Which place is cheaper, Cape Town 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 Cape Town?
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 Cape Town 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 Cape Town?
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.
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 Adventure Tours to South Africa, The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, The Best Sightseeing Tours in South Africa, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in South Africa.
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Johannesburg Prices
South Africa PricesCape Town Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohannesburg $104Cape Town $163
The average daily cost (per person) in Johannesburg is $104, while the average daily cost in Cape Town is $163. 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 Cape Town in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohannesburg $53Cape Town $76
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohannesburg $106Cape Town $152
Compare Hotels in Johannesburg and Cape Town
Looking for a hotel in Johannesburg 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: Johannesburg Hotel Prices and Cape Town Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johannesburg $16Cape Town $17
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$3.14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Johannesburg HTL-APT (JNB): $38
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Johannesburg APT-HTL (JNB): $38
- Transfers Between OR Tambo and Pilanesburg : $194
- Tour operator. airport and hotels transfers chauffeur and safari tours services.: $30
- Suncity Transfer: $191
- South Africa Airport Transfer, Johannesburg Guided day Tour: $130
- Shuttle Transfer from Johannesburg Airport to Hazyview: $66
- Private executive transfer to sun city or airport/hotels : $118
- Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Sedan Car: $65
- Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Luxury Van: $77
- Private Transfer: Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB in Sedan Car: $66
- Private Transfer: Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB in Luxury Van: $77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers: $11
- Cape Town Airport (CPT) Private Transfer to Cape Town City/Hotels: $11
- Private Luxury Airport Transfer up to 10 Passengers: $16
- Transfer from Cape Town City Center to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Airport Shuttle Transfer from Airport to Cape Town City Center : $17
- Airport Transfer to Cape Town Cruise Terminal: $17
- Airport Transport Shuttle Transfer to Claremont Cape Town : $17
- Airport Transport Shuttle Transfer to Camps Bay Cape Town: $17
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Camps Bay to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Cape Town Cruise Terminal to and from Hotels Transfer: $18
- Cape Town Airport and Hotel Private Transfers: $18
- Airport Transfer (Cape Town ) Bus: $18
Is it cheaper to fly into Johannesburg or Cape Town?
Prices for flights to both Cape Town 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 $28Cape Town $70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johannesburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.
- Maboneng Street Art and Street Food Tour: $50
- Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $77
- Zulu Food Cooking & Dining Experience with a local Chef: $78
- Zulu Food Cooking and Dining Experience with a local Chef: $97
- Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $98
- Lesedi Cultural Experience + Lunch or Dinner: $115
- Lesedi Cultural Village with lunch or dinner cultural food: $122
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 with a Chef Founder: $28
- Cape Malay Cooking Class in Bo-Kaap: $40
- Malay Cooking Class and Lunch in Bo-Kaap: $43
- Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience: $55
- Bo-Kapp Walking Tour and Malay Cooking Class: $58
- Sunset At Signal Hill Constantia Wine Tasting and Dinner: $60
- Sunset Champagne Cruise and 3-Course Dinner: $61
- Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience: $61
- Taste of African Food Tour with a Local Guide: $64
- From CapeTown: African Dinner and Drumming Experience: $67
- African Dinner Experience from Cape Town: $69
- African Dinner, Drumming Experience with Transfer: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johannesburg $20Cape Town $22
Tours and Activities in Johannesburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
- Golf Tour, Sun City , Gary Player Course - Rated the Best: $223
- Half-Day Safari Tour of the Magaliesberg Mountains by Zipline: $120
- Private Full Day Johannesburg apartheid museum and Soweto Tour : $110
- Rhino and Lion Park Safari Tour : $136
- Soweto Private half day tour: $74
- (Meet the Artist)Art Gallery & Street Art tour with lunch: $36
- 1 Day Full Johannesburg Top Attractions Tour: $279
- 1 Day Pilanesberg Safari with Tour Guide: $271
- 2 Days Kruger Fly-in Big 5 Safari Tour from Johannesburg: $987
- 2-Day Kruger National Park Safari Tour from Johannesburg: $927
- 2-Day Kruger Overland Big 5 Safari Tour: $835
- 3 Day Kruger Safari Tour from Johannesburg: $926
Tours and Activities in Cape Town
For Cape Town, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Skip the Line: District Six Museum Admission Ticket: $3.54
- 30 Minute Harbour Boat Cruise with Seal Watching: $3.72
- Half Hour Seal and Harbour Cruise from Cape Town: $3.81
- Long March to Freedom Guided Tour: $4.00
- District Six Museum Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket: $4.00
- 30 Minute Seal-Watching Harbour Cruise: $4.00
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Ticket (One way Up): $4.34
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Ticket (One way Down): $4.34
- Hop-On Hop-Off Cape Town Canal Cruise: $4.65
- Cape Town 30-minute V&A Harbour Cruise: $4.65
- Sea Point Promenade: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.13
- Muizenberg to Kalk Bay: Amble along the amazing False Bay Coast on an audio tour: $5.20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohannesburg $4.59Cape Town $20
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: $8.21
- Wine Tasting: $11
- Hop on Hop Off Johannesburg Pub Crawl: $12
- Wine Tasting and Cableway Half Day Tour: $134
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: $9.31
- Experience South African Craft Rum tasting and distillery tour in Cape Town: $9.58
- Craft Gin Tasting Experience and Distillery Tour: $13
- African drum show & wine tasting at Silvermist: $24
- Indigenous Food and Wine Tasting: $24
- Wine Tasting & Storytelling with SA Tapas add-on: $28
- Stellenbosch and Paarl Half-Day Wine Tour: $35
- Wine Tour at Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl: $35
- Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Babylonstoren Wine Tour: $36
- From 3 Regions Wine Tour with 3 Estates, 15 Wines: $40
- Wine Tour: Paarl, Franschhoek & Stellenbosch incl 3 wineries: $41
- half day wine tour & Safaris[Morning /Afternoon]: $47
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johannesburg and Cape Town, we can see that Cape Town is more expensive. And not only is Johannesburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Johannesburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Johannesburg 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 Cape Town would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cape Town than you might in Johannesburg.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Johannesburg Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johannesburg or Cape Town?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 69% larger than the population of Johannesburg. When comparing the sizes of Johannesburg 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.
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.