Should you visit Johannesburg or Accra?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Johannesburg and Accra can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa with a population of over 3 million people. Most of the population is made up of South Africa's black residents, who predominately reside in the Soweto area. There are approximately half a million white residents and 300,000 residents of other descent. Half of the population live in the Soweto area as well as the nearby suburbs.
Accra
Accra is the capital city of Ghana, located on the Atlantic coast of West Africa. Popular attractions include the National Museum of Ghana, local beaches, markets, and cultural landmarks like those dedicated to Civil Rights activist W.E.B. DuBois.
Which city is cheaper, Accra or Johannesburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Johannesburg is $99, while the average daily cost in Accra is $67. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Johannesburg and Accra in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Johannesburg is $114. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
A hotel room in Accra is about $68 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
Johannesburg food costs typically run travelers around $18 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
Accra food costs typically run travelers around $17 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Johannesburg $18
Accra $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johannesburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.
-
JoburgPlaces Secret Underground Storytelling Dinner:
$57
-
JoburgPlaces Migrant Cuisine Storytelling Dinner:
$57
-
Johannesburg Cooking Class:
$60
-
A Private Traditional Cape Malay Cooking Class, with a MKR Finalist:
$95
-
3-Day Kruger National Park Safari including Breakfast and Dinner:
$672
-
4-Day Kruger National Park Safari including Breakfast and Dinner:
$850
-
4-Day Kruger Park Safari & Panoramic Tour Combo including Breakfast and Dinner:
$903
-
5-Day Kruger National Park Safari including Breakfast and Dinner:
$1,115
-
5-Day Kruger Park Safari & Panoramic Tour Combo including Breakfast and Dinner:
$1,119
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Accra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Accra.
-
Full-Day Authentic Ghanaian Cooking Class in Accra:
$32
-
Local Food Tour In Ghana:
$37
-
Accra Markets and Ghana Food Tour:
$56
-
Private Authentic Ghanaian Cooking Class in Accra:
$59
-
Home Cooking Class by Auntie K:
$78
-
Market Tour, Cooking Class with Lunch:
$231
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $17 per day to get around in Johannesburg.
The average price of local transportation around Accra is $29 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Johannesburg
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Johannesburg:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
-
Private Airport Transfer: Johannesburg to Johannesburg O. R.Tambo Airport (JNB):
$14
-
Private Airport Transfer: Johannesburg O. R. Tambo Airport (JNB) to Johannesburg:
$17
-
Private transfer service from OR Thambo, Lanseria and Wonderboom Airport:
$33
-
Tour operator. airport and hotels transfers chauffeur and safari tours services.:
$37
-
Private transfer: Johannesburg to Johannesburg Airport (JNB):
$38
-
Private transfer: Johannesburg Airport (JNB) to Johannesburg:
$38
-
Flexi Airport Transfer with Meet And Greet:
$38
-
1-3 Passenger Private Johannesburg Airport Transfer:
$42
-
Private Johannesburg Airport Arrival Transfer:
$49
-
Transfer and Shuttles:
$50
-
Luxury Airport Transfer - OR Tambo to Sandton:
$54
-
Business Travel - Individual Airport Transfers - Johannesburg:
$54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Accra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Accra:
-
Arrival Transfer From Accra Airport To Hotel:
$36
-
Airport & City Transfers:
$67
-
Airport & City Transfers:
$93
-
Aburi Garden Tour And Transfer:
$120
-
Private Transfer from Accra City to Kotoka Airport Accra Ghana (ACC):
$124
-
Private Transfer from Kotoka Airport Accra Ghana (ACC) to Accra city:
$124
-
Historic Slave Walking Tour of Jamestown with Transfers:
$127
-
Aburi Gardens Transfers:
$133
Is it cheaper to fly into Johannesburg or Accra?
Prices for flights to both Accra and Johannesburg 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.
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $22 per person, per day in Johannesburg. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Accra's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $6.02 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Johannesburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
-
Johannesburg Free Walking tours:
$3.35
-
The Windybrow Heritage Tour:
$13
-
motsoaledi walking tours:
$14
-
1 or 2 Day Johannesburg Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour:
$14
-
City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Johannesburg:
$17
-
Maboneng Precinct Walking Tour:
$19
-
City Sightseeing Johannesburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$21
-
Taste of Africa (Food & Beer tasting Experience):
$23
-
East City Cycle Tour:
$24
-
City Skate Tours - Exploring Cities on Skateboards:
$27
-
Innercity Walking Tour:
$27
-
Ponte Experience:
$27
Tours and Activities in Accra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Accra are as follows:
-
Quabus Accra City Tour:
$20
-
Slave Forts of Accra Walking Tour:
$39
-
Half-Day Old and New Accra Urban Experience Walking Tour:
$39
-
Accra Architectural Discovery Walking Tour:
$41
-
Makola Market Walking Tour:
$41
-
Artistic Side of Industrious Guided Half-Day Tour:
$44
-
Accra Markets Explorer Half-Day Tour:
$46
-
Accra city tour:
$48
-
Accra City Tours:
$50
-
1 Day Accra City Tour:
$51
-
Accra Sites Tour Expeditions:
$57
-
Eco Village Adventure Cultural Tour:
$58
Alcohol
The average person spends about $4.93 on alcoholic beverages in Johannesburg per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
The average person spends about $8.63 on alcoholic beverages in Accra per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Johannesburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Johannesburg:
-
Wine Tasting Experience in Johannesburg:
$10
-
Johannesburg Pub Crawl:
$57
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johannesburg and Accra, we can see that Johannesburg is more expensive. And not only is Accra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Accra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Accra 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 Johannesburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Johannesburg than you might in Accra.
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