Which place is cheaper, Atlanta or Pretoria?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pretoria or Atlanta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Pretoria or Atlanta? 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: Pretoria or Atlanta?
Pretoria
Located in Gauteng Province, Pretoria is the administrative capital city of South Africa, making it home to many government buildings and three universities. It is actually one of three capital cities, being home to the executive branch, with Cape Town as the legislative capital and Bloemfontein as the judicial capital. Within South Africa, Pretoria is also known as the "Jacaranda City" due to the thousands of jacaranda trees lining its streets, parks, and gardens.
Atlanta
Atlanta is a city rich in history but modern in its development and industry. It has a population of just under 500,000 with more than five million people living in the metropolitan area. It is also the ninth largest metropolitan area in the United States The city is rich in culture and was at the center of the civil rights movement. It is the capital of the state of Georgia, and was home to the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. It has the world's busiest airport and arguably some of the country's worst traffic, but the residents are recognized for their friendly and welcoming nature and the city is lush with green trees and wonderful parks.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, The Best Sightseeing Tours in South Africa, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, and The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPretoria $50Atlanta $173
The average daily cost (per person) in Pretoria is $50, while the average daily cost in Atlanta is $173. 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 Pretoria and Atlanta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPretoria $25Atlanta $90
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPretoria $50Atlanta $180
Compare Hotels in Pretoria and Atlanta
Looking for a hotel in Pretoria or Atlanta? 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: Atlanta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pretoria $12Atlanta $44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pretoria
Also for Pretoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sun City Private Transfer: $250
- One Way Private Transfer from Airports and Hotels in Sandton: $89
- Shuttle Transfer from Gauteng to Greater Kruger: $61
- Gauteng, South Africa: Airport transfers, shuttle services: $27
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Atlanta
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Atlanta:
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MARTA Subway Ticket$4.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Atlanta
Also for Atlanta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in Executive Private Minivan from Atlanta Downtown to Atlanta Airport: $67
- RoundTrip Transfer in Executive Private Minivan from-to Airport-Atlanta Downtown: $133
- Private Transfer: H. J. Airport ATL to Atlanta in Business Car: $119
- Private Transfer from Atlanta (ATL) Airport to Atlanta City: $94
- Private Arrival Transfer from Atlanta Airport (ATL): $80
- Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Airport (ATL):Transfer to Atlanta: $280
- Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Airport (ATL) to Atlanta - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $194
- Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Airport (ATL) to Atlanta - Arrival Private Transfer: $97
- Hartsfield Jackson Airport (ATL) to Lithia Springs - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $66
- Hartsfield Jackson Airport (ATL) to Lithia Springs - Arrival Private Transfer: $33
- Departure Transfer: Atlanta to Atlanta Airport ATL in Luxury SUV: $133
- Departure Transfer: Atlanta to Atlanta Airport ATL by Luxury SUV: $127
Is it cheaper to fly into Pretoria or Atlanta?
Prices for flights to both Atlanta and Pretoria 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 dayPretoria $15Atlanta $43
Typical Food Prices in Atlanta
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Atlanta:
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Fast Food Lunch (for 2)$15
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Lunch$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Atlanta
For Atlanta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 2 Hour Guided Wood Fired Pizza Class in Atlanta: $55
- City Lights Atlanta Night-Time Tour with Photos & Dinner Stop: $65
- City Lights Night Tour with Photos & Dinner Stop: $65
- 2 Hour Historic Market Food Tour and Hands-On Biscuit Class: $70
- Historic Market Food Tour and Biscuit Cooking Class: $70
- Ponce City Market 2.5-Hour Weekend Food Tour: $99
- Food Tour of Inman Park and the Atlanta Beltline: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pretoria $14Atlanta $56
Tours and Activities in Pretoria
For Pretoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Hours Bicycle Tour in Soweto(Johannesburg): $91
- 4-Hours Pretoria Private History Tour : $83
- Aerial Cableway Private Tour from Johannesburg : $82
- Ann Van Dyk Cheetah Centre Half-Day Tour from Johannesburg: $199
- Apartheid Museum Tour in Johannesburg from Pretoria, every FRIDAY afternoon: $51
- Apartheid Museum Tour in Johannesburg, every FRIDAY afternoon: $51
- Artistic Half Day Tour of Johannesburg : $86
- Cheer on the Cheetah Run for Conservation Adventure: $194
- Cradle of Human Kind & Lion & Rhino Park Tour Full day Tour Private : $188
- Cradle of Humankind Half Day Tour with Lunch : $110
- Cradle of Humankind Private Tour and Safari: $108
- Cradle of Humankind half day tour: $102
Tours and Activities in Atlanta
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Atlanta.
- 2-Hour Food, History and Street Art Tour of Ponce City Market: $95
- 2.5hr Guided Segway Tour of Historic Atlanta: $69
- 2.5hr Guided Segway Tour of Midtown Atlanta: $69
- 3-Hour Atlanta Beltline Food, Street Art and History Tour : $99
- 3-Hour Private Atlanta MCU Comics Inspired Film Location Tour: $175
- 90-Minute Guided Sightseeing Tour by E-Car or MiniBus: $36
- 90-Minute Narrated Sightseeing Trolley Tour in Atlanta: $36
- African American Atlanta Culture Tour by Private Car Service : $90
- African-American Heritage&Civil Rights Atlanta Half-Day Tour: $660
- Atlanta 5 Hour City Tour by Air-Conditioned Bus: $70
- Atlanta Beltline Cocktails and Bites Experience: $129
- Atlanta Electric Car City Tour: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPretoria $31Atlanta $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Atlanta
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Atlanta:
- Drag Queen Guided Pub Crawl and Cabaret Show: $36
- ATLANTA Yes, Queen! Drag Queen Pub Crawl : $40
- Half-Day Wine Tastings in the North Georgia Mountains : $115
- North Georgia Mountains Two Vineyard Wine Tasting Tour: $137
- Bartram Trail Hike plus Wine Tasting: $159
- North Georgia Mountains Three Vineyard Wine Tasting Tour: $165
- North Georgia Mountains Private Three Vineyard Wine Tasting Tour: $180
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pretoria and Atlanta, we can see that Atlanta is more expensive. And not only is Pretoria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Pretoria is in Africa and Atlanta 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 Pretoria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pretoria 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 Atlanta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Atlanta than you might in Pretoria.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pretoria Expensive? and Is Atlanta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pretoria or Atlanta?
Pretoria has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Atlanta. When comparing the sizes of Pretoria and Atlanta, 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.