Which place is cheaper, Miami or Cape Town?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cape Town or Miami?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cape Town or Miami? 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 Miami?
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.
Miami
Miami is a popular tourist destination and a modern city in South Florida. It has beautiful white beaches, crystal blue waters, cosmopolitan neighborhoods, impressive shopping, and excellent dining opportunities. It is also a gateway to the Florida Keys, which is another popular destination in South Florida.
Miami is the second most populated city in Florida and the metropolitan area is the most populated in the state with more than 5.4 million people. It's also the 7th largest metro area in the country. The city sits between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Everglades to the west. It covers 110 miles north to south but is a narrow 20 miles east to west.
Miami sits at a low latitude, giving it a subtropical savannah climate. There are two seasons; the warm and dry season between November and April and the hot and wet season between May and October. The coldest months are between December and March when highs are in the upper 70 or low 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The summer months have highs in the upper 80s or 90s and lows in the mid 70s with high humidity.
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 Luxury Tours to United States of America, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCape Town $98Miami $206
The average daily cost (per person) in Cape Town is $98, while the average daily cost in Miami is $206. 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 Miami in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCape Town $39Miami $132
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCape Town $78Miami $264
Compare Hotels in Cape Town and Miami
Looking for a hotel in Cape Town or Miami? 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 Miami Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cape Town $17Miami $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transport Shuttle Transfer to Camps Bay Cape Town: $18
- Airport transfers: $22
- 1 Day Durbanville Valley Wine Tasting Tour with Private Transfers: $178
- 1 Day Explore Cape Town Like a Local with Private Guided Transfer: $149
- 1 Day Helderberg Valley Winelands Tour with Private Transfers: $232
- 1 Day Hemel en Aarde Whale Coast Wine Tour with Private Transfers: $205
- 1 Day Tastes of Stellenbosch Wine Tour with Private Transfers: $220
- 1 Day West Coast Wonders Tour with Private Transfers: $177
- 1 Day Wine Lover Wander Connoisseur Tour with Private Transfers: $180
- 1-3 Passenger Private Arrival & Departure Cape Town - Airport Transfers: $54
- 1.Cape Town Airport Transfer (&Private tour trips during yo Stay): $17
- AIRPORT Transfer to and from Cape Town City: $27
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Miami
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Miami are as follows:
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Car Rental for a Day$18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Miami
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Miami:
- Transfers in Miami: $105
- Transfers Airports Miami, Ft. Lauderdale Port Mía Everglades: $25
- Transfer from Port Miami to Miami Airport: $160
- Transfer from Miami Hotel or Miami Port to Fort Lauderdale Airport or Hotel: $210
- Transfer from Miami Airport to Miami Hotel or Miami Port: $160
- Transfer from Miami Airport to Hotel or Port Miami.: $160
- Shared Tour in Miami with Transfer: $170
- Round Trip Motorcoach Transfer to Key West from Miami: $245
- Private transfer from Miami hotel to Port of Miami: $160
- Private Transfer: Miami International Airport (MIA) to Miami Beach : $69
- Private Transfer to Miami Airport (Departures): $85
- Private Transfer from Miami Airport to any Hotels Downtown Miami: $99
Is it cheaper to fly into Cape Town or Miami?
Prices for flights to both Miami 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 $42Miami $41
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 Miami
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Miami:
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Lunch with Drinks (for 2)$45
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David's Cafe Lunch (for 1)$16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Miami
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Miami.
