Which place is cheaper, Rabat or Pretoria?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pretoria or Rabat?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Pretoria or Rabat? 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 Rabat?
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.
Rabat
While not high on the tourist destination list, Rabat is a quiet gem of a city with stunning colonial architecture and palm-lined streets. This political capital is a laid-back, pleasant alternative to the more cosmopolitan Casablanca.
Located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg, Rabat plus the city of Temera are home to a combined metropolitan population of 2.6 million.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, The Best Sightseeing Tours in South Africa, The Best 2-Week Tours in Morocco, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPretoria $54Rabat $45
The average daily cost (per person) in Pretoria is $54, while the average daily cost in Rabat is $45. 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 Rabat in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPretoria $27Rabat $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPretoria $54Rabat $56
Compare Hotels in Pretoria and Rabat
Looking for a hotel in Pretoria or Rabat? 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: Rabat Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pretoria $13Rabat $2.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pretoria
Also for Pretoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sun City & Pilanesberg Transfers: $250
- One Way Private Transfer from Airports and Hotels in Sandton: $94
- Pretoria to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) - Departure Private Transfer: $57
- Shuttle and Transfers to Johannesburg and Pretoria: $47
- Private Oneway Transfer from Johannesburg to Johannesburg Airport: $33
- Private Airport Transfers to Sandton & Joburg CBD: $29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rabat
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Rabat:
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Taxi to Sale$3.61
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rabat
Also for Rabat, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Rabat to Meknes: $105
- Transfer Rabat to Kenitra: $52
- Transfer Rabat to Fes: $118
- Transfer Rabat to El Jadida: $118
- Transfer Private From Rabat to Tetouan: $235
- Private Transfer from Rabat To Fez: $106
- Private Transfer From Fez To Rabat: $212
- Private Airport Transfer to or from Casablanca: $141
- Guided City Tour with Hotel Transfers: $97
- 1-Way Private Transfer to or from Rabat Airport: $32
- Rabat to Fes Transfer(Private): $106
- Rabat to Casablanca Private Transfer: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Pretoria or Rabat?
Prices for flights to both Rabat 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 $16Rabat $13
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rabat
For Rabat, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Join Best Moroccan Cooking Class with Chef Khadija ( Over 35 years Experience ): $50
- Walking Food Tour: $75
- Cooking Class in a Family Home: $76
- Rabat Food Tour in the Old Town: $77
- Rabat Family Cooking Class: $80
- Night Tour River Sunset Boat Ride & Moroccan Dinner: $97
- Rabat Night Tour with River Sunset Boat Ride & Moroccan Dinner : $99
- Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class in Rabat with a Local Family: $110
- Private Market Tour and Authentic Moroccan Cooking Lesson with a Rabat Local: $120
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pretoria $16Rabat $2.94
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
- Pretoria City Tour and Cullinan Mine Tour from Johannesburg : $200
- Pretoria Tour - Voortrekker Monument, Union Buildings, Pretoria : $77
- Soweto and Apartheid Museum Day Tour private from Johannesburg Private: $100
- 2 days Lesedi Cultural & Soweto & apartheid & Johannesburg tour: $236
- 5 Hour Lesedi Cultural Village Tour: $111
- Aerial Cableway Private Tour from Johannesburg : $88
- Apartheid Museum Guided Tour : $59
- Apartheid Museum Tour in Johannesburg, every FRIDAY afternoon: $55
- Artistic Half Day Tour of Johannesburg : $92
- Bicycle or Tuk Tuk Soweto Guided Experience : $99
- Boat Cruise and Aerial Cable in Johannesburg: $171
Tours and Activities in Rabat
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Rabat.
- private Tour between the monuments of Rabat City : $45
- 9-Day Moroccan Adventure: Imperial Cities to Atlas Mountains: $1,972
- Best of Rabat Tour (half-day): $78
- Car tour in Rabat: $29
- Exclusive Luxe Private Boat Guided Tour in Rabat: $72
- Fes Full Day Private Tour from Rabat: $250
- From Casablanca: 15-Day Guided Tour of Morocco: $2,080
- From Casablanca:9Days Unforgettable Desert Tour To Marrakesh: $1,973
- From Fez : Rabat : Day Trip (Shared Group Tour): $106
- From 4 Days 3 Nights Sahara Desert Tour: $738
- From Tangier Guided Day Tour by High-Speed Train: $107
- Gems of Rabat Walking Tour: $115
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPretoria $34Rabat -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pretoria and Rabat, we can see that Pretoria is more expensive. And not only is Rabat much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rabat would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rabat 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 Pretoria would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pretoria than you might in Rabat.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pretoria Expensive? and Is Rabat Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pretoria or Rabat?
Rabat has a larger population, and is about 2% larger than the population of Pretoria. When comparing the sizes of Pretoria and Rabat, 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.