Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Budapest?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Budapest 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 Budapest and Cape Town can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Budapest or Cape Town?
Budapest
Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. It has been called the "Paris of the East" because of its impressive architecture and general beauty. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 because of its cultural importance, its location on the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrassy Avenue. In addition to its rich history, Budapest still has a young vibe with a lot of energy. There's an active night life, an impressive music scene, and a good reputation with European youth.
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 from Budapest, The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest, 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 dayBudapest $91Cape Town $98
The average daily cost (per person) in Budapest is $91, 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 Budapest and Cape Town in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBudapest $50Cape Town $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBudapest $100Cape Town $78
Compare Hotels in Budapest and Cape Town
Looking for a hotel in Budapest 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: Budapest Hotel Prices and Cape Town Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Budapest $11Cape Town $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budapest
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Budapest:
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Short Taxi Ride$7.05
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Metro Pass$3.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest
Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Vienna to Budapest: $710
- T72 Tank Driving with Hummer Transfer: $1,603
- Speed boat cruise on Budapest Danube river and private airport transfer package: $91
- Private transfer from Budapest to Zagreb: $936
- Private transfer from Budapest to Vienna: $592
- Private transfer from Budapest to Prague: $1,066
- Private transfer between Budapest and Vienna: $474
- Private Transfer: Budapest to Budapest International Airport (BUD): $44
- Private Transfer in Budapest: $76
- Private Transfer from Budapest to Vienna with 2h of Sightseeing, Local Driver: $235
- Private Transfer from Budapest to Vienna with 2h of Sightseeing: $217
- Private Transfer from Budapest to Liszt Ferenc Airport: $74
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 Budapest or Cape Town?
Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Budapest 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 dayBudapest $23Cape Town $42
Typical Food Prices in Budapest
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:
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Lunch$3.44
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Downtown Budapest Cruise with Pizza and Beer: $45
- Pizza & Beer Downtown Budapest Cruise: $46
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour (full meals): $52
- Medieval Dinner Show with Drinks: $53
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour / Local delights: $57
- Private Street Food Tour: $59
- Danube Cruise with Hungarian Dinner and Live Music: $74
- Budapest Danube Cruise with Buffet Dinner, Performances and Music: $75
- Chefparade Cooking School_ Hungarian menu: $79
- Evening Cruise and Dinner with Champagne: $86
- Lángos (Hungary’s nr1 streetfood) cooking class: $87
- Candlelit Dinner River Cruise with Live Music: $91
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.Budapest $22Cape Town $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Entrance to the Baths for Two$6.91
Tours and Activities in Budapest
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Budapest.
- Danube Bend Private All Day Tour with Lunch, with entrance fees and cruise: $164
- Private Budapest city tour with a daytime Danube river cruise: $240
- 101 things you have to see in Budapest - Full Day Tour with Lunch & Dessert: $186
- 10PM Budapest Danube Cruise with Live Music & Food or Drinks : $20
- 2 Hour Budapest Market and Tasting Tour: $57
- 2 Hours Buda Castle Walking Tour - Walk with a Historian: $39
- 2 Hours Budapest Walking Tour with A Private Guide: $130
- 2 Hours Jewish Heritage Walking Tour - Walk with a Historian: $50
- 2-Hour Private Budapest Castle Walking Tour: $127
- 22 Dog-statues in Budapest - an unusual tour: $25
- 3 Hours Budapest Segway Grand City Tour Buda, Margaret and Pest: $93
- 3-Hour Jewish Quarter Walking Tour in Budapest with Historian: $55
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 dayBudapest $18Cape Town $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest
Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- 5-Hour Pub Crawl through Ruin Bars: $22
- The Original Budapest Pub Crawl - One Hour Open Bar + Free Shots: $22
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Bingo Bar Crawl: $25
- Ruin Bar Pub Crawl with Entry Tickets: $29
- Detective Pub Crawl Game by App: $38
- 8-Tier Hungarian Wine Tasting in a Cozy Downtown Wine Bar: $39
- Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $42
- Drunken History Bar Crawl Tour with Local Drinks: $42
- Private Wine Tasting in Budapest: $50
- Hungarian Wine Tasting (with Cheese and Charcuterie) in Budapest: $50
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 comparing the travel costs between Budapest and Cape Town, we can see that Cape Town is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Budapest is in Europe and Cape Town is in Africa, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Budapest Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Budapest or Cape Town?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Budapest. When comparing the sizes of Budapest 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 Budapest 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 Budapest has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Budapest or Cape Town in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Budapest and Cape Town. Most visitors come to Budapest for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Budapest is around the same temperature as Cape Town in the summer. The daily temperature in Budapest averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Cape Town fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cape Town this time of the year. In Budapest, it's very sunny this time of the year. Budapest usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during summer. Budapest gets 278 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 338 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Budapest usually receives more rain than Cape Townin January. Budapest gets 45 mm (1.8 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 JanuaryBudapest 21°C (70°F)Cape Town 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Budapest or Cape Town in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Budapest as well as Cape Town. The autumn months attract visitors to Budapest because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Budapest is much colder than Cape Town. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Budapest in October average around 12°C (53°F), and Cape Town averages at about 18°C (64°F)in April.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cape Town. In the autumn, Budapest often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin April. Budapest gets 152 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 233 hours of full sun.
Budapest usually gets less rain in October than Cape Townin April. Budapest gets 34 mm (1.3 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 AprilBudapest 12°C (53°F)Cape Town 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Budapest or Cape Town in the Winter?
Both Cape Town and Budapest are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Budapest this time of year.
It's quite cold in Budapest in the winter. In January, Budapest is generally much colder than Cape Townin July. Daily temperatures in Budapest average around -1°C (31°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
Budapest usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during winter. Budapest gets 61 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 193 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Budapest usually receives less rain than Cape Townin July. Budapest gets 42 mm (1.7 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 JulyBudapest -1°C (31°F)Cape Town 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Budapest or Cape Town in the Spring?
Both Cape Town and Budapest during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Budapest for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Budapest is cooler than Cape Town in the spring. The daily temperature in Budapest averages around 12°C (53°F) in April, and Cape Town fluctuates around 16°C (61°F)in October.
In Cape Town, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Budapest often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin October. Budapest gets 178 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 278 hours of full sun.
Budapest usually gets more rain in April than Cape Townin October. Budapest gets 42 mm (1.7 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 OctoberBudapest 12°C (53°F)Cape Town 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Cape Town and Budapest
| Budapest | Cape Town | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -1°C (31°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 2°C (35°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 16°C (62°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 20°C (67°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (69°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 17°C (63°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (53°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 1°C (34°F) | 48 mm (1.9 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.