Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Bali?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bali or Cape Town?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bali and Cape Town can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bali or Cape Town?
Bali
Known as the "Island of the Gods," it's not difficult to see why the Gods would want to set up shop in Bali. With a beautifully diverse landscape of hills, mountains, coastlines, beaches, vibrant rice fields and volcanic hillsides, you'll easily go into sensory overload.
Bali is home to 4 million people who all hold true to a deeply spiritual and unique culture. With champion surfing, world class resorts and challenging hiking trails, this Indonesian island accommodates travelers from every walk of life. It's often called, "paradise on earth, " and no one disagrees.
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 Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia, 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 dayBali $74Cape Town $98
The average daily cost (per person) in Bali is $74, while the average daily cost in Cape Town is $98. 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 Bali and Cape Town in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBali $42Cape Town $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBali $84Cape Town $78
Compare Hotels in Bali and Cape Town
Looking for a hotel in Bali 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: Bali Hotel Prices and Cape Town Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bali $9.12Cape Town $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bali
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bali:
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Motorbike Rental$3.13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bali
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bali:
- West Beach Nusa Penida Tour with Speedboat Transfer from Sanur: $99
- Unforgettable Batur Volcano Hiking With Private Transfer: $85
- Ubud: Sky Bike and Jungle Swing Experience with Transfer: $64
- Sanur Bali to/from Lembongan: Speedboat Transfer: $16
- Private transfer: Nusa Dua to Bali Airport (DPS): $15
- Private Arrival Transfer: Denpasar International Airport to Nusa Dua Area: $15
- Private Airport Transfer and Others: $35
- Parasailing Adventure In Bali Including Return Transfer: $46
- Nusa Dua Departure transfer to Bali Airport International (DPS): $13
- Ngurah Rai Bali Airport Private Transfer: $16
- Mount Batur Sunrise 4WD Jeep With Transfer : $16
- Horse Riding on the Black Sand Beach and Free Hotel Transfers: $74
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers: $11
- Private Airport Transfers in Cape Town- One way/Round Trips: $16
- 1.Cape Town Airport Transfer (&Private tour trips during yo Stay): $17
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Cape Town City Center (CBD) to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Claremont to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Exclusive Cape Town Airport and Cruise Terminal Transfers: $18
- Airport Transport Shuttle Transfer to Camps Bay Cape Town: $18
- Airport Transport Shuttle Transfer to Muizenberg Cape Town : $18
- Airport Transfer (Cape Town ) Bus: $18
- Airport Transport Shuttle Transfer from Airport to Constantia: $18
- Transport Shuttle Transfer from Constantia to Cape Town Airport: $18
- 24 hour Private Airport Shuttle and Transfer CBD: $19
Is it cheaper to fly into Bali or Cape Town?
Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Bali 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 dayBali $21Cape Town $42
Typical Food Prices in Bali
Some typical examples of dining costs in Bali are as follows:
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Coffee$1.25
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Lunch for Two$14
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Bali Cafe for Two$27
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Lunch for Two$8.14
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Lunch for 2$9.02
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Dinner for 2$9.89
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bali
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bali.
