A Travel Price Comparison for South Africa Durban vs. Drakensberg for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Durban or Drakensberg?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Durban and Drakensberg. 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.

Where Should I go: Durban or Drakensberg?

Durban

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.

Drakensberg

Drakensberg, whose name derives from the Dutch and means "mountains of the dragons," is a mountainous region which encompasses a vast amount of South Africa's interior, extending into neighboring countries as well. It hugs the eastern border of Lesotho, attracting visitors for hiking, backpacking, and admiring the natural wonders of the landscape.

Which place is cheaper, Drakensberg or Durban?

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 Drakensberg is $89. 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 Drakensberg in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Durban $24
    Drakensberg $37
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Durban $48
    Drakensberg $74
Compare Hotels in Durban and Drakensberg

Looking for a hotel in Durban or Drakensberg? 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.

Hotels in Durban


Hotels in Drakensberg


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: Durban Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Durban $13
    Drakensberg $67

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durban

Also for Durban, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private transfers from King Shaka Airport: $108
  • Private Transfers - Minibus - Durban Arrivals and Departures: $32
  • Private Sedan Transfers - Durban King Shaka: $35
  • From Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Overnight Safari w/ Transfer: $499
  • Durban to Durban King Airport (DUR) - Departure Private Transfer: $28
  • Durban King Airport (DUR) to Durban - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
  • Durban Cruise Ship Transfers : $39
  • Durban Airport (DUR) to Durban - Arrival Private Transfer: $28
  • Departure Private Transfer: Durban City to Durban MSC Cruise Port by Minivan: $75
  • Departure Private Transfer: Durban City to Durban Airport DUR by Business Car: $76
  • Departure Private Transfer from Durban City to Durban Airport DUR by Minivan: $82
  • Arrival Private Transfer: Durban MSC Cruise Port to Durban City by Minivan: $75

Is it cheaper to fly into Durban or Drakensberg?

Prices for flights to both Drakensberg 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Durban $16
    Drakensberg $16

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Durban

For Durban, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Half Day Guided Taste of Africa Food Tour in Durban: $41

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Durban $16
    Drakensberg $8.47

Tours and Activities in Durban

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Durban.

  • 1/2 Day Durban City Tour & Phezulu Tour: $146
  • 1/2 Day Phezulu Safari Tour from Durban: $158
  • 1/2 Day Tala Game Reserve & Lion Park Tour From Durban: $175
  • 1/2 Day Tour to Drakensberg Mountains & Hiking from Durban: $159
  • 12 Days Best Of South Africa Tour - Johannesburg to CapeTown: $3,350
  • 15 Day Tour Cape Town to Johannesburg: $3,149
  • 2 Day Hluhluwe Imfolo & Isimangaliso W/Park Tour from Durban: $634
  • A Full Day Safari Tour to the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Big 5 Game Reserve: $186
  • Battle of Isandlwana & Rorke's Drift Battle Day Tour From Durban: $188
  • Battle of Isandlwana & Rorke's Drift, 1 Day Tour from Durban: $191
  • Battle of Isandlwana and Rorkes Drift Full Day Tour from Durban : $179
  • Battlefield Tour, Duration : 14hrs, Cost : R3 890pp - 2 or more pax travelling: $149

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Durban $12
    Drakensberg $3.67

Sample the Local Flavors in Durban

Also in Durban, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Bar Crawl in Durban : $37


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Durban and Drakensberg, we can see that Drakensberg 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 Drakensberg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Drakensberg 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 Drakensberg Expensive?.