Which place is cheaper, Atlanta or Cape Town?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cape Town or Atlanta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cape Town or Atlanta? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Cape Town or Atlanta?
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.
Atlanta
Atlanta is a city rich in history but modern in its development and industry. It has a population of just under 500,000 with more than five million people living in the metropolitan area. It is also the ninth largest metropolitan area in the United States The city is rich in culture and was at the center of the civil rights movement. It is the capital of the state of Georgia, and was home to the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. It has the world's busiest airport and arguably some of the country's worst traffic, but the residents are recognized for their friendly and welcoming nature and the city is lush with green trees and wonderful parks.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in South Africa, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in South Africa, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, and The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCape Town $98Atlanta $173
The average daily cost (per person) in Cape Town is $98, while the average daily cost in Atlanta is $173. 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 Cape Town and Atlanta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCape Town $39Atlanta $90
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCape Town $78Atlanta $180
Compare Hotels in Cape Town and Atlanta
Looking for a hotel in Cape Town or Atlanta? 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: Cape Town Hotel Prices and Atlanta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cape Town $17Atlanta $44
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Atlanta
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Atlanta:
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MARTA Subway Ticket$4.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Atlanta
Also for Atlanta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in Executive Private Minivan from Atlanta Downtown to Atlanta Airport: $67
- RoundTrip Transfer in Executive Private Minivan from-to Airport-Atlanta Downtown: $133
- Private Transfer: H. J. Airport ATL to Atlanta in Business Car: $119
- Private Transfer from Atlanta (ATL) Airport to Atlanta City: $94
- Private Arrival Transfer from Atlanta Airport (ATL): $80
- Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Airport (ATL):Transfer to Atlanta: $280
- Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Airport (ATL) to Atlanta - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $194
- Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Airport (ATL) to Atlanta - Arrival Private Transfer: $97
- Hartsfield Jackson Airport (ATL) to Lithia Springs - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $66
- Hartsfield Jackson Airport (ATL) to Lithia Springs - Arrival Private Transfer: $33
- Departure Transfer: Atlanta to Atlanta Airport ATL in Luxury SUV: $133
- Departure Transfer: Atlanta to Atlanta Airport ATL by Luxury SUV: $127
Is it cheaper to fly into Cape Town or Atlanta?
Prices for flights to both Atlanta and Cape Town 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 dayCape Town $42Atlanta $43
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
Typical Food Prices in Atlanta
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Atlanta:
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Fast Food Lunch (for 2)$15
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Lunch$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Atlanta
For Atlanta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 2 Hour Guided Wood Fired Pizza Class in Atlanta: $55
- City Lights Atlanta Night-Time Tour with Photos & Dinner Stop: $65
- City Lights Night Tour with Photos & Dinner Stop: $65
- 2 Hour Historic Market Food Tour and Hands-On Biscuit Class: $70
- Historic Market Food Tour and Biscuit Cooking Class: $70
- Ponce City Market 2.5-Hour Weekend Food Tour: $99
- Food Tour of Inman Park and the Atlanta Beltline: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cape Town $23Atlanta $56
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
Tours and Activities in Atlanta
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Atlanta.
