Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Nice?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nice or Cape Town?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nice and Cape Town 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: Nice or Cape Town?
Nice
Nice, in the French Riviera, is one of the most popular destinations in France. It's located on the southeast coast along the Mediterranean Sea and is the second largest French city on the Mediterranean. It is an energetic city that attracts all types of vacationers from every age group and demographic. It's the 5th largest city in the country and is the capital of the Alpes Maritimes departement. The metropolitan area has a population of about 1 million.
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 10-Day Tours in France, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, 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 dayNice €131Cape Town €91
The average daily cost (per person) in Nice 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 Nice and Cape Town in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNice €59Cape Town €36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNice €118Cape Town €72
Compare Hotels in Nice and Cape Town
Looking for a hotel in Nice 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: Nice Hotel Prices and Cape Town Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nice €25Cape Town €16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nice
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nice:
- transfert Nice aéroport vers Isola 2000: $269
- transfert Nice aéroport /Fréjus /Saint Raphaël: $161
- Villefranche-sur-Mer-Port de la Santé: Transfer to Nice: $294
- Villefranche-sur-Mer - Port to Nice hotels- Arrival Transfer: $49
- Villefranche-sur-Mer - Port de la Santé to Nice hotels- Arrival Private Transfer: $49
- Villefranche-sur-Mer - Port de la Santé to Cannes - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $171
- Villefranche-sur-Mer - Port de la Santé to Cannes - Arrival Private Transfer: $86
- Villefranche Port to Nice Intl Airport (NCE) - Departure Transfer: $49
- Villefranche Port to Cannes Mandelieu Airport Departure Transfer: $88
- Villefranche Port Round Trip Transfer to Monaco: $159
- Transfert privé aéroport de Nice-Côte d’Azur - Cannes: $156
- Transfer from Villefranche-sur-Mer-Port de la Santé to Cannes : $86
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers: $11
- Private Airport Transfers in Cape Town- One way/Round Trips: $16
- 1.Cape Town Airport Transfer (&Private tour trips during yo Stay): $17
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Cape Town City Center (CBD) to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Claremont to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Exclusive Cape Town Airport and Cruise Terminal Transfers: $18
- Airport Transport Shuttle Transfer to Camps Bay Cape Town: $18
- Airport Transport Shuttle Transfer to Muizenberg Cape Town : $18
- Airport Transfer (Cape Town ) Bus: $18
- Airport Transport Shuttle Transfer from Airport to Constantia: $18
- Transport Shuttle Transfer from Constantia to Cape Town Airport: $18
- 24 hour Private Airport Shuttle and Transfer CBD: $19
Is it cheaper to fly into Nice or Cape Town?
Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Nice 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 dayNice €49Cape Town €39
Typical Food Prices in Nice
Some typical examples of dining costs in Nice are as follows:
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Slushee€2.50
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Strawberries€4.00
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Loaf of Bread€3.20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nice
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nice.
