Which place is cheaper, Manchester or Johannesburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Johannesburg or Manchester?
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 Manchester 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 Manchester?
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.
Manchester
Located in the heart of Northern England, Manchester is the unofficial Capital of the North. Though it dates back as a Roman city, the city boomed in growth during the Industrial Revolution in textiles, and is today one of the most-visited cities in England by overseas travelers.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, The Best 2-Week Tours from Edinburgh, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohannesburg $95Manchester $230
The average daily cost (per person) in Johannesburg is $95, while the average daily cost in Manchester is $230. 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 Manchester in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohannesburg $55Manchester $89
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohannesburg $110Manchester $178
Compare Hotels in Johannesburg and Manchester
Looking for a hotel in Johannesburg or Manchester? 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 Manchester Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johannesburg $16Manchester $24
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:
- Airport To Suncity Transfer And Return: $405
- Johannesburg Airport (JNB): Transfer to Pretoria hotels: $279
- OR Tambo to Sun City Transfer : $235
- Private Transfer from Johannesburg To Pilanesberg: $221
- Johannesburg Airport (JNB): Transfer to Johannesburg hotels: $195
- Private Land Rover transfer to Sun City from Johannesburg and PTA: $195
- Suncity Transfer: $194
- Private Transfer from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport (JNB) to Pretoria hotels: $164
- Private Transfer, Airports to Cradle of Humankind & Muldersdrift : $147
- Airport Transfers from Cradle of Humankind Muldesdrift to Jo'burg: $147
- Private Airport Transfer: $121
- Private executive transfer to sun city or airport/hotels : $118
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Manchester
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Manchester are as follows:
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Rail to Airport$14
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Parking in Manchester$3.76
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manchester
Also for Manchester, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 1-Wsy Airport Bus Transfer to/from Leeds: $6.89
- Manchester Airport: BUS Transfer to/from London: $8.16
- Southampton Airport: BUS Transfer to/from Manchester: $8.16
- Manchester Airport to Lake District Ski Club - Arrival Transfer: $44
- Private Transfer from Manchester Airport (MAN) to Alderley Edge: $52
- Private Transfer from Manchester Airport (MAN) to Stockport: $52
- Private Transfer from Manchester Airport (MAN) to Adlington (Macclesfield): $52
- Private Transfer from Manchester Airport (MAN) to Eccles: $57
- Private Transfer from Partington to Manchester Airport (MAN): $57
- Private Transfer from Cadishead to Manchester Airport (MAN): $58
- Private Transfer from Salford to Manchester Airport (MAN): $58
- Private Transfer from Salford Quays to Manchester Airport (MAN): $58
Is it cheaper to fly into Johannesburg or Manchester?
Prices for flights to both Manchester 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 $17Manchester $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: $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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manchester
For Manchester, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $30
- Pistachio LOVERS Italian Dinner Experience: $44
- Manchester Food Tour with a Local Guide: $94
- Half-Day Manchester Food Tour with Lunch: $95
- 3-Hour Guided Manchester Food Tour with Lunch : $95
- Private Food Tour with Local Guide: $199
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johannesburg $21Manchester $38
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: $227
- Half-Day Safari Tour of the Magaliesberg Mountains by Zipline: $122
- Private Full Day Johannesburg Historical Tour : $194
- Rhino and Lion Park Safari Tour : $96
- Soweto half day tour including Mandela House.Private transport: $72
- (Meet the Artist)Art Gallery & Street Art tour with lunch: $30
- 10 Days Overland Tour-Johannesburg and Cape Town: $2,701
- 15 Days Johannesburg, Kruger National Park – Cape Town Tour: $4,052
- 3 Day Kruger National Park Tour from Johannesburg: $807
- 3 Days 2 Nights Panorama Tour & Kruger National park Safari: $832
- 4-Day Private Tour Johannesburg and Pretoria - See everything in 4 days : $214
- 4-Days Overnight Experience in The Panorama Route & Safari: $1,735
Tours and Activities in Manchester
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Manchester.
- Manchester Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $4.37
- Manchester City Exploration Game and Tour: $5.38
- Manchester’s Rebirth and Renewal: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- England's First Industrial City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Manchester Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $11
- Private Manchester Self-Guided Tour: $11
- Self-Guided City Sightseeing Treasure Hunt: $13
- Salford Quays Guided Walking Tour: $13
- Canal & River Cruise: $15
- City River Tour: $15
- LGBT+ Manchester Walking Tour: $17
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohannesburg $4.73Manchester $12
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 Manchester
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Manchester:
- Bar Maid-led Pub Crawl for Special Events: $48
- Four hour walking wine tasting tour of Manchester's best bars: $102
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johannesburg and Manchester, we can see that Manchester 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 Manchester 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 Manchester would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Manchester 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 Manchester Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johannesburg or Manchester?
Johannesburg has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Manchester. When comparing the sizes of Johannesburg and Manchester, 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.