Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Lisbon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lisbon or Cape Town?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lisbon or Cape Town? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Lisbon or Cape Town?
Lisbon
Portugal's capital city of Lisbon continues to grow in popularity as a travel destination. The cultural scene has come to life in recent years and the city itself is stunningly beautiful. It sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of hills that create a dramatic and scenic layout. The city has many white-bleached limestone buildings, narrow alleyways, and a laidback charm that appeals to visitors.
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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal, The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, The Best Camping Tours in South Africa, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in South Africa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLisbon €131Cape Town €91
The average daily cost (per person) in Lisbon is €131, while the average daily cost in Cape Town is €91. 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 Lisbon and Cape Town in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLisbon €58Cape Town €36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLisbon €116Cape Town €72
Compare Hotels in Lisbon and Cape Town
Looking for a hotel in Lisbon 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: Lisbon Hotel Prices and Cape Town Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lisbon €24Cape Town €16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lisbon
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:
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Taxi Ride€6.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon
Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- sintra private luxury transfer to or from lisbon airport: $149
- mapeTOUR Transfers from Lisbon Airport to Lisbon: $82
- lisbon private luxury transfer to or from lisbon airport: $38
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Lisbon HTL-APT (LIS): $36
- Transfers from/to Lisbon Airport to: Fátima / Nazaré / Alcobaça..: $263
- Transfers - Aeroporto de Lisboa (Chegadas/Partidas): $43
- Transfer: Airport to where you want: $48
- Transfer to Six Senses Douro Valley from Lisbon: $440
- Transfer to Setubal (not Troia or Comporta) from Lisbon: $55
- Transfer to Porto from Lisbon: $369
- Transfer to Lisbon from Lisbon Airport: $48
- Transfer to Lamego from Lisbon: $223
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Whale Watching In Hermanus with Private Transfer: $250
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cape Town HTL-APT(CPT): $44
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cape Town APT-HTL(CPT): $44
- Transport Shuttle Transfer from Constantia to Cape Town Airport: $18
- Transfer To Safari- Aquila From Cape Town Excluding Entry Fees Full Day: $159
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Simonstown to Cape Town Airport: $26
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Claremont to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Cape Town City Center (CBD) to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Shopping Mall Transfers: $22
- Shark Cage Diving: Full Day Tour Transfer: $97
- Shared Transfers to and from Safari Game Reserve (excluding entrance fees): $85
- Shared Transfer to Cape Agulhas - Where The Two Oceans Meet From Cape Town F/Day: $183
Is it cheaper to fly into Lisbon or Cape Town?
Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Lisbon 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 dayLisbon €42Cape Town €39
Typical Food Prices in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee€2.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Soirée Rivage - Sunset cruise with dinner and Party: $25
- Hard Rock Cafe Lisbon with Set Lunch or Dinner : $28
- Tapas Food Tour: $38
- Fado Show and Portuguese Dinner: $48
- Lisbon Food Tour: $53
- Alfama Tour and Live Fado with Traditional Dinner: $54
- 2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class: $54
- Cooking Pastel de Nata with a glass of wine !: $54
- Legendary Beer Dinner: $54
- Pastel de Nata Cooking Class in Lisbon: $55
- No Diet Club - Unique food tour in Lisbon with many Tastings: $62
- Original Morning Food Tour: $64
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:
- Dinner At Mandela's - Cultural Township Dinner Experience: $28
- Cape Malay Cooking Class in Bo-Kaap: $41
- 3-Hour Malay Cooking Class & Lunch in Bo-Kaap: $43
- Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience: $55
- Sunset Champagne Cruise and 3-Course Dinner: $56
- Bo-Kapp Walking Tour and Malay Cooking Class: $59
- African Dinner, Drumming Experience with Transfer: $61
- African Dinner Experience from Cape Town: $61
- Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience: $62
- Cruise and Dine Dinner / Sunset Champagne Cruise and 3-Course Dinner: $71
- Cape Town Food tour (Includes all food) 4hrs: $76
- Private Cooking Class and Meal in Local Wynberg Cape Town Home: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lisbon €24Cape Town €21
Tours and Activities in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Óbidos - Nazaré - Mafra (National Palace of Mafra)Private tour from Lisbon: $217
- 2-Hour Night Sailing Tour in Lisbon with a Drink: $49
- Private Walking Tour - Wandering Around Lisbon: $93
- Private day tour Serra da Estrela cheese factory bread museum: $210
- Saint George Castle Guided Tour from Lisbon: $34
- Sintra or Cascais Half-day Private Tour - The real portuguese essence!: $120
- Street Art Walking Tour in Lisbon - Parque das Nações: $16
- The Heart of Lisbon- History & coffee experience: $66
- Évora & Arroiolos Small-Group Full Day Tour : $109
- Évora Tour: $164
- Évora Tour - Évora Town and Surroundings Private Tour: $244
- Évora Unveiled: A Half-Day Discovery| Premium Private Experience : $109
Tours and Activities in Cape Town
For Cape Town, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3 Wineries Private Tour in Stellenbosch, Paarl Tasting Included: $137
- Cape Agulhas Full Day Private Tour: $192
- Cape Point Full Day Tour: $192
- Cape Point Private Tour withTable Mountain and Penguin Colony : $257
- Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope day tour Up to 10 persons: $66
- Cape Town - Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens and City Tour: $280
- Cape Town Woodstock Street Art Walking Tour: $30
- CapeWinelands Private Tour to Stellenbosch,Franschhoek and Paarl: $96
- Day Tour in Robben Island, Bo-Kaap and Table Mountain : $166
- Long Walk to Freedom in Robben Island including Ticket & Afrogem: $156
- Mandela's Robben Island Museum Bo-Kaap Cape Town City Tour + Ferry ticket f/d: $165
- Penguins Private Tour- Cape of Good Hope & Cape Point Tour from Cape Town: $114
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLisbon €18Cape Town €19
Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:
- Pub Crawl with Open Bar, Shots, & VIP Club Entry: $17
- Pub Crawl with Unlimited Drinks and VIP Club Entry: $18
- Pub Crawl Lisbon - 1 Hour of Unlimited Beer and Sangria and more!: $19
- 1-Hour Portuguese Wine Tasting Session: $20
- Lisbon Pub Crawl: $21
- Pub Crawl with Open Bar and VIP Club Entry: $21
- Lisbon Pub Crawl: $22
- Lisbon Wild Pub Crawl : $22
- Private Bar Crawl in Lisbon: $22
- Pub Crawl Walking Tour with Shots and Drinking Games: $22
- Beer Tasting in a Classic Brewery: $27
- Pub Crawl Lisbon: $27
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: $7.13
- Experience South African Craft Rum tasting and distillery tour in Cape Town: $9.60
- African drum show & wine tasting at Silvermist: $24
- Drumstruck at Silvermist. Live African Drum Show & Wine tasting: $25
- Sip 15 Wines on a 3-Region Wine Tour with Cheese: $38
- Wine Tour: Paarl, Franschhoek & Stellenbosch incl 3 wineries: $38
- Three Region Wine Tour: $44
- Cape Winelands and Wine Tasting Full Day Tour: $47
- half day wine tour & Safaris[Morning /Afternoon]: $49
- Stellenbosch: Half-Day Wine Tour: $51
- Fullday Wine Tour: $51
- Stellenbosch Wine Tour half day from Cape Town: $54
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lisbon and Cape Town, we can see that Lisbon is more expensive. And not only is Cape Town much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lisbon is in Europe and Cape Town is in Africa, 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 Cape Town would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cape Town 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 Lisbon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lisbon than you might in Cape Town.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lisbon Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lisbon or Cape Town?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Lisbon. When comparing the sizes of Lisbon 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.
When is the best time to visit Lisbon or Cape Town?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Cape Town is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Lisbon has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Lisbon or Cape Town in the Summer?
Both Cape Town and Lisbon are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Lisbon because of the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Lisbon is generally around the same temperature as Cape Townin January. Daily temperatures in Lisbon average around 23°C (73°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
It's quite sunny in Cape Town. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Lisbon. Lisbon usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cape Town during summer. Lisbon gets 352 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 338 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Lisbon usually receives less rain than Cape Townin January. Lisbon gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryLisbon 23°C (73°F)Cape Town 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Lisbon or Cape Town in the Autumn?
Both Cape Town and Lisbon during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Lisbon this time of year.
Lisbon is around the same temperature as Cape Town in the autumn. The daily temperature in Lisbon averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Cape Town fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in April.
In Cape Town, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Lisbon. In the autumn, Lisbon often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin April. Lisbon gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 233 hours of full sun.
Lisbon usually gets more rain in October than Cape Townin April. Lisbon gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilLisbon 19°C (66°F)Cape Town 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Lisbon or Cape Town in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Lisbon and Cape Town. Many travelers come to Lisbon for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Lisbon is around the same temperature as Cape Town. Typically, the winter temperatures in Lisbon in January average around 12°C (53°F), and Cape Town averages at about 13°C (55°F)in July.
Lisbon usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during winter. Lisbon gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 193 hours of full sun in the winter.
Lisbon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Lisbon usually receives more rain than Cape Townin July. Lisbon gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyLisbon 12°C (53°F)Cape Town 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Lisbon or Cape Town in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Lisbon as well as Cape Town. Many visitors come to Lisbon in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In April, Lisbon is generally around the same temperature as Cape Townin October. Daily temperatures in Lisbon average around 16°C (60°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cape Town. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Lisbon this time of the year. In the spring, Lisbon often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin October. Lisbon gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 278 hours of full sun.
Lisbon usually gets more rain in April than Cape Townin October. Lisbon gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberLisbon 16°C (60°F)Cape Town 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Cape Town and Lisbon
| Lisbon | Cape Town | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
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.