Which place is cheaper, Phoenix or Cape Town?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cape Town or Phoenix?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cape Town or Phoenix? 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 Phoenix?
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.
Phoenix
The most populous city in the American Southwest, Phoenix is the capital city of Arizona and busiest hub of activity in the general area. Geographically it is located in the Sonoran Desert, making for long hot summers and mild winters. This climate has ensured a thriving tourism industry with plenty of attractions both in and around Phoenix.
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 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCape Town $98Phoenix $238
The average daily cost (per person) in Cape Town is $98, while the average daily cost in Phoenix is $238. 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 Phoenix in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCape Town $39Phoenix $144
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCape Town $78Phoenix $288
Compare Hotels in Cape Town and Phoenix
Looking for a hotel in Cape Town or Phoenix? 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 Phoenix Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cape Town $17Phoenix $39
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phoenix
Also for Phoenix, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Sky Harbor Airport PHX to Phoenix in Luxury SUV: $104
- Private Transfer from Sky Harbor Airport PHX to Phoenix in Business Car: $90
- Private Transfer from Phoenix to Sky Harbor Airport PHX in Luxury SUV: $104
- Private Transfer From Hotels To Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport PHX : $41
- One-Way Transfer Sky Harbor Airport to Phoenix: $104
- Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX) to Phoenix - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $116
- Phoenix International Airport (PHX) - Private transfer From/to Hotels: $118
- Departure Private Transfer: Phoenix to Sky Harbor Airport PHX in Luxury Van: $140
- Departure Private Transfer: Phoenix to Sky Harbor Airport PHX in Luxury SUV: $104
- Departure Private Transfer: Phoenix to Sky Harbor Airport PHX in Business Car: $90
- Departure Private Transfer Phoenix City to Phoenix Airport PHX : $110
- Arrival Private Transfer: Sky Harbor Airport PHX to Phoenix in Luxury SUV: $104
Is it cheaper to fly into Cape Town or Phoenix?
Prices for flights to both Phoenix 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 $42Phoenix $52
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 Phoenix
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Phoenix:
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Nice Lunch (for 2)$36
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Indian Food Dinner (for 2)$32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phoenix
For Phoenix, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Awesome French Crêpes Cooking Class: $75
- Old Town Scottsdale Food Tour: $92
- Downtown Phoenix Food Tour: $92
- Scottsdale Waterfront Food Tour: $95
- Quiche Lorraine French Cooking Class in Scottsdale: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cape Town $23Phoenix $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
- 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
Tours and Activities in Phoenix
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Phoenix.
- 1.5 Hour Stretch Limo Golf Cart Tour, Ultimate Old Town Exploration: $89
- 2 Hour Scottsdale Segway Tours - Ultimate Old Town Exploration: $89
- 2 Hour Segway Tour - Sunsets, Segways & City Lights: $89
- 2-Hour Arizona Desert Guided E-Bike Tour: $135
- 2.5 Hour FAT Tire E-Bike Tour – Scottsdale Greenbelt Adventure: $100
- 3 Cities & Nature Tour. Shop, Art, History, Food. Scottsdale, Phoenix, & Tempe.: $168
- 3 Hour Guided TomCar ATV Tour in Sonoran Desert: $219
- Adventure Yoga Experience on Camelback Mountain: $75
- Apache Trail and Dolly Steamboat Van Tour: $160
- Black Ops Experience: $259
- Boat Cruise in Lake Pleasant Arizona: $89
- Box Canyon ATV Tour in Florence, Arizona: $235
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCape Town $21Phoenix $17
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 Phoenix
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Phoenix:
- Scottsdale Bar Hunt: Scorching Scottsdale Bar Crawl: $12
- Pedal Bar Crawl of Old Town Scottsdale: $55
- Stretch Limo Party Cart - Custom Bar Crawls, Wine Tastings, Night Clubs & More: $155
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cape Town and Phoenix, we can see that Phoenix 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 Phoenix 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 Phoenix would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Phoenix 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 Phoenix Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cape Town or Phoenix?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Phoenix. When comparing the sizes of Cape Town and Phoenix, 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 Phoenix?
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 Phoenix has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Cape Town or Phoenix in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cape Town and Phoenix. Also, most visitors come to Phoenix for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Phoenix can become quite hot in the summer. In the summer, Cape Town is much colder than Phoenix. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cape Town in January average around 21°C (70°F), and Phoenix averages at about 98°F (36°C)in July.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phoenix this time of the year. In Cape Town, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cape Town usually receives less sunshine than Phoenix during summer. Cape Town gets 338 hours of sunny skies, while Phoenix receives 380 hours of full sun in the summer.
In January, Cape Town usually receives less rain than Phoenixin July. Cape Town gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyCape Town 21°C (70°F)Phoenix 98°F (36°C)
Should I visit Cape Town or Phoenix in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Cape Town as well as Phoenix. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Phoenix because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In April, Cape Town is generally cooler than Phoenixin October. Daily temperatures in Cape Town average around 18°C (64°F), and Phoenix fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phoenix. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cape Town this time of the year. In the autumn, Cape Town often gets less sunshine than Phoenixin October. Cape Town gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phoenix receives 305 hours of full sun.
Cape Town usually gets more rain in April than Phoenixin October. Cape Town gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberCape Town 18°C (64°F)Phoenix 79°F (26°C)
Should I visit Cape Town or Phoenix in the Winter?
Both Phoenix 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 Phoenix this time of year.
Cape Town is cooler than Phoenix in the winter. The daily temperature in Cape Town averages around 13°C (55°F) in July, and Phoenix fluctuates around 58°F (14°C)in January.
It's quite sunny in Phoenix. Cape Town usually receives less sunshine than Phoenix during winter. Cape Town gets 193 hours of sunny skies, while Phoenix receives 254 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Cape Town usually receives more rain than Phoenixin January. Cape Town gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryCape Town 13°C (55°F)Phoenix 58°F (14°C)
Should I visit Cape Town or Phoenix in the Spring?
Both Phoenix and Cape Town during the spring are popular places to visit.
In the spring, Cape Town is cooler than Phoenix. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cape Town in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Phoenix averages at about 74°F (23°C)in April.
In Phoenix, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Cape Town. In the spring, Cape Town often gets less sunshine than Phoenixin April. Cape Town gets 278 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phoenix receives 355 hours of full sun.
Cape Town usually gets more rain in October than Phoenixin April. Cape Town gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilCape Town 16°C (61°F)Phoenix 74°F (23°C)
Typical Weather for Phoenix and Cape Town
| Cape Town | Phoenix | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 0.7 inches (17 mm) |
| Feb | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.7 inches (17 mm) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.9 inches (22 mm) |
| Apr | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 74°F (23°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 83°F (28°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jun | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 92°F (34°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jul | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 98°F (36°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 96°F (35°C) | 0.9 inches (24 mm) |
| Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 90°F (32°C) | 0.9 inches (22 mm) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 79°F (26°C) | 0.7 inches (17 mm) |
| Nov | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.7 inches (18 mm) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 58°F (15°C) | 1 inches (25 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.