Which place is cheaper, Port-au-Prince or Cape Town?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cape Town or Port-au-Prince?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cape Town or Port-au-Prince? 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 Port-au-Prince?
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.
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital city and most-populous city of Haiti. The metropolitan area is divided into several districts with access to a number of landmarks and museums, as well as a lively cultural scene.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in South Africa, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in South Africa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCape Town $102Port-au-Prince $28
The average daily cost (per person) in Cape Town is $102, while the average daily cost in Port-au-Prince is $28. 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 Port-au-Prince in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCape Town $40Port-au-Prince $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCape Town $80Port-au-Prince $44
Compare Hotels in Cape Town and Port-au-Prince
Looking for a hotel in Cape Town or Port-au-Prince? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cape Town $18Port-au-Prince $4.73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers To Hermanus: $229
- Robben Island and Long Walk to Freedom with Tickets and Transfer: $103
- 1 Day Durbanville Valley Wine Tasting Tour with Private Transfers: $186
- 1 Day Explore Cape Town Like a Local with Private Guided Transfer: $155
- 1 Day West Coast Wonders Tour with Private Transfers: $183
- 1 day Cape Point and Constantia Wine Tour with Private Transfers: $218
- 1- Cape Town Tours & Transfers:We guide you around Cape Town: $25
- 1-3 Passenger Private Cape Town - Airport Transfer: $29
- 6 Hour Private Tour of Robben Island with Return Transfers: $86
- AIRPORT TRANSFER: Meet and greet with a nameboard: $36
- AIRPORT Transfer to and from Cape Town City: $29
- Airport Transfer ( Cape Town): $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Cape Town or Port-au-Prince?
Prices for flights to both Port-au-Prince 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 $43Port-au-Prince $3.70
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:
- African Cooking with a Chef Founder: $29
- Cape Malay Cooking Class in Bo-Kaap: $42
- 3-Hour Malay Cooking Class & Lunch in Bo-Kaap: $45
- Sunset Champagne Cruise and 3-Course Dinner: $58
- Bo-Kapp Walking Tour and Malay Cooking Class: $62
- From CapeTown: African Dinner and Drumming Experience: $64
- Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience: $64
- African Dinner, Drumming Experience with Transfer: $65
- Private Cooking Class and Meal in Local Wynberg Cape Town Home: $80
- Private Authentic Cape Malay Cooking Class in Manenberg with Locals: $92
- Sunset Dinner at an Oceanfront Restaurant Near Cape Town: $98
- Private South African Cape Malay Cooking Class: $98
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cape Town $24Port-au-Prince $0.76
Tours and Activities in Cape Town
For Cape Town, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 30 Minute Harbour Boat Cruise with Seal Watching: $3.92
- District Six Museum Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket: $4.00
- Cape Town 30-minute V&A Harbour Cruise: $4.30
- Hop-On Hop-Off Cape Town Canal Cruise: $4.30
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Ticket (One way Down): $4.55
- 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
- The Village in the City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Bo-Kaap: $5.34
- Cape Town's original shoreline: a self-guided audio tour: $5.40
- Muizenberg Like a Local: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the Quirky Village: $5.40
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Return Ticket : $5.52
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCape Town $21Port-au-Prince $0.20
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:
- African drum show & wine tasting at Silvermist: $25
- Drumstruck at Silvermist. Live African Drum Show & Wine tasting: $26
- From 3 Regions Wine Tour with 3 Estates, 15 Wines: $39
- Wine Tour: Paarl, Franschhoek & Stellenbosch incl 3 wineries: $40
- half day wine tour & Safaris[Morning /Afternoon]: $47
- Stellenbosch: Half-Day Wine Tour: $52
- Fullday Wine Tour: $53
- From CapeTown: Stellenbosch Half Day Wine Tour: $54
- Half day Wine Tour: $54
- Cape Winelands and Wine Tasting Full Day Tour: $54
- Stellenbosch Wine Tour half day from Cape Town: $56
- Aquila Reserve Safari with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $57
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cape Town and Port-au-Prince, we can see that Cape Town is more expensive. And not only is Port-au-Prince much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cape Town is in Africa and Port-au-Prince is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Port-au-Prince would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Port-au-Prince 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 Port-au-Prince.
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 Port-au-Prince Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cape Town or Port-au-Prince?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Port-au-Prince. When comparing the sizes of Cape Town and Port-au-Prince, 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.
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.