Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Bangkok?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bangkok 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 Bangkok 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: Bangkok or Cape Town?
Bangkok
Bangkok: a name synonymous with all things exotic. The vibrant and exciting capital of Thailand is not just a hub for Southeast Asia, but also a destination into itself. Known for an active nightlife and party scene, as well as great food, historic temples, and busy markets, Bangkok offers a diversity to entertain even the most experienced travelers.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand, The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, 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 dayBangkok $76Cape Town $98
The average daily cost (per person) in Bangkok is $76, 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 Bangkok and Cape Town in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBangkok $41Cape Town $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBangkok $82Cape Town $78
Compare Hotels in Bangkok and Cape Town
Looking for a hotel in Bangkok 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: Bangkok Hotel Prices and Cape Town Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bangkok $5.74Cape Town $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bangkok are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk to bus station$2.17
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Skytrain Ticket$4.35
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Chao Phraya River Express Ticket$0.87
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Ferry Ride$0.71
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Taxi From Airport$6.79
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Short Taxi Ride$2.45
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Boat Taxi$1.36
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Trains to airport$4.35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangkok
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bangkok:
- Tuk-tuk tour Bangkok by Night with Chinatown meal and hotel transfers: $55
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Hua Hin APT-HTL (BKK): $71
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Bangkok HTL- APT(BKK): $14
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Bangkok APT-HTL (BKK): $17
- Transfer from Don Mueang Airport (DMK) to Rayong Province: $85
- Transfer from Don Mueang Airport (DMK) to Koh Chang: $130
- Transfer from Don Mueang Airport (DMK) to HuaHin: $74
- Transfer from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya: $53
- Transfer from Bangkok Airport to Hua Hin: $68
- Transfer from Bangkok Airport to Bangkok Hotel by Deluxe Vehicle: $135
- Transfer from Bangkok Airport to Ayutthaya: $45
- Transfer from Bangkok Airport to Aranyaprathet: $153
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transport Shuttle Transfer to Camps Bay Cape Town: $18
- Airport transfers: $22
- 1 Day Durbanville Valley Wine Tasting Tour with Private Transfers: $178
- 1 Day Explore Cape Town Like a Local with Private Guided Transfer: $149
- 1 Day Helderberg Valley Winelands Tour with Private Transfers: $232
- 1 Day Hemel en Aarde Whale Coast Wine Tour with Private Transfers: $205
- 1 Day Tastes of Stellenbosch Wine Tour with Private Transfers: $220
- 1 Day West Coast Wonders Tour with Private Transfers: $177
- 1 Day Wine Lover Wander Connoisseur Tour with Private Transfers: $180
- 1-3 Passenger Private Arrival & Departure Cape Town - Airport Transfers: $54
- 1.Cape Town Airport Transfer (&Private tour trips during yo Stay): $17
- AIRPORT Transfer to and from Cape Town City: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Bangkok or Cape Town?
Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Bangkok 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 dayBangkok $18Cape Town $42
Typical Food Prices in Bangkok
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Bangkok:
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Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe (for Two)$24
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Casual Lunch of Prawns (for Two)$5.43
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2 Rotis (Bread)$1.22
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Mango & Sticky Rice$0.82
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Lunch at KFC (for Two)$5.43
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Pad Thai$1.90
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Airport Lunch for 2$15
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Lunch for 2$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bangkok
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bangkok.