- 2-Hour Food, History and Street Art Tour of Ponce City Market: $95
- 2.5hr Guided Segway Tour of Historic Atlanta: $69
- 2.5hr Guided Segway Tour of Midtown Atlanta: $69
- 3-Hour Atlanta Beltline Food, Street Art and History Tour : $99
- 3-Hour Private Atlanta MCU Comics Inspired Film Location Tour: $175
- 90-Minute Guided Sightseeing Tour by E-Car or MiniBus: $36
- 90-Minute Narrated Sightseeing Trolley Tour in Atlanta: $36
- African American Atlanta Culture Tour by Private Car Service : $90
- African-American Heritage&Civil Rights Atlanta Half-Day Tour: $660
- Atlanta 5 Hour City Tour by Air-Conditioned Bus: $70
- Atlanta Beltline Cocktails and Bites Experience: $129
- Atlanta Electric Car City Tour: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCape Town $21Atlanta $17
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Atlanta
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Atlanta:
- Drag Queen Guided Pub Crawl and Cabaret Show: $36
- ATLANTA Yes, Queen! Drag Queen Pub Crawl : $40
- Half-Day Wine Tastings in the North Georgia Mountains : $115
- North Georgia Mountains Two Vineyard Wine Tasting Tour: $137
- Bartram Trail Hike plus Wine Tasting: $159
- North Georgia Mountains Three Vineyard Wine Tasting Tour: $165
- North Georgia Mountains Private Three Vineyard Wine Tasting Tour: $180
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cape Town and Atlanta, we can see that Atlanta is more expensive. And not only is Cape Town much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cape Town is in Africa and Atlanta is in North America, 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 Cape Town would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cape Town 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 Atlanta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Atlanta than you might in Cape Town.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cape Town Expensive? and Is Atlanta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cape Town or Atlanta?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Atlanta. When comparing the sizes of Cape Town and Atlanta, 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 Cape Town or Atlanta?
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 Atlanta has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Cape Town or Atlanta in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cape Town and Atlanta. Also, many visitors come to Atlanta in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Cape Town is cooler than Atlanta. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cape Town in January average around 21°C (70°F), and Atlanta averages at about 82°F (28°C)in July.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Atlanta this time of the year. In Cape Town, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cape Town usually receives more sunshine than Atlanta during summer. Cape Town gets 338 hours of sunny skies, while Atlanta receives 271 hours of full sun in the summer.
Atlanta receives a lot of rain in the summer. In January, Cape Town usually receives less rain than Atlantain July. Cape Town gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Atlanta receives 5.2 inches (133 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyCape Town 21°C (70°F)Atlanta 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit Cape Town or Atlanta in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Cape Town as well as Atlanta. Also, most visitors come to Atlanta for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.
In April, Cape Town is generally around the same temperature as Atlantain October. Daily temperatures in Cape Town average around 18°C (64°F), and Atlanta fluctuates around 66°F (19°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Atlanta. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cape Town this time of the year. In the autumn, Cape Town often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Atlantain October. Cape Town gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Atlanta receives 222 hours of full sun.
Cape Town usually gets less rain in April than Atlantain October. Cape Town gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Atlanta receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberCape Town 18°C (64°F)Atlanta 66°F (19°C)
Should I visit Cape Town or Atlanta in the Winter?
Both Atlanta and Cape Town are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Atlanta because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Cape Town is much warmer than Atlanta in the winter. The daily temperature in Cape Town averages around 13°C (55°F) in July, and Atlanta fluctuates around 45°F (7°C)in January.
Cape Town usually receives more sunshine than Atlanta during winter. Cape Town gets 193 hours of sunny skies, while Atlanta receives 164 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Atlanta. In July, Cape Town usually receives less rain than Atlantain January. Cape Town gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Atlanta receives 4.7 inches (120 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryCape Town 13°C (55°F)Atlanta 45°F (7°C)
Should I visit Cape Town or Atlanta in the Spring?
Both Atlanta and Cape Town during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the activities around the city are the main draw to Atlanta this time of year.
In the spring, Cape Town is cooler than Atlanta. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cape Town in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Atlanta averages at about 65°F (18°C)in April.
In Atlanta, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Cape Town. In the spring, Cape Town often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Atlantain April. Cape Town gets 278 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Atlanta receives 262 hours of full sun.
Atlanta gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Cape Town usually gets less rain in October than Atlantain April. Cape Town gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Atlanta receives 4.1 inches (104 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilCape Town 16°C (61°F)Atlanta 65°F (18°C)
Typical Weather for Atlanta and Cape Town
| Cape Town | Atlanta | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 45°F (7°C) | 4.7 inches (120 mm) |
| Feb | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 49°F (9°C) | 4.8 inches (123 mm) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 5.8 inches (147 mm) |
| Apr | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 65°F (18°C) | 4.1 inches (104 mm) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 4.2 inches (107 mm) |
| Jun | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 80°F (27°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
| Jul | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) |
| Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 76°F (25°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Nov | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 48°F (9°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) |
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.