- The Ultimate Little Havana Food Tour: $64
- Wynwood Street Art, Culture, Donuts & Walking Food Tour: $65
- South Beach Food Tour: $70
- A Taste of South Beach Food Tour: $70
- Little Havana Walking Food Tour: $75
- South Beach Miami Food & Fun Art Deco Food Tour : $79
- Wynwood Walls Art District Food Tour: $80
- Mango's Tropical Cafe Dinner & Show: $98
- Mango's Dinner and Show Ticket: $98
- Miami Dinner Party w/ Night Club Experience: $100
- Guided Small Group Little Havana Food Tour: $124
- Ukrainian cooking class in Miami: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cape Town $23Miami $31
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
- Cape Town 30-minute V&A Harbour Cruise: $4.15
- Hop-On Hop-Off Cape Town Canal Cruise: $4.15
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Ticket (One way Down): $4.35
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Ticket (One way Up): $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 Miami
Here are a few actual costs in Miami for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cultural Brunch Experience in Miami: $125
- Miami's Most Authentic Walking Tour of Little Havana: $39
- South Beach Walking Tour- A Journey through Food and History: $67
- 1 Day Key West Tour from Miami Florida: $175
- 1 Hour Jet Ski Experience in Miami Beach Florida: $95
- 1 Hour Star Island Segway Tour: $74
- 1-Hour Private Miami Photoshoot Experience: $65
- 1HR Boat Tour Around Miami Celebrities Mansion: $65
- 2 HR Miami Lights & Skyline Private Night Tour for up to 6 people: $299
- 2 Hours Private Walking Tour in Miami Beach: $273
- 2 hrs Miami Private Boat Tour with Cooler, Ice, Bluetooth Stereo: $75
- 2-Day Key West and Miami South Beach Tour: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCape Town $21Miami $22
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Miami
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Miami are as follows:
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Evening at a Bar$32
Sample the Local Flavors in Miami
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Miami:
- Miami Bar Crawl: $25
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Small-Group Brewery Golf Cart Tour of Wynwood with a Local Guide: $59
- Wynwood Graffiti Brewery Golf Cart Tour: $63
- Wynwood Party Bike Bar Crawl: $64
- Wynwood Party Bike Bar Crawl: $64
- Wynwood Bar Crawl: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cape Town and Miami, we can see that Miami 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 Miami 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 Miami would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Miami 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 Miami Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cape Town or Miami?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Miami. When comparing the sizes of Cape Town and Miami, 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 Miami?
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 Miami has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Cape Town or Miami in the Summer?
Both Miami and Cape Town during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Miami for the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In January, Cape Town is generally cooler than Miamiin July. Daily temperatures in Cape Town average around 21°C (70°F), and Miami fluctuates around 83°F (28°C).
In Miami, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Cape Town. In the summer, Cape Town often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Miamiin July. Cape Town gets 338 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Miami receives 316 hours of full sun.
Miami gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Cape Town usually gets less rain in January than Miamiin July. Cape Town gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Miami receives 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyCape Town 21°C (70°F)Miami 83°F (28°C)
Should I visit Cape Town or Miami in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cape Town and Miami. Furthermore, many visitors come to Miami in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
Cape Town is cooler than Miami in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cape Town averages around 18°C (64°F) in April, and Miami fluctuates around 78°F (26°C)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Miami this time of the year. In Cape Town, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cape Town usually receives less sunshine than Miami during autumn. Cape Town gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Miami receives 275 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Miami receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Cape Town usually receives less rain than Miamiin October. Cape Town gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Miami receives 5.6 inches (143 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberCape Town 18°C (64°F)Miami 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Cape Town or Miami in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Cape Town as well as Miami. Additionally, most visitors come to Miami for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Cape Town is much colder than Miami. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cape Town in July average around 13°C (55°F), and Miami averages at about 67°F (20°C)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Miami. In the winter, Cape Town often gets less sunshine than Miamiin January. Cape Town gets 193 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Miami receives 243 hours of full sun.
Cape Town usually gets more rain in July than Miamiin January. Cape Town gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Miami receives 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryCape Town 13°C (55°F)Miami 67°F (20°C)
Should I visit Cape Town or Miami in the Spring?
Both Miami and Cape Town are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Miami because of the beaches and the activities around the city.
In October, Cape Town is generally cooler than Miamiin April. Daily temperatures in Cape Town average around 16°C (61°F), and Miami fluctuates around 75°F (24°C).
It's quite sunny in Miami. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cape Town. Cape Town usually receives less sunshine than Miami during spring. Cape Town gets 278 hours of sunny skies, while Miami receives 300 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Cape Town usually receives less rain than Miamiin April. Cape Town gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Miami receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilCape Town 16°C (61°F)Miami 75°F (24°C)
Typical Weather for Miami and Cape Town
| Cape Town | Miami | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 67°F (20°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) |
| Feb | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| Apr | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 79°F (26°C) | 6.4 inches (162 mm) |
| Jun | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 9.4 inches (238 mm) |
| Jul | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 83°F (28°C) | 5.9 inches (149 mm) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 83°F (28°C) | 7.5 inches (191 mm) |
| Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 7.6 inches (194 mm) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 5.6 inches (143 mm) |
| Nov | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 69°F (21°C) | 1.9 inches (48 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.