Which place is cheaper, Cardiff or Johannesburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Johannesburg or Cardiff?
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 Cardiff 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 Cardiff?
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.
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital city of Wales, and a major port on the country's southern coast. Though Cardiff boomed with the coal industry during the Industrial Revolution, the city began its history as a Roman fort on the River Taff-perhaps taking its name from a combination of the Welsh word for fort (caer) and the name of the river (Taff). The fort still stands today along with many other landmarks that attract tourists each year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in United Kingdom.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohannesburg $95Cardiff $196
The average daily cost (per person) in Johannesburg is $95, while the average daily cost in Cardiff is $196. 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 Cardiff in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohannesburg $55Cardiff $117
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohannesburg $110Cardiff $234
Compare Hotels in Johannesburg and Cardiff
Looking for a hotel in Johannesburg or Cardiff? 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 Cardiff Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johannesburg $16Cardiff $27
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$3.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
- Transfers Between Lanseria Airport And Johannesburg : $42
- 1-3 Passenger Private Arrival & Departure JNB - Airport Transfers: $66
- 1-3 Passenger Private Johannesburg - Airport Transfer: $35
- Airport To Suncity Transfer And Return: $405
- Airport Transfers Johannesburg : $47
- Airport Transfers from Cradle of Humankind Muldesdrift to Jo'burg: $147
- Arrival Private Transfer JNB Airport to Johannesburg, Pretoria or SunCity by Van: $77
- Arrival Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Business Car: $61
- Arrival Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Luxury Van: $72
- Departure Private Transfer: Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB in Business Car: $61
- Departure Private Transfer: Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB in Luxury Van: $72
- From Johannesburg Airport: 1-Way Transfer with Pretoria Tour: $109
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cardiff
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cardiff:
- Bristol Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Cardiff: $13
- Heathrow Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Cardiff: $16
- Barry Accommodation to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $33
- Cardiff to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Private Cardiff Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to Airport: $58
- Private Cardiff Arrival Transfer- Airport to Hotel / Accommodation : $58
- Newport Accommodation to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- Cardiff Private Transfer from Cardiff Airport to City centre: $79
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cardiff Airport CWL to Cardiff by Luxury Vehicle: $96
- Departure Private Transfer from Cardiff to Cardiff Airport CWL by Luxury Vehicle: $96
- Private Transfer from Holyhead Port to Manchester Airport (MAN): $102
- Private Transfer from Mold to Manchester Airport (MAN): $125
Is it cheaper to fly into Johannesburg or Cardiff?
Prices for flights to both Cardiff 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 $17Cardiff $55
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: $41
- A Private Traditional Cape Malay Cooking Class, with a MKR Finalist: $95
- JOBURG DINNERS : MABONENG CITY DINNER: $97
- Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $99
- Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $216
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johannesburg $21Cardiff $31
Tours and Activities in Johannesburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
- Johannesburg Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Optional Soweto Tour: $16
- Jo'burg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Apartheid Museum & Soweto: $16
- Architectural Walking Tour: $19
- Soweto: Hector Pieterson Memorial, to Orlando Towers Tour: $24
- Braamfontein Street Art Tour: $27
- Maboneng Street Art & Culture Tour: $27
- Soweto: Bike Tour with a Local Tour Guide: $30
- Colours of A Graffiti & Street Art Tour: $30
- (Meet the Artist)Art Gallery & Street Art tour with lunch: $30
- Half-Day Walking Tour in Soweto: $32
- A Day Of Soweto Food & Beer Tour: $32
Tours and Activities in Cardiff
Here are a few actual costs in Cardiff for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Ghosts of Llandaff Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Cardiff’s Bay and Waterfront: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Bay and Barrage: $5.99
- A Journey through Tudor A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Cardiff's Civic Centre: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- The Ghosts of Llandaff: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Essential Caerphilly: Explore the town’s history on a self-guided audio tour: $6.22
- Uncover Ghostly Chester: In-App Audio Tour of Eerie Tales: $11
- Uncover Spectral Secrets with the Llandaff Ghosts Audio Tour: $11
- Discover Cardiff's Waterfront: In-App Audio Tour: $11
- Cardiff Bay Private Self-Guided Tour: $11
- Llanberis, Conwy and Caernarfon Castle: A Self-Guided Driving Tour of Snowdonia: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohannesburg $4.73Cardiff $16
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: $8.23
- Wine Tasting and Cableway Half Day Tour: $115
- Experience Johannesburg Wine Tour Views and Luxury: $226
Sample the Local Flavors in Cardiff
Also in Cardiff, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Gin Tour at Hensol Castle Distillery: $32
- Cardiff Bar Maid-led Pub Crawl for Special Events: $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johannesburg and Cardiff, we can see that Cardiff is more expensive. And not only is Johannesburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Johannesburg is in Africa and Cardiff is in Europe, 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 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 Cardiff would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cardiff 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 Cardiff Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johannesburg or Cardiff?
Johannesburg has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Cardiff. When comparing the sizes of Johannesburg and Cardiff, 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.