Which place is cheaper, Durban or Pretoria?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pretoria or Durban?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Pretoria or Durban? 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 Durban?
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.
Durban
The third largest city in South Africa, Durban sits on the east coast of the country in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The city also has the country's most active port. The city's comfortable weather and vast beaches make it one of the country's major tourist centers. There's a population of about 3.5 million in the entire metropolitan area that spreads over 2,295 square kilometers.
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 $54Durban $57
The average daily cost (per person) in Pretoria is $54, while the average daily cost in Durban is $57. 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 Durban in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPretoria $27Durban $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPretoria $54Durban $54
Compare Hotels in Pretoria and Durban
Looking for a hotel in Pretoria or Durban? 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: Durban Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pretoria $13Durban $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pretoria
Also for Pretoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Pretoria to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) - Departure Private Transfer: $58
- Private Oneway Transfer from Johannesburg to Johannesburg Airport: $34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durban
Also for Durban, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfers from King Shaka Airport: $116
- Private Sedan Transfers - Durban King Shaka: $38
- From Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Overnight Safari w/ Transfer: $539
- Durban to Durban King Airport (DUR) - Departure Private Transfer: $28
- Durban Cruise Ship Transfers : $42
- Durban Airport Transfer to Westville: $212
- Durban Airport Transfer to Morningside: $212
- Durban Airport Transfer to City of Durban: $182
- Durban Airport (DUR) to Durban - Arrival Private Transfer: $28
- Arrival Private Transfer from Durban Airport DUR to Durban City by Business Car: $78
- 1-3 Passenger Private Durban - Airport Transfer: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Pretoria or Durban?
Prices for flights to both Durban 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 $16Durban $17
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
- Pan African Cooking Class & Organic food experience: $216
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Durban
For Durban, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Guided Taste of Africa Food Tour in Durban: $44
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pretoria $16Durban $18
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): $93
- Horse Riding and Quad Biking Experience: $139
- Pilanesberg National Park Full Day Guided Tour( Safari Experience) : $193
- Pretoria City Tour and Cullinan Mine Tour from Johannesburg : $204
- Pretoria Tour - Voortrekker Monument, Union Buildings, Pretoria : $78
- 2 Days Historical Cultural and Sightseeing Tour in Johannesburg : $263
- 2 days Lesedi Cultural & Soweto & apartheid & Johannesburg tour: $240
- 5 Hour Lesedi Cultural Village Tour: $101
- Aerial Cableway Private Tour from Johannesburg : $88
- Ann Van Dyk Cheetah Centre Half-Day Tour from Johannesburg: $211
- Apartheid History of South Africa (Full day Experience with lunch: $111
- Apartheid Museum Guided Tour : $54
Tours and Activities in Durban
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Durban.
- ½ Day iSimangaliso Boat Safari Tour From Durban: $195
- 1/2 Day Durban City & Phezulu Tour From Durban: $169
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour: $132
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour: $167
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour & Phezulu Tour: $166
- 1/2 Day Phezulu Safari Tour from Durban: $171
- 1/2 Day Private Tour Tala Game Reserve & Natal Lion Park: $199
- 1/2 Day Tala Game Reserve & Lion Park Tour From Durban: $178
- 1/2 Day Tala Game Reserve & Natal Lion Park Tour from Durban: $172
- 1/2 Day Tour to Drakensberg Mountains & Hiking from Durban: $172
- 1/2 Tala Game Reserve & Phezulu Safari Park Tour: $172
- 12 Days Best Of South Africa Tour - Johannesburg to CapeTown: $3,562
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPretoria $34Durban $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Durban
Also in Durban, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl in Durban : $39
When comparing the travel costs between Pretoria and Durban, we can see that Durban is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Africa, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pretoria Expensive? and Is Durban Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pretoria or Durban?
Durban has a larger population, and is about 93% larger than the population of Pretoria. When comparing the sizes of Pretoria and Durban, 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.