Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Hamburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hamburg or Cape Town?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Hamburg and Cape Town can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Hamburg or Cape Town?
Hamburg
Hamburg is most noted for its port, which is the largest in Germany and the second busiest in Europe. Despite it's size, it is actually located about 100 kilometers from the North Sea on the River Elbe. The popularity of this port has given Hamburg the nickname as Germany's Gateway to the World. The city itself is the second largest in Germany and the metropolitan area has a population of over 4 million people.
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 from Berlin, The Best 2-Week Tours from Berlin, 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 dayHamburg €117Cape Town €91
The average daily cost (per person) in Hamburg is €117, while the average daily cost in Cape Town is €91. 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 Hamburg and Cape Town in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHamburg €54Cape Town €36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHamburg €108Cape Town €72
Compare Hotels in Hamburg and Cape Town
Looking for a hotel in Hamburg 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: Hamburg Hotel Prices and Cape Town Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hamburg €29Cape Town €16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hamburg
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Hamburg:
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Short Distance Ubahn Ticket€1.70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hamburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hamburg:
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Hamburg Airport HAM to Hamburg: $83
- Round Trip Transfer Hamburg Airport HAM to Hamburg City by van: $210
- Rickmer Rickmers Museum Guided Tour with Transfers: $263
- Private transfer: Hamburg City Center to Fuhlsbüttel Airport(HAM): $115
- Private transfer from Fuhlsbüttel Airport to Hamburg City Center: $115
- Private Transfer from Hamburg to Hannover with 2h of Sightseeing: $272
- Private Transfer from Hamburg to Hamburg Airport HAM Departure : $41
- Private Transfer from Hamburg to Bremen with an English Speaking Driver: $236
- Private Transfer from Hamburg Cruise Port to Hamburg Airport(HAM): $38
- Private Transfer from Hamburg City to Ostseekai Kiel Cruise Port: $79
- Private Transfer from Hamburg City to Fredericia Cruise Port: $97
- Private Transfer from Hamburg City Hotels to Hamburg Cruise Port: $52
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 Hamburg or Cape Town?
Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Hamburg 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 dayHamburg €35Cape Town €39
Typical Food Prices in Hamburg
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hamburg:
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Pink Thai Soup Dinner and Spring Rolls€15
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Currywurst and Pommes Frites€5.00
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Donner Kebab and Coke€6.00
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Traditional Hamburg Dinner w/ Beer€15
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Donner Kebab Lunch€4.00
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Sandwich and Coffee Break€6.00
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Fish Sandwich from Fish Market€3.50
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Coffee and Donut€4.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hamburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hamburg.
- St George's Culinary Food Tour: $48
- St. Pauli kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- Elphi Plaza und HafenCity kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $59
- Original Musical Dinner Cruise 2024: $117
- Hamburg Private Food Tours with a Local: 100% Personalized : $186
- St. Pauli: Guided Food Tour with 5 Tastings: $484
- Elbphilharmonie Plaza and HafenCity Food Tour: $592
- Elbphilharmonie Plaza and HafenCity Food Tour: $592
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.Hamburg €39Cape Town €21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hamburg
Here are a few typical costs in Hamburg for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Tower at St. Michael's Church€3.50
Tours and Activities in Hamburg
Here are a few actual costs in Hamburg for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Hamburg Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $287
- Safari tour in St Pauli: $33
- "Cruise in the City" - Sailing Yacht Event, Hamburg/Elbe: $70
- "Hafengeburtstag Hamburg" 2024. Cruise&Sail from/to Wedel: $182
- "Highlights of Hamburg" Biketour: $39
- 1 Hour Kiez Speed Tour for Adults: $19
- 1-Day Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour of Hamburg Line D: $20
- 10 secrets of Hamburg's old town - exciting scavenger hunt tour: $34
- 2 Hours Guided Hamburg E-Scooter Tour: $71
- 2 Hours Guided Hamburg Segway Night Tour: $93
- 2 Hours Guided Hamburg Segway Tour: $76
- 2 Hours Hamburg E-scooter Tour: $35
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 dayHamburg €17Cape Town €19
Sample the Local Flavors in Hamburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Hamburg:
- Night Pub Crawl through The Repperbahn: $22
- Weekend Night Pub Crawl through the Reeperbahn: $34
- Pub Crawl - Ultimate party pub crawl incl. One-hour drinks flat rate: $44
- Hamburg Pub Crawl including 1 hour flatrate for beer: $51
- Bachelor(ette) Premium Party with Pub Crawl: $404
- Private Pub Crawl Tour: $404
- Private Premium Pub Crawl: $517
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 Hamburg and Cape Town, we can see that Hamburg is more expensive. And not only is Cape Town much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Hamburg 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 Hamburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hamburg 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 Hamburg Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hamburg or Cape Town?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 97% larger than the population of Hamburg. When comparing the sizes of Hamburg 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 Hamburg 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 Hamburg has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Hamburg or Cape Town in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Hamburg as well as Cape Town. Most visitors come to Hamburg for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Hamburg is generally cooler than Cape Townin January. Daily temperatures in Hamburg average around 17°C (62°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cape Town. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hamburg this time of the year. In the summer, Hamburg often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin January. Hamburg gets 207 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 338 hours of full sun.
Hamburg usually gets more rain in July than Cape Townin January. Hamburg gets 82 mm (3.2 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 JanuaryHamburg 17°C (62°F)Cape Town 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Hamburg or Cape Town in the Autumn?
Both Cape Town and Hamburg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Hamburg because of the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Hamburg is much colder than Cape Town in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hamburg averages around 10°C (50°F) in October, and Cape Town fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Cape Town. Hamburg usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during autumn. Hamburg gets 101 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 233 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Hamburg usually receives more rain than Cape Townin April. Hamburg gets 63 mm (2.5 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 AprilHamburg 10°C (50°F)Cape Town 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Hamburg or Cape Town in the Winter?
Both Cape Town and Hamburg during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Hamburg this time of year.
It's quite cold in Hamburg in the winter. In the winter, Hamburg is much colder than Cape Town. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hamburg in January average around 0°C (33°F), and Cape Town averages at about 13°C (55°F)in July.
In the winter, Hamburg often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin July. Hamburg gets 42 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 193 hours of full sun.
Hamburg usually gets less rain in January than Cape Townin July. Hamburg gets 61 mm (2.4 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 JulyHamburg 0°C (33°F)Cape Town 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Hamburg or Cape Town in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Hamburg and Cape Town. Many travelers come to Hamburg for the natural beauty.
In April, Hamburg is generally much colder than Cape Townin October. Daily temperatures in Hamburg average around 8°C (46°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cape Town this time of the year. Hamburg usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during spring. Hamburg gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 278 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Hamburg usually receives more rain than Cape Townin October. Hamburg gets 51 mm (2 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 OctoberHamburg 8°C (46°F)Cape Town 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Cape Town and Hamburg
| Hamburg | Cape Town | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 0°C (33°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 1°C (34°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 4°C (39°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (60°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 10°C (50°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 2°C (35°F) | 72 mm (2.8 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.