Which place is cheaper, New Orleans or Cape Town?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cape Town or New Orleans?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cape Town or New Orleans? 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 New Orleans?
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.
New Orleans
New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, and it is a cultural city that is the home of jazz, unique cuisine, and Mardi Gras in the U.S. It was established in 1718 and is one of the oldest cities in the country. The culture of the city has a mix of French, Creole, African American, Caribbean, Irish, Haitian, German and Vietnamese. There's an energy and atmosphere that is unlike any place else.
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 United States of America, and The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCape Town $98New Orleans $239
The average daily cost (per person) in Cape Town is $98, while the average daily cost in New Orleans is $239. 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 New Orleans in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCape Town $39New Orleans $125
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCape Town $78New Orleans $250
Compare Hotels in Cape Town and New Orleans
Looking for a hotel in Cape Town or New Orleans? 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 New Orleans Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cape Town $17New Orleans $51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Whale Watching In Hermanus with Private Transfer: $250
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cape Town HTL-APT(CPT): $44
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cape Town APT-HTL(CPT): $44
- Transport Shuttle Transfer from Constantia to Cape Town Airport: $18
- Transfer To Safari- Aquila From Cape Town Excluding Entry Fees Full Day: $159
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Simonstown to Cape Town Airport: $26
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Claremont to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Cape Town City Center (CBD) to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Shopping Mall Transfers: $22
- Shark Cage Diving: Full Day Tour Transfer: $97
- Shared Transfers to and from Safari Game Reserve (excluding entrance fees): $85
- Shared Transfer to Cape Agulhas - Where The Two Oceans Meet From Cape Town F/Day: $183
Typical Local Transportation Prices in New Orleans
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New Orleans are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New Orleans
Also for New Orleans, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from New Orleans MSY or Port to New Orleans City by SUV: $93
- Private transfer: New Orleans to New Orleans Airport (MSY): $133
- Private Transfer: New Orleans to Louis Armstrong Airport MSY in Luxury SUV : $115
- Private Transfer: New Orleans to Louis Armstrong Airport MSY in Business Car: $103
- Private Transfer: New Orleans Airport MSY to Cruise Port in SUV: $115
- Private Transfer: Louis Armstrong Airport MSY to New Orleans in Business Car: $103
- Private Transfer: Cruise Port to New Orleans Airport MSY in SUV: $115
- Private Transfer in a Luxury Sedan from Louis Armstrong Airport: $69
- Private Transfer in (Rover RSD) New Orleans MSY/Home/Hotel/Work : $47
- Private Transfer from Port Of New of New Orleans Cruise: $210
- Private Transfer New Orleans MSY or Port to New Orleans by Sedan: $76
- Private Transfer From New Orleans To Baton Rouge: $157
Is it cheaper to fly into Cape Town or New Orleans?
Prices for flights to both New Orleans 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 $42New Orleans $45
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New Orleans
For New Orleans, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cajun and Creole Cooking Class with Meal: $38
- New Orleans Demonstration Cooking Class with Meal: $42
- Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans: $55
- Evening Jazz Boat Cruise with Optional Dinner: $55
- Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option: $55
- French Quarter Food Tour: Signature Flavors of New Orleans: $59
- The Premier New Orleans Food Tour: $77
- Taste Of New Orleans Food Tour and Experience: $80
- Private New Orleans Food Tour of the French Quarter : $85
- French Quarter Food Tour with Tastings: $89
- New Orleans' Lower Garden Food Tour: $89
- Lower Garden District Food Tour: $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cape Town $23New Orleans $55
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in New Orleans
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New Orleans's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Zoo & Aquarium Tickets (2)$75
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Riverboat Cruise$70
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French Quarter City Tour$100
Tours and Activities in New Orleans
For New Orleans, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Bom Creole Dining Experience w/ Pool and Louisiana Native Chef : $135
- Creole French Quarter Walking Tour: $30
- Walking Instagram Photo Tour in the French Quarter New Orleans: $27
- 2-Hour Guided French Quarter Vampire Walking Tour: $25
- 45 Minute Highlights Tour of the French Quarter: $23
- 90-Minute Jean Lafitte Swamp and Bayou Tour with Transportation: $57
- A Local's Private French Quarter Walking or Biking Tour : $175
- Adults-Only History, Ghost, Vampire, and Voodoo Walking Tour: $30
- Adults-Only New Orleans Ghost, Crime, Voodoo, and Vampire Tour: $37
- Airboat Tour of Louisiana Swamps: $130
- Audio-Guided Whitney Plantation Tour with Transportation: $90
- Automated Historical Ghost Bus Tour of New Orleans: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCape Town $21New Orleans $60
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 New Orleans
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New Orleans:
