Which place is cheaper, Buenos Aires, Argentina or Johannesburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Johannesburg or Buenos Aires, Argentina?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Johannesburg and Buenos Aires, Argentina can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Johannesburg or Buenos Aires, Argentina?
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.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires, federal capital of Argentina, also known as "The City of Tango", is best known for its energetic and unpredictable character. Like a restless child, Buenos Aires is a dynamic and modern city full of surprises. While its French-style palaces, rooftop restaurants, wide avenues and green plazas resemble European-style architecture, Buenos Aires preserves its musical, literary and culinary traditions. You can't miss dining in front of a Tango show, walking around the colourful streets of La Boca and visiting the renowned Recoleta Cemetery, designed by Argentina's most important architects and home to hundreds of illustrious corpses.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires.
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Johannesburg Prices
South Africa PricesBuenos Aires, Argentina Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohannesburg $115Buenos Aires, Argentina $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Johannesburg is $115, while the average daily cost in Buenos Aires, Argentina is $56. 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 Johannesburg and Buenos Aires, Argentina in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohannesburg $58Buenos Aires, Argentina $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohannesburg $116Buenos Aires, Argentina $80
Compare Hotels in Johannesburg and Buenos Aires, Argentina
Looking for a hotel in Johannesburg or Buenos Aires, Argentina? 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: Johannesburg Hotel Prices and Buenos Aires, Argentina Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johannesburg $17Buenos Aires, Argentina $2.10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Johannesburg
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Johannesburg:
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Taxi Ride$3.46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
- 1-3 Passenger Private Arrival & Departure JNB - Airport Transfers: $71
- 1-3 Passenger Private Johannesburg - Airport Transfer: $37
- Airport & Private Shuttle and Transfer Services in Johannesburg: $74
- Airport Transfers JHB: $55
- Airport Transfers Johannesburg : $71
- Airport Transfers Johannesburg-Pretoria-Sandton: $71
- Airport Transfers OR Tambo to Sandton Hotels: $58
- Airport Transfers from Cradle of Humankind Muldesdrift to Jo'burg: $156
- Arrival Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Business Car: $78
- Arrival Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Luxury Van: $83
- Authentic Airport Transfers in Johannesburg: $80
- Comfort Private Airport Transfer: OR Tambo Airport (JNB): $41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Buenos Aires, Argentina:
- Jorge Newbery Airport (AEP) Private Transfer to Buenos Aires City: $17
- Madero Tango Buenos Aires Show Without Transfers: $24
- Private Transfer to Buenos Aires Airport (EZE): $27
- Private Transfer Buenos Aires Airport (EZE) to City: $27
- Buenos Aires Local Airport One - way Private Transfer from 30 USD: $30
- Jorge Newbery Airport One-way Private Transfer to Buenos Aires City Center: $30
- Buenos Aires Center One-way Private Transfer to Local Airport: $30
- Buenos Aires Airport (EZE) Transfer with English Speaking Driver: $34
- Private Transfer from Jorge Newbery Airport to Downtown Area: $35
- Port Transfers with English Speaking Driver: $35
- Private transfer from Buenos Aires to Jorge Newbery Airport: $35
- Madero Tango Show with Transfer: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Johannesburg or Buenos Aires, Argentina?
Prices for flights to both Buenos Aires, Argentina 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayJohannesburg $31Buenos Aires, Argentina $7.60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johannesburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.