- Nice Small-Group Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties & Wine Tasting: $84
- Viator Exclusive: Organic French Dinner in the Garden of Nice: $95
- Old Nice Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $104
- Viator Exclusive: Local Cooking Class & Dinner with View of Nice: $107
- 3.5-Hour Original Old Town Food Tour: $108
- Private French Cooking Class with a Fun Local Noel: $108
- Half-Day Walking Food Tour in Nice with Lunch: $115
- Half Day Afternoon Walking Food Tour with Dinner: $147
- Dinner in the vineyard French Riviera: $193
- Dinner in the Vineyard French Riviera: $206
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.Nice €12Cape Town €21
Tours and Activities in Nice
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nice are as follows:
- Half Day Shared Tour in Eze, Monaco and Monte Carlo: $66
- Majestic Christmas tour in French Riviera: $235
- Monaco, Monte-Carlo and Eze Village Small Group Half-Day Tour: $59
- 3 Hour Walking Tour with a Local Licensed Guide in Monaco: $60
- 3-Hour Guided Walking Tour of Nice with a Licensed Guide: $33
- 3-Hour Segway Tour to Nice & Villefranche-sur-Mer: $81
- A Guided Walking Tour through the Charming Streets of Nice: $32
- A walk of wealth – guided tour in Monaco: $252
- All-Inclusive Food & History Tour in Old Nice with Local Guide: $142
- Amazing Private Walking Tour of Old Nice between Italy and France: $111
- Antibes Electric Bike Tour: $76
- Antibes Provencal Tasting Tour (Food & Drinks): $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:
- Muizenberg to Kalk Bay: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $2.99
- District Six Museum Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket: $3.24
- Skip the Line: District Six Museum Admission Ticket: $3.60
- Kirstenbosch: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $3.99
- Cape Town 30-minute V&A Harbour Cruise: $4.15
- Hop-On Hop-Off Cape Town Canal Cruise: $4.15
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Ticket (One way Down): $4.35
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Ticket (One way Up): $4.35
- Meandering through Mouille Point: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $4.99
- V&A Waterfront: Seal & Harbour Cruise: $5.00
- Sea Point Promenade: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.13
- Muizenberg to Kalk Bay: Amble along the amazing False Bay Coast on an audio tour: $5.20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNice €17Cape Town €19
Sample the Local Flavors in Nice
Also in Nice, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Nice Bar Crawl | Best Bars In 1 Night! VIP + FREE SHOTS: $6.03
- Pub Crawl Party with VIP Entry and Free Shots: $16
- Nice : International Party Pub / Bar Crawl Unlimited Ticket: $17
- Pub Crawl Nice with Drinking Games and Optional Drink special: $22
- Riviera Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $25
- Nice Bar Crawl | Infamous International Party!: $27
- Nice Walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $45
- New Year's Eve Pub Crawl with Shots and VIP Club Entry: $53
- New Year’s Eve Bar Crawl Nice France: $54
- Provence Organic Wine Tasting Half Day Tour from Nice: $66
- Half-Day Saint Paul de Vence and Wine Tasting Tour: $83
- Half-Day Wine Tasting and Saint Paul de Vence Tour from Nice: $84
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 Nice and Cape Town, we can see that Nice is more expensive. And not only is Cape Town much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nice 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 Nice would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nice 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 Nice Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nice or Cape Town?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Nice. When comparing the sizes of Nice 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 Nice 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 Nice has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Nice or Cape Town in the Summer?
Both Cape Town and Nice during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Nice for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences.
Nice is around the same temperature as Cape Town in the summer. The daily temperature in Nice averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Cape Town fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
Nice usually gets more rain in July than Cape Townin January. Nice gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryNice 23°C (73°F)Cape Town 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Nice or Cape Town in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Nice and Cape Town. Many visitors come to Nice in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Nice is around the same temperature as Cape Town. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Nice in October average around 17°C (63°F), and Cape Town averages at about 18°C (64°F)in April.
Nice gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Nice usually receives more rain than Cape Townin April. Nice gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilNice 17°C (63°F)Cape Town 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Nice or Cape Town in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Nice as well as Cape Town. Most visitors come to Nice for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.
In January, Nice is generally cooler than Cape Townin July. Daily temperatures in Nice average around 9°C (48°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
Nice usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Cape Townin July. Nice gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyNice 9°C (48°F)Cape Town 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Nice or Cape Town in the Spring?
Both Cape Town and Nice are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Nice because of the beaches and the natural beauty.
Nice is cooler than Cape Town in the spring. The daily temperature in Nice averages around 13°C (56°F) in April, and Cape Town fluctuates around 16°C (61°F)in October.
In April, Nice usually receives more rain than Cape Townin October. Nice gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberNice 13°C (56°F)Cape Town 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Cape Town and Nice
| Nice | Cape Town | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 9°C (48°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (49°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (51°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (56°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 16°C (62°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (69°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (49°F) | 78 mm (3.1 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.