Which place is cheaper, Seattle or Johannesburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Johannesburg or Seattle?
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 Seattle 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 Seattle?
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.
Seattle
Situated on the Puget Sound in the state of Washington, Seattle is the largest city in the United States Pacific Northwest. It's a beautiful city surrounded by the water and mountains and filled with evergreen trees. It's also the home of some famous American institutions including Starbucks Coffee, Amazon, and Microsoft. The population of almost 700,000 continues to grow. As of 2014, the city was considered the fastest growing major city in the United States. The entire metropolitan area has about 3.6 million residents, making it the 15th largest metro area in the US. The natural beauty, growing economy, and educational base give Seattle a youthful vibe that keep the city young and energetic.
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 Las Vegas, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohannesburg $95Seattle $205
The average daily cost (per person) in Johannesburg is $95, while the average daily cost in Seattle is $205. 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 Seattle in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohannesburg $55Seattle $120
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohannesburg $110Seattle $240
Compare Hotels in Johannesburg and Seattle
Looking for a hotel in Johannesburg or Seattle? 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 Seattle Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johannesburg $16Seattle $30
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:
- Tour operator. airport and hotels transfers chauffeur and safari tours services.: $30
- 1-3 Passenger Private Johannesburg - Airport Transfer: $35
- Johannesburg Airport JNB to Johannesburg Hotels Arrival Transfer: $35
- Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) to Johannesburg - Arrival Private Transfer: $35
- OR Tambo Private Airport to Hotel and Hotel to Airport Transfers : $43
- Private Airport Transfer & Grounds to Sandton, Johannesburg & Pretoria 599: $44
- Apartheid Museum Private Transfers: $44
- Johannesburg Airport Private Transfers: Departures (Hotel Pickup): $45
- OR Tambo Airport Transfers Around Johannesburg: $46
- Luxury Car Johannesburg Airport Private Transfer: $52
- Johannesburg Airport Transfers: $55
- Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) to Pretoria - Arrival Private Transfer: $56
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seattle
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Seattle:
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Lightrail from Airport (for 2)$5.50
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Roundtrip Ferry to Bainbridge Island (for 2)$15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seattle
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seattle:
- One-Way Transfer: Cruise Piers to Airport : $28
- One-Way Transfer: SeaTac Hotels to Seattle Cruise Terminals : $33
- Private Arrival Transfer In Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) : $40
- Private One-way Airport Transfer(Seattle Airport To/From Seattle): $58
- Seattle Departure Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer by Executive Sedan : $63
- Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA) to Seattle - Arrival Private Transfer: $71
- Seattle to Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA) - Departure Private Transfer: $71
- Seattle Airport (SEA) to Smith Cove Terminal - Arrival Transfer: $74
- Smith Cove Terminal to Seattle hotels - Arrival Private Transfer : $74
- Smith Cove Terminal to Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA) - Departure Private Transfer: $74
- Smith Cove Terminal to Seattle Airport (SEA) - Departure Transfer: $74
- Smith Cove Terminal to Seattle Hotels Arrival Private Transfer : $74
Is it cheaper to fly into Johannesburg or Seattle?
Prices for flights to both Seattle 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 $17Seattle $51
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
- JOBURG DINNERS : MABONENG CITY DINNER: $97
- Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $99
- Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $216
Typical Food Prices in Seattle
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seattle are as follows:
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Expresso & cookie at Pier 70$7.00
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Cashews at Pike Place Market$6.00
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6 Mini Donuts at Pike Place Market$3.25
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Chinese Lunch in International District (for 2)$21
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Breakfast at Lowel's in Pike Place Market (for 2)$32
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Breakfast at French Cafe (for 2)$37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seattle
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seattle.
- Bite-Sized Seattle History & Food Tour: $15
- Secret Food Tours Seattle: $65
- Seattle Holiday Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $65
- Chef Guided Food Tour of Pike Place Market- 2 Hours: $67
- Eat Around the World Seattle Food Tour: $69
- International District Food Tour: $69
- Street Food Tour of South Lake Union: $75
- Secret Food Tours: Seattle Pike Place Market: $85
- Private Pike Place Market Tour and Cooking Class with a Local: $88
- Pike Place Market Food Tour: $99
- Small Group Cooking Class: $138
- Private Seattle Cooking Class with a Chef in Her Home: $198
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johannesburg $21Seattle $16
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
- Maboneng Street Art & Culture Tour: $27
- Braamfontein Street Art Tour: $27
- Soweto: Bike Tour with a Local Tour Guide: $30
- Colours of A Graffiti & Street Art Tour: $30
- Johannesburg Street Art & Museum Walking or E-scooter Tour : $30
- (Meet the Artist)Art Gallery & Street Art tour with lunch: $30
- A Day Of Soweto Food & Beer Tour: $32
Tours and Activities in Seattle
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seattle are as follows:
- Space Needle Park Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $8.49
- Space Needle Park Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Downtown Seattle Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Seattle by Crazy Dash: $10
- Downtown Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $13
- Seattle Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Seattle Mariners Baseball Game Ticket at T Mobile Park: $15
- Seattle bakery walk tour: $19
- National Nordic Museum Entry Ticket: $20
- Smith Tower Straight Up Observatory Access Ticket: $22
- Terrors and Ghosts Guided Walking Tour: $26
- MoPOP Entry Ticket: $27
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohannesburg $4.73Seattle $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: $8.28
Sample the Local Flavors in Seattle
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Seattle:
- Seattle Terrors Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $32
- Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $38
- Where the Hops Grow! Yakima Brewery Tour : $40
- Woodinville's Downtown Wine Tasting Pass: $65
- Woodinville Wine Country: Downtown Wine Tasting Pass: $65
- Woodinville Wine Country: Artisan Hill Wine Tasting Pass: $65
- Brewery and Restaurant Tour of Historic Seattle Neighborhood: $109
- Bon Vivant Woodinville Wine Tasting Tour : $120
- From Snoqualmie Falls & Woodinville Wine Tasting: $262
- Snoqualmie Falls + Wine Tasting: All-Inclusive Small-Group Tour: $263
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johannesburg and Seattle, we can see that Seattle 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 Seattle is in North 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 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 Seattle would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Seattle 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 Seattle Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johannesburg or Seattle?
Johannesburg has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Seattle. When comparing the sizes of Johannesburg and Seattle, 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.