Which place is cheaper, Basse-Terre or Cape Town?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cape Town or Basse-Terre?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cape Town or Basse-Terre? 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 Basse-Terre?
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.
Basse-Terre
In Guadeloupe there is Basse Terre the city and Basse-Terre the island - the city is the capital of Guadeloupe, and the island is Guadeloupe's western half of the main island. As a whole, the place is very green, featuring lush vegetation and a mountainous landscape with a sulfuric volcano.
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 dayCape Town $98Basse-Terre $162
The average daily cost (per person) in Cape Town is $98, while the average daily cost in Basse-Terre is $162. 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 Basse-Terre in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCape Town $39Basse-Terre $96
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCape Town $78Basse-Terre $192
Compare Hotels in Cape Town and Basse-Terre
Looking for a hotel in Cape Town or Basse-Terre? 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 Basse-Terre Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cape Town $17Basse-Terre $8.57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers: $11
- Private Airport Transfers in Cape Town- One way/Round Trips: $16
- 1.Cape Town Airport Transfer (&Private tour trips during yo Stay): $17
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Cape Town City Center (CBD) to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Claremont to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Exclusive Cape Town Airport and Cruise Terminal Transfers: $18
- Airport Transport Shuttle Transfer to Camps Bay Cape Town: $18
- Airport Transport Shuttle Transfer to Muizenberg Cape Town : $18
- Airport Transfer (Cape Town ) Bus: $18
- Airport Transport Shuttle Transfer from Airport to Constantia: $18
- Transport Shuttle Transfer from Constantia to Cape Town Airport: $18
- 24 hour Private Airport Shuttle and Transfer CBD: $19
Is it cheaper to fly into Cape Town or Basse-Terre?
Prices for flights to both Basse-Terre 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 $42Basse-Terre $49
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.Cape Town $23Basse-Terre $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:
- 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
- Hop-On Hop-Off Cape Town Canal Cruise: $4.15
- Cape Town 30-minute V&A Harbour Cruise: $4.15
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Ticket (One way Up): $4.35
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Ticket (One way Down): $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
Tours and Activities in Basse-Terre
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Basse-Terre are as follows:
- Full day tour: the best of the island w/photos drone sunset: $215
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCape Town $21Basse-Terre $14
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 Cape Town and Basse-Terre, we can see that Basse-Terre 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 Basse-Terre is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Basse-Terre would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basse-Terre 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 Basse-Terre Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cape Town or Basse-Terre?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 300 times larger than the population of Basse-Terre. When comparing the sizes of Cape Town and Basse-Terre, 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 Basse-Terre?
Cape Town has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Basse-Terre experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Cape Town or Basse-Terre in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cape Town as well as Basse-Terre. The warm climate attracts visitors to Basse-Terre throughout the year.
In January, Cape Town is generally cooler than Basse-Terrein July. Daily temperatures in Cape Town average around 21°C (70°F), and Basse-Terre fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cape Town this time of the year. In the summer, Cape Town often gets more sunshine than Basse-Terrein July. Cape Town gets 338 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Basse-Terre receives 245 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Basse-Terre. Cape Town usually gets less rain in January than Basse-Terrein July. Cape Town gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Basse-Terre receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyCape Town 21°C (70°F)Basse-Terre 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Cape Town or Basse-Terre in the Autumn?
Both Basse-Terre and Cape Town are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Basse-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Cape Town is much colder than Basse-Terre in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cape Town averages around 18°C (64°F) in April, and Basse-Terre fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Basse-Terre. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cape Town. Cape Town usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Basse-Terre during autumn. Cape Town gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Basse-Terre receives 217 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. In April, Cape Town usually receives less rain than Basse-Terrein October. Cape Town gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Basse-Terre receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberCape Town 18°C (64°F)Basse-Terre 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Cape Town or Basse-Terre in the Winter?
Both Basse-Terre and Cape Town during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round.
In the winter, Cape Town is much colder than Basse-Terre. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cape Town in July average around 13°C (55°F), and Basse-Terre averages at about 24°C (76°F)in January.
In Basse-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Cape Town often gets less sunshine than Basse-Terrein January. Cape Town gets 193 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Basse-Terre receives 236 hours of full sun.
Cape Town usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Basse-Terrein January. Cape Town gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Basse-Terre receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryCape Town 13°C (55°F)Basse-Terre 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Cape Town or Basse-Terre in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cape Town and Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Cape Town is generally much colder than Basse-Terrein April. Daily temperatures in Cape Town average around 16°C (61°F), and Basse-Terre fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basse-Terre this time of the year. In Cape Town, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cape Town usually receives more sunshine than Basse-Terre during spring. Cape Town gets 278 hours of sunny skies, while Basse-Terre receives 240 hours of full sun in the spring.
Basse-Terre receives a lot of rain in the spring. In October, Cape Town usually receives less rain than Basse-Terrein April. Cape Town gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Basse-Terre receives 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilCape Town 16°C (61°F)Basse-Terre 26°C (78°F)
Typical Weather for Basse-Terre and Cape Town
| Cape Town | Basse-Terre | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Feb | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jul | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 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.