Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Cardiff?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cardiff or Cape Town?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cardiff or Cape Town? 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: Cardiff or Cape Town?
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital city of Wales, and a major port on the country's southern coast. Though Cardiff boomed with the coal industry during the Industrial Revolution, the city began its history as a Roman fort on the River Taff-perhaps taking its name from a combination of the Welsh word for fort (caer) and the name of the river (Taff). The fort still stands today along with many other landmarks that attract tourists each year.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United Kingdom, 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 dayCardiff £156Cape Town £78
The average daily cost (per person) in Cardiff is £156, while the average daily cost in Cape Town is £78. 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 Cardiff and Cape Town in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCardiff £93Cape Town £31
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCardiff £186Cape Town £62
Compare Hotels in Cardiff and Cape Town
Looking for a hotel in Cardiff or Cape Town? 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: Cardiff Hotel Prices and Cape Town Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cardiff £21Cape Town £14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cardiff
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cardiff:
- Private Transfer from Mold to Manchester Airport (MAN): $125
- Private Transfer from Holyhead Port to Manchester Airport (MAN): $102
- Private Cardiff Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to Airport: $58
- Private Cardiff Arrival Transfer- Airport to Hotel / Accommodation : $58
- Newport Accommodation to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- Heathrow Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Cardiff: $16
- Departure Private Transfer from Cardiff to Cardiff Airport CWL by Luxury Vehicle: $96
- Cardiff to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Cardiff Private Transfer from Cardiff Airport to City centre: $79
- Cardiff Airport (CWL): Transfer to Cardiff Accommodation: $140
- Bristol Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Cardiff: $13
- Barry Accommodation to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $33
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: $179
- 1 Day Explore Cape Town Like a Local with Private Guided Transfer: $149
- 1 Day Hemel en Aarde Whale Coast Wine Tour with Private Transfers: $204
- 1-3 Passenger Private Arrival & Departure Cape Town - Airport Transfers: $54
- AIRPORT Transfer to and from Cape Town City: $28
- Airport Transfer (Cape Town ) Bus: $18
- Airport Transfer (Cape Town): $54
- Airport Transfer to Cape Town Cruise Terminal: $17
- Airport Transfer: Cape Town to Cape Town Airport CPT in Luxury Car: $88
- Airport Transfers: $65
Is it cheaper to fly into Cardiff or Cape Town?
Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Cardiff 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 dayCardiff £44Cape Town £33
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.Cardiff £25Cape Town £18
Tours and Activities in Cardiff
Here are a few actual costs in Cardiff for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 30 Minute Archery Experience in Llangollen: $19
- 30 Minute Axe Throwing Experience in Llangollen: $19
- A Journey through Tudor A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- A Silent Disco Adventure in Cardiff: $22
- Canoe Aqueduct tours Llangollen: $76
- Canyoning with Beezra Experiences in South Wales: $89
- Cardiff All in One Walking Tour: $62
- Cardiff Bay Boat Tour: $15
- Cardiff Bay Private Self-Guided Tour: $11
- Cardiff Bay: Highlights Private Guided Tour: $188
- Cardiff Bay: Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $38
- Cardiff City Private Guided Walking Tour: $178
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: $3.59
- Kirstenbosch: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $3.99
- Hop-On Hop-Off Cape Town Canal Cruise: $4.14
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Ticket (One way Down): $4.38
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Ticket (One way Up): $4.38
- 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
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Return Ticket : $5.32
- Intaka Island Kayak Tour: $5.40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCardiff £13Cape Town £17
Sample the Local Flavors in Cardiff
Also in Cardiff, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Gin Tour at Hensol Castle Distillery: $32
- Cardiff Bar Maid-led Pub Crawl for Special Events: $44
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 Cardiff and Cape Town, we can see that Cardiff is more expensive. And not only is Cape Town much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cardiff is in Europe and Cape Town is in Africa, 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 Cardiff would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cardiff 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 Cardiff Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cardiff or Cape Town?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cardiff. When comparing the sizes of Cardiff and Cape Town, 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 Cardiff or Cape Town?
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 Cardiff has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Cardiff or Cape Town in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cardiff as well as Cape Town. The summer months attract visitors to Cardiff because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Cardiff is cooler than Cape Town in the summer. The daily temperature in Cardiff averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Cape Town fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cape Town. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cardiff this time of the year. In the summer, Cardiff often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin January. Cardiff gets 220 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 338 hours of full sun.
Cardiff usually gets more rain in July than Cape Townin January. Cardiff gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryCardiff 17°C (63°F)Cape Town 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Cardiff or Cape Town in the Autumn?
Both Cape Town and Cardiff are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Cardiff this time of year.
In the autumn, Cardiff is much colder than Cape Town. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cardiff in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Cape Town averages at about 18°C (64°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Cape Town. Cardiff usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during autumn. Cardiff gets 95 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 233 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Cardiff. In October, Cardiff usually receives more rain than Cape Townin April. Cardiff gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilCardiff 11°C (52°F)Cape Town 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Cardiff or Cape Town in the Winter?
Both Cape Town and Cardiff during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Cardiff for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Cardiff. In January, Cardiff is generally much colder than Cape Townin July. Daily temperatures in Cardiff average around 3°C (38°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
In the winter, Cardiff often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin July. Cardiff gets 57 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 193 hours of full sun.
Cardiff usually gets more rain in January than Cape Townin July. Cardiff gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyCardiff 3°C (38°F)Cape Town 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Cardiff or Cape Town in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cardiff and Cape Town. Many visitors come to Cardiff in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Cardiff is much colder than Cape Town in the spring. The daily temperature in Cardiff averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Cape Town fluctuates around 16°C (61°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cape Town this time of the year. Cardiff usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during spring. Cardiff gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 278 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Cardiff usually receives more rain than Cape Townin October. Cardiff gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberCardiff 9°C (48°F)Cape Town 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Cape Town and Cardiff
| Cardiff | Cape Town | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 80 mm (3.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 9°C (48°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (52°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (40°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 17 mm (0.7 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.