Which place is cheaper, Port Elizabeth or Pretoria?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pretoria or Port Elizabeth?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Pretoria or Port Elizabeth? 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 Port Elizabeth?
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.
Port Elizabeth
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.
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 $49Port Elizabeth $44
The average daily cost (per person) in Pretoria is $49, while the average daily cost in Port Elizabeth is $44. 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 Port Elizabeth in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPretoria $25Port Elizabeth $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPretoria $50Port Elizabeth $46
Compare Hotels in Pretoria and Port Elizabeth
Looking for a hotel in Pretoria or Port Elizabeth? 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: Port Elizabeth Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pretoria $12Port Elizabeth $9.56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pretoria
Also for Pretoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Gauteng, South Africa: Airport transfers, shuttle services: $26
- One Way Private Transfer from Airports and Hotels in Sandton: $86
- Sun City Private Transfer: $250
Is it cheaper to fly into Pretoria or Port Elizabeth?
Prices for flights to both Port Elizabeth 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 $15Port Elizabeth $14
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pretoria $14Port Elizabeth $9.37
Tours and Activities in Pretoria
For Pretoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Harties Cableway Experience Ticket: $16
- Private 1 hour Cruise on Hartebeespoort Dam: $29
- Soweto walking tour with a taxi ride: $32
- History Bicycle Tour of Soweto: $38
- Apartheid Museum Tour in Johannesburg, every FRIDAY afternoon: $50
- Johannesburg guided city tour: $51
- Private local authentic soweto Moto taxi experience : $52
- Pretoria Tour - Voortrekker Monument, Union Buildings, Pretoria : $53
- Soweto and Johannesburg Tours: $53
- Johannesburg Walking Tours: $54
- Johannesburg and Soweto guided tour: $54
- Soweto Township Tour from Johannesburg - Friday Special: $56
Tours and Activities in Port Elizabeth
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Port Elizabeth are as follows:
- 7 Day Garden Route Tour- Durban to Cape Town via Addo N Park: $1,543
- Addo Elephant Park Tours .: $175
- From 5-Day Garden Route Tour to Cape Town: $543
- Port Elizabeth City Walking Tour: $44
- Port Elizabeth tuk-tuk tour, experience the natural beauty.: $70
- Cape Recife Safari and City Sightseeing Tour: $140
- Xhosa Township/Cultural Experience: $127
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPretoria $31Port Elizabeth $2.58
When comparing the travel costs between Pretoria and Port Elizabeth, we can see that Pretoria 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 Port Elizabeth Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pretoria or Port Elizabeth?
Pretoria has a larger population, and is about 67% larger than the population of Port Elizabeth. When comparing the sizes of Pretoria and Port Elizabeth, 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.