Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Beirut?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Beirut 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 Beirut 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: Beirut or Cape Town?
Beirut
Some travelers are seeking the hustle, bustle and posh atmosphere that only comes from a big city. Those travelers should have Beirut, Lebanon at the top of their list. The capital city is jam packed with 2.1 million people that are constantly on the go. As the commercial and financial hub of Lebanon, this city is fast-paced, fashion conscious and always ready for a night on the town.
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 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 dayBeirut $2.26Cape Town $98
The average daily cost (per person) in Beirut is $2.26, 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 Beirut and Cape Town in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBeirut $1.26Cape Town $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBeirut $2.52Cape Town $78
Compare Hotels in Beirut and Cape Town
Looking for a hotel in Beirut 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: Beirut Hotel Prices and Cape Town Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Beirut $0.44Cape Town $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beirut
Also for Beirut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Rafic Hariri (BEY) Airport to Beirut: $46
- Private Transfer from Beirut Hotels to the Beirut Airport: $10
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Beirut International Airport: $18
- Private Arrival Transfer: Beirut International Airport to Hotel: $18
- Departure Transfer:From Hotel To Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY): $10
- Hiking Day Trip to Chouwen Lake with Hotel Transfers: $86
- Beirut Arrival Airport Transfer Pickup: $9.89
- Beirut Arrival Airport Transfer: $13
- Beirut Airport one Way Private Transfer to the hotel: $15
- Beirut Airport Transfer in a Limousine: $201
- BEY Airport to Hotel, Private Arrival Transfer: $10
- Airport Arrival Transfer to Your Beirut Hotel: $10
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: $250
- 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: $18
- Transfer To Safari- Aquila From Cape Town Excluding Entry Fees Full Day: $159
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Simonstown to Cape Town Airport: $26
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Claremont to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Cape Town City Center (CBD) to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Shopping Mall Transfers: $22
- Shark Cage Diving: Full Day Tour Transfer: $97
- Shared Transfers to and from Safari Game Reserve (excluding entrance fees): $85
- Shared Transfer to Cape Agulhas - Where The Two Oceans Meet From Cape Town F/Day: $183
Is it cheaper to fly into Beirut or Cape Town?
Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Beirut 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 dayBeirut $0.71Cape Town $42
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beirut
For Beirut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Lebanese Virtual Cooking Class Live from Lebanon: $30
- Traveling Spoon Lebanese Mezze Private Online Cooking Class : $40
- Private, Traditional Lebanese Cooking Class with a Contemporary Twist: $72
- Authentic Lebanese Cooking Lesson and Meal with Tania's Family in Beirut: $100
- Private Lebanese Cooking Class in Beirut with Amal + Transfers: $142
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.Beirut $0.26Cape Town $23
Tours and Activities in Beirut
For Beirut, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3 Days Lebanon Holiday Tour Package: $250
- 3 Hours ATV Rental Guided Tour in Nature: $130
- 3 days tour package : Jeita grotto-Byblos-Baalbek & Beirut tour: $295
- 3-Day Tour of Beirut with Pick Up: $250
- ATV (2 Seat) Full Day Off-Road Tour & Scenic Adventure: $150
- ATV (2 Seat) Half Day Off-Road Tour & Scenic Adventure: $120
- All in 1 Lebanon Local Multi day Tour, 3 days: $289
- Baalbek Tour: $111
- Baalbek, Anjar and Ksara Group Tour: $95
- Baalbek, Anjar and Ksara Guided Full-Day Tour from Beirut: $90
- Baatara Gorge Waterfall, Jeita Grotto and Byblos Tour: $170
- Beirut 3 museums + mini walking tour: $50
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
- Cape Agulhas Full Day Private Tour: $192
- Cape Point Full Day Tour: $192
- Cape Point Private Tour withTable Mountain and Penguin Colony : $257
- 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 dayBeirut $0.23Cape Town $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Beirut
Also in Beirut, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour at Chateau Musar and Ixsir : $50
- Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour: $56
- Uncorking Splendor: A Journey Through Private Wine Tasting Tours: $60
- Budget Wine Tasting Tour at the Bekaa Valley Wineries: $60
- Full-Day Private Wine Tour in Bekaa Valley with Tasting : $60
- Wine Tasting and Culture : $69
- Wine Tasting and Hiking in the Cedars forest : $69
- From Full Day Wine Tasting in the Bekaa Valley Tour: $90
- Lebanon Wine Tasting Tour From Beirut: $91
- Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour to Chateau Musar and Ixsir Winery: $100
- Full-Day Private Bekaa Valley Wine Tour from Beirut: $103
- Private tour to Jeita Grotto with Wine Tasting in Faqra Ruins: $110
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 Beirut and Cape Town, we can see that Cape Town is more expensive. And not only is Beirut much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beirut is in Middle East 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 Beirut would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beirut 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 Beirut.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beirut Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Beirut or Cape Town?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 79% larger than the population of Beirut. When comparing the sizes of Beirut 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 Beirut or Cape Town?
Cape Town has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Beirut experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Beirut or Cape Town in the Summer?
Both Cape Town and Beirut are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Beirut throughout the year.
Beirut is a little warmer than Cape Town in the summer. The daily temperature in Beirut averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Cape Town fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Cape Town. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beirut. Beirut usually receives more sunshine than Cape Town during summer. Beirut gets 369 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 338 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Beirut usually receives less rain than Cape Townin January. Beirut gets 10 mm (0.4 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 JanuaryBeirut 27°C (81°F)Cape Town 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Beirut or Cape Town in the Autumn?
Both Cape Town and Beirut during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Beirut because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Beirut is a little warmer than Cape Town. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Beirut in October average around 25°C (77°F), and Cape Town averages at about 18°C (64°F)in April.
In Cape Town, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Beirut. In the autumn, Beirut often gets more sunshine than Cape Townin April. Beirut gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 233 hours of full sun.
Beirut usually gets more rain in October than Cape Townin April. Beirut gets 60 mm (2.4 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 AprilBeirut 25°C (77°F)Cape Town 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Beirut or Cape Town in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Beirut and Cape Town. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Beirut year-round.
In January, Beirut is generally around the same temperature as Cape Townin July. Daily temperatures in Beirut average around 13°C (55°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
Beirut usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during winter. Beirut gets 149 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 193 hours of full sun in the winter.
Beirut gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Beirut usually receives more rain than Cape Townin July. Beirut gets 130 mm (5.1 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 JulyBeirut 13°C (55°F)Cape Town 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Beirut or Cape Town in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Beirut as well as Cape Town. Beirut attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Beirut is around the same temperature as Cape Town in the spring. The daily temperature in Beirut averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and Cape Town fluctuates around 16°C (61°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cape Town. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beirut this time of the year. In the spring, Beirut often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin October. Beirut gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 278 hours of full sun.
Beirut usually gets more rain in April than Cape Townin October. Beirut gets 50 mm (2 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 OctoberBeirut 17°C (63°F)Cape Town 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Cape Town and Beirut
| Beirut | Cape Town | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 13°C (55°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 130 mm (5.1 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.