
- Wine Tasting Experience in Johannesburg: $8.13
- Wine Tasting: $11
- Hop on Hop Off Johannesburg Pub Crawl: $12
- Wine Tasting and Cableway Half Day Tour: $133
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Johannesburg, we can see that Athens is more expensive. And not only is Johannesburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Athens is in Europe and Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Athens Expensive? and Is Johannesburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Athens or Johannesburg?
Johannesburg has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Athens. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Johannesburg, 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.