- Haunted Pub Crawl In-App Audio Tour (ENG): $13
- Guided Rum Distillery Tour and Tasting: $15
- Guided Distillery Tour & Rum Tasting: $15
- New Orleans Distillery Tour and Rum Tasting with Guide: $15
- Private New Orleans Seafood Bar Crawl: $15
- Spooky Ghost and Haunted Pub Crawl Tour: $17
- New Orleans Small-Group History Tour Pub Crawl of The Irish Channel: $25
- Haunted Pub Crawl in New Orleans: $26
- Adults Only True Crime Pub Crawl: $27
- New Orleans Bar Crawl: $28
- True Crime Pub Crawl in New Orleans: $30
- Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cape Town and New Orleans, we can see that New Orleans 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 New Orleans 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 New Orleans would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New Orleans 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 New Orleans Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cape Town or New Orleans?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of New Orleans. When comparing the sizes of Cape Town and New Orleans, 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 New Orleans?
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 New Orleans has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Cape Town or New Orleans in the Summer?
Both New Orleans and Cape Town are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to New Orleans for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In January, Cape Town is generally cooler than New Orleansin July. Daily temperatures in Cape Town average around 21°C (70°F), and New Orleans fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).
It's quite sunny in New Orleans. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cape Town. Cape Town usually receives more sunshine than New Orleans during summer. Cape Town gets 338 hours of sunny skies, while New Orleans receives 264 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. In January, Cape Town usually receives less rain than New Orleansin July. Cape Town gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyCape Town 21°C (70°F)New Orleans 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit Cape Town or New Orleans in the Autumn?
Both New Orleans and Cape Town during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to New Orleans because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
Cape Town is cooler than New Orleans in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cape Town averages around 18°C (64°F) in April, and New Orleans fluctuates around 69°F (21°C)in October.
In New Orleans, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Cape Town. In the autumn, Cape Town often gets around the same amount of sunshine as New Orleansin October. Cape Town gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while New Orleans receives 240 hours of full sun.
Cape Town usually gets less rain in April than New Orleansin October. Cape Town gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while New Orleans 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)New Orleans 69°F (21°C)
Should I visit Cape Town or New Orleans in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Cape Town and New Orleans. Also, the shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to New Orleans this time of year.
In the winter, Cape Town is a little warmer than New Orleans. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cape Town in July average around 13°C (55°F), and New Orleans averages at about 51°F (11°C)in January.
Cape Town usually receives more sunshine than New Orleans during winter. Cape Town gets 193 hours of sunny skies, while New Orleans receives 158 hours of full sun in the winter.
New Orleans receives a lot of rain in the winter. In July, Cape Town usually receives less rain than New Orleansin January. Cape Town gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryCape Town 13°C (55°F)New Orleans 51°F (11°C)
Should I visit Cape Town or New Orleans in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Cape Town as well as New Orleans. Also, many travelers come to New Orleans for the activities around the city.
In October, Cape Town is generally cooler than New Orleansin April. Daily temperatures in Cape Town average around 16°C (61°F), and New Orleans fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cape Town this time of the year. In the spring, Cape Town often gets more sunshine than New Orleansin April. Cape Town gets 278 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while New Orleans receives 254 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in New Orleans. Cape Town usually gets less rain in October than New Orleansin April. Cape Town gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilCape Town 16°C (61°F)New Orleans 68°F (20°C)
Typical Weather for New Orleans and Cape Town
| Cape Town | New Orleans | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 5.2 inches (131 mm) |
| Feb | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 5.8 inches (147 mm) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 62°F (16°C) | 5 inches (126 mm) |
| Apr | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 75°F (24°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) |
| Jun | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 80°F (27°C) | 5.9 inches (151 mm) |
| Jul | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 5.9 inches (149 mm) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 6.2 inches (157 mm) |
| Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 5.5 inches (140 mm) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 69°F (21°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Nov | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 61°F (16°C) | 4.8 inches (122 mm) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 5.7 inches (146 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.