Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Gothenburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Gothenburg or Cape Town?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Gothenburg 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: Gothenburg or Cape Town?
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.
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 The Best 10-Day Tours in Sweden, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden, 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 dayGothenburg $98Cape Town $98
The average daily cost (per person) in Gothenburg is $98, while the average daily cost in Cape Town is $98. 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 Gothenburg and Cape Town in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGothenburg $40Cape Town $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGothenburg $80Cape Town $78
Compare Hotels in Gothenburg and Cape Town
Looking for a hotel in Gothenburg 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: Gothenburg Hotel Prices and Cape Town Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Gothenburg $18Cape Town $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg
Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Umea Private Transfer from Umea city centre to Umea airport: $146
- Trondheim Vaernes Airport TRD to Are Resort - Round-Trip Transfer: $230
- Transfer From Gothenburg Hotel To Gothenburg Museum of Art: $32
- Private Transfer from Gothenburg city to Goteborg Cruise Port: $65
- Private Transfer from Gothenburg Airport (GOT) to Goteborg Port: $50
- Private Transfer from Goteborg Cruise Port to Gothenburg City: $65
- Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $102
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg To Stockholm: $509
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg To Alingsås: $120
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $95
- Ostersund Private Transfer from Central Ostersund to Ostersund Airport: $176
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Whale Watching In Hermanus with Private Transfer: $250
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cape Town HTL-APT(CPT): $44
- Transfer To Safari- Aquila From Cape Town Excluding Entry Fees Full Day: $160
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Simonstown to Cape Town Airport: $26
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Claremont to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Cape Town City Center (CBD) to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Shopping Mall Transfers: $22
- Shark Cage Diving: Full Day Tour Transfer: $97
- Shared Transfers to and from Safari Game Reserve (excluding entrance fees): $85
- Robben Island tour Return transfers PLUS famous stops before or after tour: $163
- Robben Island and Long Walk to Freedom with Ticket &Transfer: $92
- Private Transfer: Cape Town to International Airport (CPT): $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Gothenburg or Cape Town?
Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Gothenburg 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 dayGothenburg $38Cape Town $42
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.Gothenburg $16Cape Town $23
Tours and Activities in Gothenburg
For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2-Days Private Tour in Gothenburg: $300
- 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour: $32
- Archipelago Tour with guide Gothenburg: $40
- Bike Tour Gothenburg, Guided Bicycle Tours: $113
- City Kayak Tour: $60
- City Sightseeing Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $32
- Discover Gothenburg - Private Walking Tour: $224
- Egypt Oasis Adventure Package: $926
- Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $37
- Entry Ticket To Universeum in Gothenburg with pickup: $65
- Fascinating Gothenburg Walking Tour for Couples: $257
- Fatbike Experience in Sorsele: $114
Tours and Activities in Cape Town
For Cape Town, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 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
- Day Tour in Robben Island, Bo-Kaap and Table Mountain : $166
- Mandela's Robben Island Museum Bo-Kaap Cape Town City Tour + Ferry ticket f/d: $166
- Penguins Private Tour- Cape of Good Hope & Cape Point Tour from Cape Town: $114
- Private Tour Cape of Good Hope with Penguins : $155
- Private Tour to Robben Island and Cape Point in Cape Town: $121
- South African Traditional Braai (BBQ) Experience & Winetasting : $138
- ( Cape Town Private Tour ) Hermanus Whale Watching Full Day : $251
- ( Cape town ) Private Winelands Tasting Full Day Tour: $173
- ( Cape town Private Tour ) Hermanus Shark Cage Diving : $252
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGothenburg $21Cape Town $21
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 comparing the travel costs between Gothenburg and Cape Town, we can see that Gothenburg is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Gothenburg is in Europe and Cape Town is in Africa, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Gothenburg Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Gothenburg or Cape Town?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Gothenburg. When comparing the sizes of Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Gothenburg or Cape Town in the Summer?
Both Cape Town and Gothenburg are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.
In July, Gothenburg is generally cooler than Cape Townin January. Daily temperatures in Gothenburg average around 16°C (61°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
It's quite sunny in Cape Town. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Gothenburg. Gothenburg usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during summer. Gothenburg gets 243 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 338 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Gothenburg usually receives more rain than Cape Townin January. Gothenburg gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryGothenburg 16°C (61°F)Cape Town 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Gothenburg or Cape Town in the Autumn?
Both Cape Town and Gothenburg during the autumn are popular places to visit.
Gothenburg is much colder than Cape Town in the autumn. The daily temperature in Gothenburg averages around 9°C (47°F) in October, and Cape Town fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in April.
In Cape Town, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Gothenburg often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin April. Gothenburg gets 94 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 233 hours of full sun.
Gothenburg usually gets more rain in October than Cape Townin April. Gothenburg gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilGothenburg 9°C (47°F)Cape Town 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Gothenburg or Cape Town in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Gothenburg and Cape Town.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Gothenburg. In the winter, Gothenburg is much colder than Cape Town. Typically, the winter temperatures in Gothenburg in January average around -2°C (29°F), and Cape Town averages at about 13°C (55°F)in July.
Gothenburg usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during winter. Gothenburg gets 40 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 193 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Gothenburg usually receives less rain than Cape Townin July. Gothenburg gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyGothenburg -2°C (29°F)Cape Town 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Gothenburg or Cape Town in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Gothenburg as well as Cape Town.
In April, Gothenburg is generally much colder than Cape Townin October. Daily temperatures in Gothenburg average around 5°C (41°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cape Town. In the spring, Gothenburg often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin October. Gothenburg gets 182 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 278 hours of full sun.
Gothenburg usually gets more rain in April than Cape Townin October. Gothenburg gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberGothenburg 5°C (41°F)Cape Town 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Cape Town and Gothenburg
| Gothenburg | Cape Town | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (29°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | -2°C (29°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 1°C (34°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (41°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (61°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (60°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 9°C (47°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 4°C (38°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 0°C (32°F) | 75 mm (3 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.