Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Durban?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Durban and Cape Town. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
The third largest city in South Africa, Durban sits on the east coast of the country in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The city also has the country's most active port. The city's comfortable weather and vast beaches make it one of the country's major tourist centers. There's a population of about 3.5 million in the entire metropolitan area that spreads over 2,295 square kilometers.
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.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Durban is $51, while the average daily cost in Cape Town is $95. 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 Durban and Cape Town in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Durban 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.
Also for Durban, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Durban 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.
For Durban, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Cape Town, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Durban.
For Cape Town, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Also in Durban, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Also in Cape Town, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Durban and Cape Town, we can see that Cape Town is more expensive. And not only is Durban much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Durban would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Durban 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 Durban.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Durban Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 10% larger than the population of Durban. When comparing the sizes of Durban 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.
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Durban and Cape Town.
Durban is a little warmer than Cape Town in the summer. The daily temperature in Durban averages around 25°C (76°F) in January, and Cape Town fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cape Town this time of the year. Durban usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during summer. Durban gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 338 hours of full sun in the summer.
Durban gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Durban usually receives more rain than Cape Town. Durban gets 134 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Durban as well as Cape Town.
In the autumn, Durban is a little warmer than Cape Town. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Durban in April average around 22°C (71°F), and Cape Town averages at about 18°C (64°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cape Town. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durban this time of the year. In the autumn, Durban often gets less sunshine than Cape Town. Durban gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 233 hours of full sun.
Durban usually gets more rain in April than Cape Town. Durban gets 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Cape Town and Durban are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
In July, Durban is generally a little warmer than Cape Town. Daily temperatures in Durban average around 17°C (62°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durban. Durban usually receives more sunshine than Cape Town during winter. Durban gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 193 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Durban usually receives less rain than Cape Town. Durban gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Cape Town and Durban during the spring are popular places to visit.
Durban is a little warmer than Cape Town in the spring. The daily temperature in Durban averages around 21°C (69°F) in October, and Cape Town fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
In Cape Town, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Durban often gets less sunshine than Cape Town. Durban gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 278 hours of full sun.
Durban usually gets more rain in October than Cape Town. Durban gets 98 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
Durban | Cape Town | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 25°C (76°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
Feb | 25°C (76°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 126 mm (5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
Apr | 22°C (71°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
May | 19°C (67°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
Jun | 17°C (62°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
Aug | 18°C (64°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
Sep | 19°C (67°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
Oct | 21°C (69°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
Nov | 22°C (71°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |