Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Riga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Riga or Cape Town?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Riga or Cape Town? 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: Riga or Cape Town?
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
Cape Town
Picture your travel bucket list. Is Cape Town on it? Yes, most people dream of visiting the "Mother City" of South Africa. As one of the most iconic places in the world, Cape Town is a world-class cosmopolitan city full of bustling nightlife, historical backdrops and a large gay community.
Cape Town is the most southern city in Africa with seasons turned upside down. In the southern hemisphere they experience the summer from December to February. During these months days can be hot and dry so be sure to gather in the shade and wear plenty of sunscreen. The winter from June to August is full of rainy days and cold nights.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in South Africa, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in South Africa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRiga €104Cape Town €91
The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is €104, while the average daily cost in Cape Town is €91. 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 Riga and Cape Town in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRiga €53Cape Town €36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRiga €106Cape Town €72
Compare Hotels in Riga and Cape Town
Looking for a hotel in Riga or Cape Town? 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: Riga Hotel Prices and Cape Town Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Riga €15Cape Town €16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Transfer from Riga International Airport to Downtown: $269
- Riga Private Mercedes Benz Airport Transfer: $139
- Riga Private Mercedes Benz Airport Transfer: $108
- Riga Gun Experience: Roundtrip Transfer and 4 Firearms: $132
- Riga City to Riga Airport - Private Transfer: $53
- Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $39
- Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $39
- Riga Airport to Riga City - Private Transfer: $53
- Riga Airport to Hotel Transfer: $27
- Riga Airport to City Center Private Transfers: $59
- Riga Airport Transfer: $33
- Riga - Tallin: Transfer and Tour through beautiful landmarks: $490
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers: $11
- Private Airport Transfers in Cape Town- One way/Round Trips: $16
- 1.Cape Town Airport Transfer (&Private tour trips during yo Stay): $17
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Cape Town City Center (CBD) to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Claremont to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Exclusive Cape Town Airport and Cruise Terminal Transfers: $18
- Airport Transport Shuttle Transfer to Camps Bay Cape Town: $18
- Airport Transport Shuttle Transfer to Muizenberg Cape Town : $18
- Airport Transfer (Cape Town ) Bus: $18
- Airport Transport Shuttle Transfer from Airport to Constantia: $18
- Transport Shuttle Transfer from Constantia to Cape Town Airport: $18
- 24 hour Private Airport Shuttle and Transfer CBD: $19
Is it cheaper to fly into Riga or Cape Town?
Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Riga 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 dayRiga €33Cape Town €39
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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Fast Food Lunch€5.77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $42
- Unique Food Tour: $52
- Medieval Guided Tour & Three-Course Dinner Experience: $97
- Riga Medieval Dinner: $114
- Private Cooking Master Class In The Latvian Family : $131
- Taste Market Tour & Cooking Masterclass: $139
- Cooking Experience with Chef: Learn & Dine: $140
- Latvian Food: Cooking Masterclass with a Chef: $153
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cape Town
For Cape Town, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dinner At Mandela's - Cultural Township Dinner Experience: $28
- Cape Malay Cooking Class in Bo-Kaap: $41
- 3-Hour Malay Cooking Class & Lunch in Bo-Kaap: $43
- Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience: $55
- Sunset Champagne Cruise and 3-Course Dinner: $56
- Bo-Kapp Walking Tour and Malay Cooking Class: $59
- African Dinner, Drumming Experience with Transfer: $61
- African Dinner Experience from Cape Town: $61
- Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience: $62
- Cruise and Dine Dinner / Sunset Champagne Cruise and 3-Course Dinner: $71
- Cape Town Food tour (Includes all food) 4hrs: $76
- Private Cooking Class and Meal in Local Wynberg Cape Town Home: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Riga €21Cape Town €21
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- The best of Bauska walking tour: $75
- 1 Day Riga Sightseeing Red Bus Grand Tour: $27
- 2 Day Gastronomy Tour In Latgale : $241
- 2.5-Hour Riga Cruiser Bike Tour: $41
- 5 Hour Shared Tour to Hill of Crosses from Riga: $82
- ATV Quad Off Road or City Tour in Riga: $142
- Art Nouveau Walking Tour in Riga: $65
- Baltic Treasures Tour: Hill of Crosses, Rundale & Bauska: $153
- Beer Bike Experience : $36
- Best of Riga Walking Tour: $182
- Best of Riga Walking Tour - Highlights and Hidden Gems: $66
- City:canal:tour: $22
Tours and Activities in Cape Town
For Cape Town, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Muizenberg to Kalk Bay: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $2.99
- District Six Museum Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket: $3.24
- Skip the Line: District Six Museum Admission Ticket: $3.60
- Kirstenbosch: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $3.99
- Cape Town 30-minute V&A Harbour Cruise: $4.15
- Hop-On Hop-Off Cape Town Canal Cruise: $4.15
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Ticket (One way Down): $4.35
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Ticket (One way Up): $4.35
- Meandering through Mouille Point: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $4.99
- V&A Waterfront: Seal & Harbour Cruise: $5.00
- Sea Point Promenade: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.13
- Muizenberg to Kalk Bay: Amble along the amazing False Bay Coast on an audio tour: $5.20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRiga €20Cape Town €19
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $25
- Pub Crawl in Riga: $33
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $37
- Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $38
- Riga Happy Hour Pub Crawl: $54
- Riga Beer Killer Bar Crawl: $55
- Latvian Wine Tasting & Monk Show: $75
- Old Town Sightseeing & Latvian Wine Tasting with Show: $97
- Riga Wine Tasting Session: $103
- Riga Pub Crawl & Party Bus Tour: $526
- Yacht Tour with Medieval Banquet and Wine Tasting: $3,341
Sample the Local Flavors in Cape Town
Also in Cape Town, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Distillery Tour, rum and gin tasting: $7.13
- Experience South African Craft Rum tasting and distillery tour in Cape Town: $9.60
- African drum show & wine tasting at Silvermist: $24
- Drumstruck at Silvermist. Live African Drum Show & Wine tasting: $25
- Sip 15 Wines on a 3-Region Wine Tour with Cheese: $38
- Wine Tour: Paarl, Franschhoek & Stellenbosch incl 3 wineries: $38
- Three Region Wine Tour: $44
- Cape Winelands and Wine Tasting Full Day Tour: $47
- half day wine tour & Safaris[Morning /Afternoon]: $49
- Stellenbosch: Half-Day Wine Tour: $51
- Fullday Wine Tour: $51
- Stellenbosch Wine Tour half day from Cape Town: $54
When comparing the travel costs between Riga and Cape Town, we can see that Riga 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. Even though Riga is in Europe and Cape Town is in Africa, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Riga Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Riga or Cape Town?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Riga. When comparing the sizes of Riga and Cape Town, 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.
When is the best time to visit Riga or Cape Town?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Cape Town is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Riga has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Riga or Cape Town in the Summer?
Both Cape Town and Riga during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Riga because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Riga is cooler than Cape Town in the summer. The daily temperature in Riga averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Cape Town fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
Riga usually gets more rain in July than Cape Townin January. Riga gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryRiga 17°C (63°F)Cape Town 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Riga or Cape Town in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Riga and Cape Town. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Riga this time of year.
In the autumn, Riga is much colder than Cape Town. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Riga in October average around 7°C (45°F), and Cape Town averages at about 18°C (64°F)in April.
In October, Riga usually receives more rain than Cape Townin April. Riga gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilRiga 7°C (45°F)Cape Town 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Riga or Cape Town in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Riga as well as Cape Town. Many travelers come to Riga for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Riga. In January, Riga is generally much colder than Cape Townin July. Daily temperatures in Riga average around -5°C (23°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
Riga usually gets less rain in January than Cape Townin July. Riga gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyRiga -5°C (23°F)Cape Town 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Riga or Cape Town in the Spring?
Both Cape Town and Riga are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Riga in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Riga is much colder than Cape Town in the spring. The daily temperature in Riga averages around 5°C (42°F) in April, and Cape Town fluctuates around 16°C (61°F)in October.
In April, Riga usually receives more rain than Cape Townin October. Riga gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberRiga 5°C (42°F)Cape Town 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Cape Town and Riga
| Riga | Cape Town | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (24°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | -0°C (31°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (42°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (45°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (28°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
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.