Which place is cheaper, Drakensberg or Pretoria?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pretoria or Drakensberg?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Pretoria or Drakensberg? 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 Drakensberg?
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.
Drakensberg
Drakensberg, whose name derives from the Dutch and means "mountains of the dragons," is a mountainous region which encompasses a vast amount of South Africa's interior, extending into neighboring countries as well. It hugs the eastern border of Lesotho, attracting visitors for hiking, backpacking, and admiring the natural wonders of the landscape.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, The Best Sightseeing Tours in South Africa, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in South Africa, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in South Africa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPretoria $54Drakensberg $99
The average daily cost (per person) in Pretoria is $54, while the average daily cost in Drakensberg is $99. 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 Drakensberg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPretoria $27Drakensberg $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPretoria $54Drakensberg $82
Compare Hotels in Pretoria and Drakensberg
Looking for a hotel in Pretoria or Drakensberg? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pretoria $13Drakensberg $75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pretoria
Also for Pretoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sun City & Pilanesberg Transfers: $250
- Shuttle and Transfers to Johannesburg and Pretoria: $47
- Private Oneway Transfer from Johannesburg to Johannesburg Airport: $33
- Pretoria to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) - Departure Private Transfer: $57
Is it cheaper to fly into Pretoria or Drakensberg?
Prices for flights to both Drakensberg 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 $16Drakensberg $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pretoria
For Pretoria, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lesedi Cultural Experience + Lunch or Dinner: $112
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pretoria $16Drakensberg $9.43
Tours and Activities in Pretoria
For Pretoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Cullinan diamond Mine Day Tour (surface tour): $91
- Horse Riding and Quad Biking Experience: $170
- Pretoria City Tour and Cullinan Mine Tour from Johannesburg : $200
- Pretoria Tour - Voortrekker Monument, Union Buildings, Pretoria : $76
- Soweto and Apartheid Museum Day Tour private from Johannesburg Private: $100
- 2 Days Historical Cultural and Sightseeing Tour in Johannesburg : $258
- 5 Hour Lesedi Cultural Village Tour: $110
- Apartheid Museum Tour in Johannesburg from Pretoria, every FRIDAY afternoon: $54
- Bicycle or Tuk Tuk Soweto Guided Experience : $99
- Canopy Zip lining Tour Private : $106
- Constitutional Hill Highlight Tour: $100
- Constitutional Hill and Apartheid Museum Half-Day Tour from ZAR R1 100 Private : $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPretoria $34Drakensberg $4.09
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pretoria and Drakensberg, we can see that Drakensberg is more expensive. And not only is Pretoria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Drakensberg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Drakensberg 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 Drakensberg Expensive?.
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.