Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Port Elizabeth?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Port Elizabeth 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.
Located on the Indian Ocean coastline of South Africa, Port Elizabeth is a major sea port and tourist destination featuring a pleasant climate, opportunities for water sports, historical landmarks, wildlife areas, and clean beaches.
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 2-Week Tours in South Africa, The Best Bicycle Tours in South Africa, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in South Africa, and The Best Overlanding Trips in South Africa.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Port Elizabeth is $53, while the average daily cost in Cape Town is $163. 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 Port Elizabeth and Cape Town in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Port Elizabeth 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.
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Port Elizabeth 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.
For Cape Town, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Cape Town, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Also in Cape Town, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, we can see that Cape Town is more expensive. And not only is Port Elizabeth much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Port Elizabeth would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Port Elizabeth 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 Cape Town would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cape Town than you might in Port Elizabeth.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Port Elizabeth Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Port Elizabeth. When comparing the sizes of Port Elizabeth 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.
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Both Cape Town and Port Elizabeth during the summer are popular places to visit.
Port Elizabeth is around the same temperature as Cape Town in the summer. The daily temperature in Port Elizabeth averages around 22°C (72°F) in January, and Cape Town fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
In Cape Town, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Port Elizabeth. In the summer, Port Elizabeth often gets less sunshine than Cape Town. Port Elizabeth gets 266 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 338 hours of full sun.
Port Elizabeth usually gets more rain in January than Cape Town. Port Elizabeth gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.
In the autumn, Port Elizabeth is around the same temperature as Cape Town. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Port Elizabeth in April average around 19°C (66°F), and Cape Town averages at about 18°C (64°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cape Town this time of the year. In Port Elizabeth, it's very sunny this time of the year. Port Elizabeth usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cape Town during autumn. Port Elizabeth gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 233 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In April, Port Elizabeth usually receives more rain than Cape Town. Port Elizabeth gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Port Elizabeth as well as Cape Town.
In July, Port Elizabeth is generally a little warmer than Cape Town. Daily temperatures in Port Elizabeth average around 15°C (58°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Port Elizabeth this time of the year. In the winter, Port Elizabeth often gets more sunshine than Cape Town. Port Elizabeth gets 228 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 193 hours of full sun.
Port Elizabeth usually gets less rain in July than Cape Town. Port Elizabeth gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Cape Town and Port Elizabeth are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Port Elizabeth is around the same temperature as Cape Town in the spring. The daily temperature in Port Elizabeth averages around 17°C (63°F) in October, and Cape Town fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
It's quite sunny in Cape Town. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Port Elizabeth. Port Elizabeth usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during spring. Port Elizabeth gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 278 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Port Elizabeth usually receives more rain than Cape Town. Port Elizabeth gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Port Elizabeth | Cape Town | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 22°C (72°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
Mar | 21°C (70°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
Apr | 19°C (66°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
May | 17°C (63°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
Jul | 15°C (58°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
Aug | 15°C (59°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
Sep | 16°C (61°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
Dec | 21°C (69°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |