Which place is cheaper, Honolulu or Cape Town?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cape Town or Honolulu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cape Town or Honolulu? 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 Honolulu?
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.
Honolulu
Hawaii's capital city of Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, is the state's center for government, finance, and transportation. It's also the home of Waikiki Beach, one of the most famous beaches in the state of Hawaii. Nearly one million people live in this Honolulu metropolitan area. This is almost 80% of the state's population. The city is not the relaxed Hawaiian destination that you might be searching for, but is instead a fast paced, cosmopolitan city. In addition to attracting many tourists every year, you'll also find international businesses, military defense and a diverse culture and population.
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 Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCape Town $98Honolulu $284
The average daily cost (per person) in Cape Town is $98, while the average daily cost in Honolulu is $284. 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 Honolulu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCape Town $39Honolulu $183
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCape Town $78Honolulu $366
Compare Hotels in Cape Town and Honolulu
Looking for a hotel in Cape Town or Honolulu? 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 Honolulu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cape Town $17Honolulu $26
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 Honolulu
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Honolulu are as follows:
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Rental Car for One Day$35
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Airport Shuttle for Two$30
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Hilton Parking$24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Honolulu
Also for Honolulu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 【ARRIVAL】Honolulu Airport -Private Transfer to Waikiki: $70
- VIP Transfer: Ko Olina to Honolulu Airport or Vice Versa: $199
- VIP Transfer Between Waikiki & Honolulu Airport, /vice versa: $136
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Honolulu HTL-APT (HNL): $81
- Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Honolulu Airport to Hotel or Cruise Terminal: $39
- Shared Departure Transfer from Waikiki Hotels to Honolulu Airport: $18
- Private Transfers between HNL Airport and Honolulu City: $56
- Private Transfer: Honolulu Airport HNL to Honolulu in Sedan Car: $108
- Private Transfer: Honolulu Airport HNL to Honolulu in Luxury SUV: $137
- Private Transfer from Honolulu Airport HNL to Waikiki by SUV: $148
- Private Transfer from Honolulu Airport (HNL) to Honolulu Port: $37
- Private One-way Airport Transfer Honolulu Airport To Honolulu: $65
Is it cheaper to fly into Cape Town or Honolulu?
Prices for flights to both Honolulu 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 $42Honolulu $53
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 Honolulu
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Honolulu:
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Dinner for Two$73
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Lapperts Hawaii Ice Cream$5.55
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Chai's Island Bistro (for 2)$53
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Cheeseburger Waikiki (for 2)$34
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Matsumoto Shave Ice (for 2)$7.50
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Hot Dog with the Fixins'$8.30
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Sushi Dinner for Two$73
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Honolulu
For Honolulu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lanai Tabura curated Private Aloha Plate Food Tour from Honolulu: $239
- Brewery and Local Food Tour: $480
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cape Town $23Honolulu $40
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
- Bespoke Tour : Cape Point , Table Mountain & Penguin Colony : $257
- Cape Agulhas Full Day Private Tour: $192
- Cape Point Full Day Tour: $192
- 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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Honolulu
For Honolulu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Parking for Hike$5.00
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Pearl Harbor Audio Tour for Two$12
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2 hr Dinner Cruise$85
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1 Day Kayak Rental$36
Tours and Activities in Honolulu
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Honolulu.
- Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial, small group Tour: $80
- 1 Hour Private Luxury Classic Car Sightseeing City Tour Honolulu: $138
- 3 Hour Sunrise Photo Tour with Malasada: $65
- 3 Hour Waikiki Waterslide and Ocean Playground Cruise: $113
- 3-Hour Adventure in Waikiki Water Park Adventure: $127
- 3-Hour Honolulu Bottom Fishing Adventure: $99,999
- 5 Hour Half Day Island Jeep Tour: $190
- 5 Hour Small Group Tour in Pearl Harbor and Honolulu: $145
- 5-Star Oahu Sightseeing with local food & shrimp plate included: $120
- 6 Hour Local Food Plate Jeep Tour: $230
- 6 Zipline Tour at Coral Crater Adventure Park with Trans: $235
- 8 Hour Circle Island Jeep Tour: $275
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCape Town $21Honolulu $6.47
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 Honolulu
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Honolulu:
- Shaxi Dive Bar Tour: $37
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cape Town and Honolulu, we can see that Honolulu 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 Honolulu 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 Honolulu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Honolulu 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 Honolulu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cape Town or Honolulu?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Honolulu. When comparing the sizes of Cape Town and Honolulu, 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 Honolulu?
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 Honolulu has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Cape Town or Honolulu in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cape Town and Honolulu. Furthermore, most visitors come to Honolulu for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In January, Cape Town is generally cooler than Honoluluin July. Daily temperatures in Cape Town average around 21°C (70°F), and Honolulu fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Honolulu this time of the year. In Cape Town, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cape Town usually receives more sunshine than Honolulu during summer. Cape Town gets 338 hours of sunny skies, while Honolulu receives 303 hours of full sun in the summer.
In January, Cape Town usually receives around the same amount of rain as Honoluluin July. Cape Town gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Honolulu receives 0.6 inches (15 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyCape Town 21°C (70°F)Honolulu 81°F (27°C)
Should I visit Cape Town or Honolulu in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Cape Town as well as Honolulu. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Honolulu because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Cape Town is cooler than Honolulu in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cape Town averages around 18°C (64°F) in April, and Honolulu fluctuates around 80°F (26°C)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Honolulu. 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 Honoluluin October. Cape Town gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Honolulu receives 246 hours of full sun.
Cape Town usually gets less rain in April than Honoluluin October. Cape Town gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Honolulu receives 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberCape Town 18°C (64°F)Honolulu 80°F (26°C)
Should I visit Cape Town or Honolulu in the Winter?
Both Honolulu and Cape Town are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Honolulu this time of year.
In the winter, Cape Town is much colder than Honolulu. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cape Town in July average around 13°C (55°F), and Honolulu averages at about 73°F (23°C)in January.
It's quite sunny in Honolulu. Cape Town usually receives less sunshine than Honolulu during winter. Cape Town gets 193 hours of sunny skies, while Honolulu receives 212 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Cape Town usually receives less rain than Honoluluin January. Cape Town gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Honolulu receives 3.9 inches (99 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryCape Town 13°C (55°F)Honolulu 73°F (23°C)
Should I visit Cape Town or Honolulu in the Spring?
Both Honolulu and Cape Town during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Honolulu for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In October, Cape Town is generally much colder than Honoluluin April. Daily temperatures in Cape Town average around 16°C (61°F), and Honolulu fluctuates around 76°F (24°C).
In Honolulu, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Cape Town. In the spring, Cape Town often gets more sunshine than Honoluluin April. Cape Town gets 278 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Honolulu receives 253 hours of full sun.
Cape Town usually gets less rain in October than Honoluluin April. Cape Town gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Honolulu receives 1.7 inches (42 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilCape Town 16°C (61°F)Honolulu 76°F (24°C)
Typical Weather for Honolulu and Cape Town
| Cape Town | Honolulu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Feb | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 74°F (24°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| Apr | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 78°F (25°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) |
| Jun | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 80°F (26°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) |
| Jul | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 0.6 inches (15 mm) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 0.4 inches (11 mm) |
| Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 0.7 inches (19 mm) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 80°F (26°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
| Nov | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (98 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.