Which place is cheaper, Managua or Cape Town?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cape Town or Managua?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cape Town or Managua? 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 Managua?
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.
Managua
Managua is the capital, and largest city in Nicaragua. The economy is generally centered around the trade of coffee, cotton, and other types of agriculture. It also is a textile capital for the area. Managua is also a very reasonably priced destination in Central America. Restaurants and hotels are quite affordable and you'll find all kinds of international cuisine around the city. Transportation is also incredibly affordable and you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised at the cost of intercity bus rides.
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 Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCape Town $98Managua $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Cape Town is $98, while the average daily cost in Managua is $55. 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 Managua in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCape Town $39Managua $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCape Town $78Managua $46
Compare Hotels in Cape Town and Managua
Looking for a hotel in Cape Town or Managua? 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 Managua Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cape Town $17Managua $20
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: $273
- Aquila Safari Game Drive, Lunch & Shared Transfers from Cape Town: $251
- 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 Hemel en Aarde Whale Coast Wine Tour with Private Transfers: $204
- Cape Town:- Airport to Table View One way Transfer: $189
- Hermanus: Airport Transfer: $184
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Managua
Also for Managua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer From Managua International Airport: $90
- San Jorge Rivas Transfer: $47
- Rivas: Managua to Rivas Airport private transfer: $75
- Private Transfer in Nicaragua: $110
- Private Transfer from Managua City Hotels to Corinto Cruise Port: $71
- Private Transfer from Managua Augusto Airport to Corinto Port: $71
- Popoyo Beach Transfer: $90
- PRIVATE San Juan Del Sur Transfer: $56
- Airport private transfer from Managua.: $25
- Managua-San juan del sur: Airport private transfer: $125
- Managua-Leon: Airport private transfer from to Managua /Leon: $85
- Managua to Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) - Departure Transfer: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Cape Town or Managua?
Prices for flights to both Managua 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 $42Managua $17
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:
- 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: $70
- Cape Town Food tour (Includes all food) 4hrs: $76
- South African Cooking Class in Cape Town with a Local Family: $82
- Private Authentic Cape Malay Cooking Class in Manenberg with Locals: $92
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cape Town $23Managua $16
Tours and Activities in Cape Town
For Cape Town, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 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
- Day Tour in Robben Island, Bo-Kaap and Table Mountain : $166
- Mandela's Robben Island Museum Bo-Kaap Cape Town City Tour + Ferry ticket f/d: $166
- Penguins Private Tour- Cape of Good Hope & Cape Point Tour from Cape Town: $114
- Private Tour Cape of Good Hope with Penguins : $155
- Private Tour to Robben Island and Cape Point in Cape Town: $121
- South African Traditional Braai (BBQ) Experience & Winetasting : $138
- ( Cape Town Private Tour ) Hermanus Whale Watching Full Day : $251
- ( Cape town ) Private Winelands Tasting Full Day Tour: $173
- ( Cape town Private Tour ) Hermanus Shark Cage Diving : $252
Tours and Activities in Managua
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Managua.
- 3 full days PRIVATE tour at Granada, Masaya and Leon area from Managua: $210
- Amazing Masaya Volcano at Night "Private Tour" : $88
- Between Volcanoes Tours; Granada-Masaya.: $155
- Granada Isletas and City tour: $68
- Laguna de Apoyo Day pass plus Masaya Volcano Night Tour: $60
- Managua City Tour: $84
- Managua City Tour: $88
- Managua Love Stories: A Romantic Tour: $191
- Managua’s Historic Gems: A Cultural Walking Tour: $323
- Managua’s Historic Gems: A Cultural Walking Tour: $164
- Masaya Volcano Night Tour: $53
- Masaya volcano Night Tour: $110
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCape Town $21Managua $11
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: $7.17
- Experience South African Craft Rum tasting and distillery tour in Cape Town: $9.66
- African drum show & wine tasting at Silvermist: $24
- Wine Tasting & Storytelling with SA Tapas add-on: $28
- 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
- From CapeTown: Stellenbosch Half Day Wine Tour: $52
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cape Town and Managua, we can see that Cape Town is more expensive. And not only is Managua much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cape Town is in Africa and Managua is in Central 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 Managua would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Managua 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 Cape Town would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cape Town than you might in Managua.
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 Managua Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cape Town or Managua?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Managua. When comparing the sizes of Cape Town and Managua, 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 Managua?
Cape Town has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Managua experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Cape Town or Managua in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cape Town and Managua. Managua attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Cape Town is generally cooler than Managuain July. Daily temperatures in Cape Town average around 21°C (70°F), and Managua fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In Cape Town, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cape Town usually receives more sunshine than Managua during summer. Cape Town gets 338 hours of sunny skies, while Managua receives 175 hours of full sun in the summer.
Managua receives a lot of rain in the summer. In January, Cape Town usually receives less rain than Managuain July. Cape Town gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Managua receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyCape Town 21°C (70°F)Managua 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Cape Town or Managua in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Cape Town as well as Managua. The warm climate attracts visitors to Managua throughout the year.
Cape Town is much colder than Managua in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cape Town averages around 18°C (64°F) in April, and Managua fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cape Town this time of the year. In the autumn, Cape Town often gets more sunshine than Managuain October. Cape Town gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Managua receives 195 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Managua. Cape Town usually gets less rain in April than Managuain October. Cape Town gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Managua receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberCape Town 18°C (64°F)Managua 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Cape Town or Managua in the Winter?
Both Managua and Cape Town are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Managua because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the winter, Cape Town is much colder than Managua. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cape Town in July average around 13°C (55°F), and Managua averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Managua. Cape Town usually receives less sunshine than Managua during winter. Cape Town gets 193 hours of sunny skies, while Managua receives 244 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Cape Town usually receives more rain than Managuain January. Cape Town gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Managua receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryCape Town 13°C (55°F)Managua 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Cape Town or Managua in the Spring?
Both Managua and Cape Town during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Managua year-round.
In October, Cape Town is generally much colder than Managuain April. Daily temperatures in Cape Town average around 16°C (61°F), and Managua fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
In Managua, 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 Managuain April. Cape Town gets 278 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Managua receives 242 hours of full sun.
Cape Town usually gets more rain in October than Managuain April. Cape Town gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Managua receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilCape Town 16°C (61°F)Managua 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Managua and Cape Town
| Cape Town | Managua | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 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.