A Travel Price Comparison for South Africa Johannesburg vs. Durban for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Johannesburg or Durban?

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 Durban 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 Durban?

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.

Durban

The third largest city in South Africa, Durban sits on the east coast of the country in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The city also has the country's most active port. The city's comfortable weather and vast beaches make it one of the country's major tourist centers. There's a population of about 3.5 million in the entire metropolitan area that spreads over 2,295 square kilometers.

Which city is cheaper, Durban or Johannesburg?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Johannesburg is $77, while the average daily cost in Durban is $43. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Johannesburg and Durban in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Johannesburg $44
    Durban $20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Johannesburg $88
    Durban $40
Compare Hotels in Johannesburg and Durban

Looking for a hotel in Johannesburg or Durban? 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.

Hotels in Johannesburg


Hotels in Durban


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 Durban Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Johannesburg $13
    Durban $11
Typical Local Transportation prices in Johannesburg

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Johannesburg:


  • Taxi Ride
    $3.27

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:

  • 3 Day All Incl. Private Kruger Park Safari Incl. Transfer From Johannesburg: $979
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Johannesburg Airport to Mpumalanga: $376
  • Suncity Transfer: $151
  • Return Private Transfers to Sun City from OR Tambo Airport or Joburg Hotels: $141
  • Private Transfer: Johannesburg to Sun City/Pilanesberg National Park: $125
  • Johannesburg Airport to Johannesburg Hotel or Vice Versa (Private Transfer): $114
  • Direct Transfer to Sun City: $105
  • Johannesburg Airport Transfers : Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Luxury Car: $90
  • Johannesburg Airport Transfers : Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB in Luxury Car: $90
  • Low Cost Private Transfer From OR Tambo International Airport to Johannesburg City - One Way: $86
  • Round Trip O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) Transfer to Johannesburg City Center: $84
  • Business Private Transfer: JNB Airport to Johannesburg, Pretoria or Sun City: $76

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durban

Also for Durban, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Airport Shuttle / Transfers: $30
  • Private Transfers - Minibus - Durban Arrivals and Departures: $35
  • 1-3 Passenger Private Durban Airport Transfer: $42
  • Private Durban Airport Departure Transfer: $55
  • Arrival Private Transfer: Durban MSC Cruise Port to Durban City by Minivan: $75
  • Departure Private Transfer: Durban City to Durban MSC Cruise Port by Minivan: $75
  • Departure Private Transfer: Durban City to Durban Airport DUR by Business Car: $76
  • Departure Private Transfer from Durban City to Durban Airport DUR by Minivan: $79
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Durban Airport DUR to Durban City by Minivan: $82
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Durban International Airport to Umhlanga: $86

Is it cheaper to fly into Johannesburg or Durban?

Prices for flights to both Durban 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Johannesburg $14
    Durban $13

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
  • Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve Tour with Carnivore Dinner: $154
  • 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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Johannesburg $17
    Durban $13

Tours and Activities in Johannesburg

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:

  • 10 Day - Kruger Park - Swaziland - Durban - Lesotho - Drakensberg Tour: $2,214
  • 15 Days - Johannesburg, Kruger National Park and Cape Town Tour: $4,025
  • 2 Days/ 1 Night - Dinokeng Safaris and Cullinan tours: $312
  • 3 Day Unlimited Kruger National Park Safari Game Drive from Johannesburg Tour: $639
  • 3 days tour package - Soweto/Apartheid Museum/ Pretoria/Lion Park: $312
  • 3-Day Kruger National Park Experience: $794
  • 3-Day NON-SHARED Private Group Kruger Safari Camping Tour from Johannesburg: $3,013
  • 3-day Cradle of Human Kind, Sun City and Pilanesberg Big 5 Tour: $990
  • 4 Hour Johannesburg City Tour: $74
  • 4-Day Johannesburg to Soweto Pretoria Private Tour Farm Stay: $503
  • 4-Day Private Guided Safari Tour of Madikwe with Meals: $938
  • 5 Day Greater Kruger National Park Adventure Safari: $1,066

Tours and Activities in Durban

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Durban.

  • Canal Cruise: $6.70
  • Luxury Boat Cruise Tour at Durban Point Waterfront Canals: $8.05
  • Culture Walking Tour of Durban: $34
  • Durban Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $36
  • Discover Inner City Jewels Walking Tour in Durban: $37
  • Durban City Sightseeing Tour: $41
  • Durban Half-Day City Tour - Golden Mile, Botanical Gardens: $43
  • Durban City Tour: $44
  • Durban City Highlights Tour: $46
  • St Lucia: iSimangaliso Wetland Park: Full-Day/Half-Day Tour: $52
  • Royal Reed Dance Day Tour From Durban: $54
  • Durban Highlights tour: $54

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Johannesburg $3.82
    Durban $10

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

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johannesburg and Durban, we can see that Johannesburg is more expensive. And not only is Durban much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Durban would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Durban 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 Durban.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
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Johannesburg vs. Durban Travel Comparison

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