Which place is cheaper, Johannesburg or Cairo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Cairo or Johannesburg?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cairo and Johannesburg 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: Cairo or Johannesburg?
Cairo
Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, and The Best Eco Tours in South Africa.
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Cairo Prices
Egypt PricesJohannesburg Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairo $31Johannesburg $120
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $31, while the average daily cost in Johannesburg is $120. 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 Cairo and Johannesburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairo $10Johannesburg $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairo $20Johannesburg $122
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Johannesburg
Looking for a hotel in Cairo 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: Cairo Hotel Prices and Johannesburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairo $3.53Johannesburg $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
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Metro Ride$0.08
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Taxi Ride$0.29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- Arrival transfer from Cairo airport: $5.00
- Private Transfer: Cairo Airport Arrival Any Hotel in Cairo Giza: $7.00
- Cairo CAI Airport Private Transfer to/from Cairo/El Omraniya: $8.82
- Private Transfer Between Cairo Airport and Cairo or Giza Hotels: $9.60
- Private Cairo Airport Transfers & Limousine to Anywhere in Cairo or vice versa: $10
- Private Transfer from Cairo Airport to Hotels in Cairo: $10
- Cairo Airport Transfer Service with Private Driver: $10
- Private Cairo Airport Transfer To or From Cairo and Giza Hotels: $10
- Private Cairo International or Sphinx Airport Transfer: $10
- Private Departure Transfer from Cairo City to Cairo Airport: $12
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski: $12
- Private Pickup transfer from Novotel Cairo El Borg to Cairo airport: $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Johannesburg
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Johannesburg:
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Taxi Ride$3.62
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
- 1-4 Passenger Arrival & Departure JNB - Airport Transfers: $76
- 1-4 Passenger Johannesburg - Airport Transfer: $40
- Airport & Private Shuttle and Transfer Services in Johannesburg: $79
- Airport Shuttle and Private Transfers: $39
- Airport Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Luxury Van: $77
- Airport Transfers Johannesburg: $92
- Airport Transfers Johannesburg-Pretoria-Sandton: $76
- Airport Transfers OR Tambo to Sandton Hotels: $58
- Airport transfers, door to door .private transfers: $62
- Arrival Transfer: JNB Airport to Johannesburg by Business Car: $73
- Comfort Private Airport Transfer: OR Tambo Airport (JNB): $44
- Departure Private Transfer: Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB in Business Car: $73
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Johannesburg?
Prices for flights to both Johannesburg and Cairo 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 dayCairo $16Johannesburg $33
Typical Food Prices in Cairo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:
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Juice$0.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.
- Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river: $5.00
- 2 Hour Cairo Dinner Cruise on Nile river with live band: $7.00
- Quad Bike ATV ,Camel Ride ,Nile Dinner Cruise Belly dancer show: $7.00
- Night Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer and folklore show: $7.00
- Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo: $7.50
- Cairo Dinner Cruise show with belly dancer show on Nile river: $8.00
- night-tour Nile dinner cruise with open buffet and belly dancer: $8.00
- Giza Pyramids,Sphinx,Camel Ride,ATV Bike,Shopping,Dinner cruiseII: $8.00
- 2-hours night dinner cruise show : Eat , Dance and Sing: $8.00
- Romantic Nile Dinner Cruise Experience: $8.00
- 5 Star Dinner Nile Cruise in Cairo Night Tour: $8.00
- food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $8.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johannesburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.
- Joburg street food tour in it's oldest suburb!: $78
- Zulu Food Cooking & Dining Experience with a local Chef: $85
- Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $96
- Johannesburg Culture and Food Tour: $98
- Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $114
- Lesedi Cultural Village Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $127
- Lesedi Cultural Village with lunch or dinner cultural food: $133
- Pan African Cooking Class & Dinning Experience: $139
- Soweto Township Tour With African food tour: $145
- Rooftop Bar, Dinner and Clubbing (Amapiano): $217
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairo $8.46Johannesburg $24
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo
Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Camel Market for Two$0.78
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Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$6.02
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Best-Selling Giza Pyramids Tour: Camel Ride, Lunch &Private Guide: $2.50
- VIP Luxury Shopping Tour –Local Markets + Gourmet Lunch & Drinks: $4.00
- Full-Day Giza Pyramids,Sphinx, Saqqara&Memphis All-Inclusive Tour: $4.00
- Day tour to Giza pyramids & sphinx, saqqara and Memphis: $4.00
- ViP Private Tour Giza Pyramids,camel ride , inside 3rd Pyramid: $4.50
- Chep Full Day tour Giza Pyramids and Sphinx Camel Ride &Quad Bike: $4.50
- Private Tour in Pyramids of Giza with Lunch and Camel Ride: $4.50
- Luxury Private Tour Giza Pyramids and Grand Egyptian Museum: $4.74
- Private Giza Pyramids and Sphinx Guided Tour: $5.00
- Cairo shopping advisor tour papyrus ,perfume ,golden cartouche , Egyptian cotton: $5.00
- Giza Pyramids and Sphinx Half Day Tour: $5.00
- ViP Private Tour Giza Pyramids,Sphinx,camel ride , inside Pyramid: $5.00
Tours and Activities in Johannesburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
- Mapatiza Mine Guided Tour with Showroom: $4.63
- Mandela House Entry Ticket: $6.08
- Mapatiza Gemstone Mine Tour Discover Gemstone Transformation: $6.34
- Discover Hidden Treasure with Scratch Patch Experience in Midrand: $16
- Johannesburg Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour with Soweto Option: $19
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Optional Soweto Tour: $22
- Architectural Walking Tour: $25
- Braamfontein Street Art & Culture Tour: $28
- Johannesburg Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $30
- Ponte Experience: $32
- Soweto: Bike Tour with a Local Tour Guide: $32
- Soweto: Hector Pieterson Memorial, to Orlando Towers Tour: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCairo $1.37Johannesburg $5.29
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairo
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cairo:
- Pub Crawl and Speakeasy Bar Tour with 2 Free Drinks: $69
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: $9.50
- Wine Tasting: $12
- Wine Tasting and Cableway Half Day Tour: $164
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and Johannesburg, we can see that Johannesburg is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cairo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairo 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 Johannesburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Johannesburg than you might in Cairo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cairo Expensive? and Is Johannesburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairo or Johannesburg?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Johannesburg. When comparing the sizes of Cairo 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.