- Unique street food tour from at least 6 different cultures!: $60
- Zulu Food Cooking & Dining Experience with a local Chef: $85
- Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $96
- Johannesburg Culture and Food Tour: $98
- Zulu Food Cooking and Dining Experience with a local Chef: $105
- Lesedi Cultural Village Tour with Lunch or Dinner : $106
- Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $107
- Lesedi Cultural Experience + Lunch or Dinner: $110
- Pan African Cooking Class & Dinning Experience : $130
- Lesedi Cultural Village with lunch or dinner cultural food: $133
- Soweto Township Tour With African food tour: $145
- Rooftop Bar, Dinner and Clubbing (Amapiano): $217
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Esquina Homero Manzi Tango Show with Optional Transfer and Dinner: $25
- Tango Porteño Show with Optional Dinner and Tango Lesson: $31
- Madero Tango Dance Show with Dinner on Demand: $32
- Tango Porteño with Optional Dinner: $35
- Chacarita Walking Tour - Spooky Cemetery, History & Pizza: $38
- Tango Show and Dinner at: Tango Porteño: $40
- Tango Porteño Show in Buenos Aires (with optional dinner): $43
- Tango Show at Tango Porteño with Optional Dinner: $44
- Dinner at Arte de Mafia, Mafioso Theme Restaurant in Palermo: $44
- Early Tango Dinner Show with Optional Traditional Bus Transfer: $46
- El Aljibe Tango Show in Buenos Aires with Optional Dinner: $47
- Exclusive Italian Lunch or Dinner at Puny Pasta and Grill: $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johannesburg $23Buenos Aires, Argentina $30
Tours and Activities in Johannesburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
- Mapatiza Mine Guided Tour with Showroom: $4.63
- Mapatiza Gemstone Mine Tour Discover Gemstone Transformation: $4.71
- Mandela House Entry Ticket: $6.08
- Johannesburg Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Johannesburg Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour with Soweto Option: $17
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Optional Soweto Tour: $22
- Architectural Walking Tour: $25
- Braamfontein Street Art & Culture Tour: $28
- Guided Walking Tour in Johannesburg: $28
- Ponte Experience: $30
- Soweto: Hector Pieterson Memorial, to Orlando Towers Tour: $32
- Soweto: Bike Tour with a Local Tour Guide: $32
Tours and Activities in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Here are a few actual costs in Buenos Aires, Argentina for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Heart of Colonial Buenos Aires Walking Audio Tour: $5.34
- Literature Self-Guided Audio Tour in Buenos Aires: $10
- Recoleta Cemetery Walking Tour: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour Evita Peron: Don't cry for me Argentina : $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Discover Caminito and Tango: $10
- B.A Hidden Wonders Tour Parque Chas and Agronomía Park: $12
- Private Tour of La Boca and Caminito: $12
- Private Tour of San Telmo, Old Town: $12
- La Boca Walking Tour: $13
- 2 hrs. Walking Tour in San Telmo & Market : $13
- Walking Tour Knowing Rodrigo Bueno in Buenos Aires: $15
- Graffiti Tour: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohannesburg $5.05Buenos Aires, Argentina $9.27
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: $8.85
- Wine Tasting: $12
- Hop on Hop Off Johannesburg Pub Crawl: $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Also in Buenos Aires, Argentina, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Buenos Aires Full City Tour with Wine Tasting and Stops: $37
- Boutique Wine Tasting: A Unique Experience in Buenos Aires: $45
- BA: Wine Tasting and Blending Experience in Palermo : $51
- BA: Small Group Wine Tasting and Blending in Palermo: $54
- Wine tasting in OASIS Palermo: $55
- Buenos Aires Small-Group Wine Tasting: $55
- Buenos Aires Premium Wine Tasting: $58
- Malbec Wine Tasting at Boutique Hotel in Palermo: $59
- Private argentinian wine tasting in downtown : $61
- Wine Tasting at Encuentro Nativo a Historic Tenement in Caminito: $63
- Wine Tasting in Palermo, City of Buenos Aires.: $65
- Premium Wine Tasting in Buenos Aires: $85
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johannesburg and Buenos Aires, Argentina, we can see that Johannesburg is more expensive. And not only is Buenos Aires, Argentina much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Johannesburg is in Africa and Buenos Aires, Argentina is in South America, 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 Buenos Aires, Argentina would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Buenos Aires, Argentina 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 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Johannesburg Expensive? and Is Buenos Aires, Argentina Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johannesburg or Buenos Aires, Argentina?
Buenos Aires, Argentina has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Johannesburg. When comparing the sizes of Johannesburg and Buenos Aires, Argentina, 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.
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.