- Best Romantic Seafood Dinner at Jimbaran Beach Sunset : $29
- Romantic Seafood Dinner under sunset in the Beach: $29
- Uluwatu Temple Kecak And Dinner Half Day Private Guided Tour: $30
- Private Tour Uluwatu Sunset Kecak Dance and Dinner at Jimbaran: $31
- Bali Sunset and Dinner: Uluwatu, Tanah Lot and Jimbaran: $32
- From Ubud: Balinese Cooking Class at an Organic Farm: $33
- Pirate Dinner Cruise with Shows, Games, and Music: $33
- From Ubud: Authentic Cooking Class in a Local Village: $35
- Seminyak: Balinese Cooking Class & Market Tour: $45
- Bali Private tour Beach,Traditional dance, Uluwatu Temple, Sunset, Dinner: $45
- Spice Garden, Jamu & Cooking Class in Bali Village: $45
- Bali Street Food Tour: $45
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.Bali $11Cape Town $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bali
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bali are as follows:
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Spa for Two$54
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Snorkelling Trip$13
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Cooking School$28
Tours and Activities in Bali
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bali are as follows:
- ATV Rafting Jungle Swing Private Guided Tour : $63
- Bali Telaga Waja White Water Rafting Adventure : $47
- Lembongan Snorkeling and Island Tour: $80
- Nusa Penida Snorkeling Adventure (Private & All-Inclusive): $129
- Private Tour Bali Bird Park And Ubud Tour: $110
- Sightseeing to Ulundanu temple, banyumala waterfall & Tanah lot: $57
- White Water Rafting Adventure at Telaga Waja River : $43
- (BCR Rafting) Rafting Adventure in Telaga Waja River 18km: $55
- 2 Day Tours Ubud Art Village, Dance And Other Tourist Attractions: $186
- 2 Days Private Tours : Watersport And Uluwatu Temple: $124
- 3-Days Lombok,Gili island Tour Hopping around departure from Bali island: $300
- 30 minutes tandem Paragliding tours in Bali with free photo/video: $185
Tours and Activities in Cape Town
For Cape Town, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Muizenberg to Kalk Bay: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $2.99
- District Six Museum Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket: $3.24
- Skip the Line: District Six Museum Admission Ticket: $3.60
- Kirstenbosch: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $3.99
- Cape Town 30-minute V&A Harbour Cruise: $4.15
- Hop-On Hop-Off Cape Town Canal Cruise: $4.15
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Ticket (One way Down): $4.35
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Ticket (One way Up): $4.35
- Meandering through Mouille Point: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $4.99
- V&A Waterfront: Seal & Harbour Cruise: $5.00
- Sea Point Promenade: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.13
- Muizenberg to Kalk Bay: Amble along the amazing False Bay Coast on an audio tour: $5.20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBali $3.23Cape Town $21
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 Bali and Cape Town, we can see that Cape Town is more expensive. And not only is Bali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bali is in Asia 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 Bali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bali 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 Cape Town would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cape Town than you might in Bali.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bali Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bali or Cape Town?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Bali. When comparing the sizes of Bali 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 Bali or Cape Town?
Cape Town has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Bali experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Bali or Cape Town in the Summer?
Both Cape Town and Bali during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Bali because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Bali is a little warmer than Cape Town in the summer. The daily temperature in Bali averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Cape Town fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
In Cape Town, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bali. In the summer, Bali often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin January. Bali gets 253 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 338 hours of full sun.
Bali usually gets more rain in July than Cape Townin January. Bali gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year. April to September is the dry season in Bali.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryBali 27°C (81°F)Cape Town 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Bali or Cape Town in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bali and Cape Town. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bali year-round.
In the autumn, Bali is much warmer than Cape Town. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bali in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Cape Town averages at about 18°C (64°F)in April.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cape Town this time of the year. In Bali, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bali usually receives more sunshine than Cape Town during autumn. Bali gets 266 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 233 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Bali usually receives more rain than Cape Townin April. Bali gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn. Also, October to March is the rainy season in Bali.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilBali 27°C (81°F)Cape Town 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Bali or Cape Town in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Bali as well as Cape Town. Bali attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Bali is generally much warmer than Cape Townin July. Daily temperatures in Bali average around 26°C (79°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
In the winter, Bali often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin July. Bali gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 193 hours of full sun.
Bali usually gets more rain in January than Cape Townin July. Bali gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year. October to March in Bali is the rainy season.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyBali 26°C (79°F)Cape Town 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Bali or Cape Town in the Spring?
Both Cape Town and Bali are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bali throughout the year.
Bali is much warmer than Cape Town in the spring. The daily temperature in Bali averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Cape Town fluctuates around 16°C (61°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Cape Town. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bali. Bali usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during spring. Bali gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 278 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Bali usually receives more rain than Cape Townin October. Bali gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Bali is April to September.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberBali 27°C (81°F)Cape Town 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Cape Town and Bali
| Bali | Cape Town | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 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.