- Bangkok Food Tour and Sightseeing with Tuktuk: $16
- White Orchid Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise: $19
- Chao Phraya Princess Dinner Cruise Ticket: $20
- Baiyoke Observation Deck with Lunch/Dinner Buffet: $21
- River Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya Princess: $23
- Meridian Sunset Dinner Cruise - Floating Paradise From ICONSIAM Bangkok: $23
- Calypso Cabaret Show with Thai Set Dinner: $25
- 2-Hour Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya Princess: $26
- Chao Phraya Buffet Dinner Viva Alangka Cruise: $27
- Viva Alangka Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise: $27
- Alangka Luxury Buffet Dinner Cruise With Live Music: $27
- Riverside Dinner Buffet Cruise On Chao Phraya: $27
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.Bangkok $16Cape Town $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bangkok
Here are a few typical costs in Bangkok for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Movie Ticket$4.35
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Grand Palace Entrance Ticket$9.51
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Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) Ticket$1.36
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Dusit Zoo Entrance Fee (for Two)$5.43
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Club Cover Charge$10
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Thai Boxing Tickets (for Two)$65
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Fish Pedicure$4.08
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Wat Pho entrance ticket$2.72
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Siriraj Museum (2)$11
Tours and Activities in Bangkok
Here are a few actual costs in Bangkok for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Ayutthaya Historic Park Group Tour from Bangkok: $65
- Ayutthaya Historic Park Tour Group Tour from Bangkok: $55
- Ayutthaya Historic Park Tour Group Tour from Bangkok: $55
- Bangkok 5 Hour Cultural & Temples Tour Private: $82
- Full-Day Erawan Waterfall and River Kwai Private Guided Tour: $150
- Maeklong Railway & Floating Market Tour (Private & All-Inclusive): $146
- Private Customized Bangkok Tour With Driver : $50
- Sunset Sail, Glittering Temspls at Afternoon Ayutthaya Tours : $59
- Tuk-Tuk Tour Bangkok By Night With Chinatown Street: $64
- 1 Hour Axe Throwing Experience : $17
- 10 Hours Private Tour Ayuttaya: $113
- 2-Day River Kwai Experience from Bangkok: $224
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 dayBangkok $5.95Cape Town $21
Typical Alcohol Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bangkok are as follows:
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Beer$1.09
Sample the Local Flavors in Bangkok
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bangkok:
- Pub Crawl and Club Night With Shots & VIP Entrance: $22
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 Bangkok and Cape Town, we can see that Cape Town is more expensive. And not only is Bangkok much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bangkok 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 Bangkok would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bangkok 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 Bangkok.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bangkok Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bangkok or Cape Town?
Bangkok has a larger population, and is about 49% larger than the population of Cape Town. When comparing the sizes of Bangkok 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 Bangkok or Cape Town?
Cape Town has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Bangkok experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Bangkok or Cape Town in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Bangkok as well as Cape Town. Bangkok attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Bangkok is a little warmer than Cape Town. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bangkok in July average around 29°C (84°F), and Cape Town averages at about 21°C (70°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cape Town. In the summer, Bangkok often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin January. Bangkok gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 338 hours of full sun.
Bangkok receives a lot of rain in the summer. Bangkok usually gets more rain in July than Cape Townin January. Bangkok gets 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryBangkok 29°C (84°F)Cape Town 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Cape Town in the Autumn?
Both Cape Town and Bangkok are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bangkok throughout the year.
In October, Bangkok is generally much warmer than Cape Townin April. Daily temperatures in Bangkok average around 28°C (83°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
It's quite sunny in Cape Town. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bangkok. Bangkok usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during autumn. Bangkok gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 233 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Bangkok. In October, Bangkok usually receives more rain than Cape Townin April. Bangkok gets 242 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Bangkok is November to February. The rainy season in Bangkok is May to October.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilBangkok 28°C (83°F)Cape Town 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Cape Town in the Winter?
Both Cape Town and Bangkok during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Bangkok because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Bangkok is much warmer than Cape Town in the winter. The daily temperature in Bangkok averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Cape Town fluctuates around 13°C (55°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Bangkok. In the winter, Bangkok often gets more sunshine than Cape Townin July. Bangkok gets 276 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 193 hours of full sun.
Bangkok usually gets less rain in January than Cape Townin July. Bangkok gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year. November to February is the dry season in Bangkok.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyBangkok 27°C (80°F)Cape Town 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Cape Town in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bangkok and Cape Town. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bangkok year-round.
In the spring, Bangkok is much warmer than Cape Town. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bangkok in April average around 31°C (87°F), and Cape Town averages at about 16°C (61°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cape Town this time of the year. In Bangkok, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bangkok usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cape Town during spring. Bangkok gets 262 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 278 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Bangkok usually receives more rain than Cape Townin October. Bangkok gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring. Also, May to October is the rainy season in Bangkok.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberBangkok 31°C (87°F)Cape Town 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Cape Town and Bangkok
| Bangkok | Cape Town | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (87°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 242 mm (9.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 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.