Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Rome?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Rome or Cape Town?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Rome and Cape Town can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Rome or Cape Town?
Rome
Rome is the capital and largest city in Italy. It is also a common entry point for most visitors flying into the country. Rome has been a center of power, culture, and religion for the last millenium, making it one of the most famous and popular destinations in not only Europe, but the world. The influence of the Roman Empire can be seen across continents.
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 Luxury Tours to Italy, The Best Budget Tours to Italy, 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 dayRome €170Cape Town €91
The average daily cost (per person) in Rome is €170, 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 Rome and Cape Town in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRome €89Cape Town €36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRome €178Cape Town €72
Compare Hotels in Rome and Cape Town
Looking for a hotel in Rome 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: Rome Hotel Prices and Cape Town Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rome €21Cape Town €16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:
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Metro Ride (for Two)€2.00
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Train to the Airport€15
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Taxi to Airport€45
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Bicycle Rental (Full Day)€10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
- private transfer from Rome to the Port of Civitavecchia Cruis terminal: $109
- private transfer from Rome to Fiumicino airport: $55
- Welcome Private Transfer from Fiumicino Airport to Hotel in Rome: $109
- Verona Airport (VRN) : One-Way Private Transfer to Ravenna: $710
- Van transfer service from / to airports in Rome: $131
- VIP Experience Private Transfer from Fiumicino Airport to Rome: $76
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Rome APT-HTL (CIA): $61
- Trieste Port: One-Way Private Transfer to/from Rome Hotels: $2,551
- Transfers from all Airports to ancient city of Rome: $63
- Transfers from Fiumicino airport: $76
- Transfers From Fiumicino to Terracina: $154
- Transfers Ciampino airport To Rome: $46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transport Shuttle Transfer to Camps Bay Cape Town: $18
- Airport transfers: $22
- 1 Day Durbanville Valley Wine Tasting Tour with Private Transfers: $178
- 1 Day Explore Cape Town Like a Local with Private Guided Transfer: $149
- 1 Day Helderberg Valley Winelands Tour with Private Transfers: $232
- 1 Day Hemel en Aarde Whale Coast Wine Tour with Private Transfers: $205
- 1 Day Tastes of Stellenbosch Wine Tour with Private Transfers: $220
- 1 Day West Coast Wonders Tour with Private Transfers: $177
- 1 Day Wine Lover Wander Connoisseur Tour with Private Transfers: $180
- 1-3 Passenger Private Arrival & Departure Cape Town - Airport Transfers: $54
- 1.Cape Town Airport Transfer (&Private tour trips during yo Stay): $17
- AIRPORT Transfer to and from Cape Town City: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Rome or Cape Town?
Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Rome 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 dayRome €47Cape Town €39
Typical Food Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)€14
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4 Ice Cream Sandwiches€2.99
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Cafe e doce€4.00
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Pizza (Fast Food)€2.65
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)€32
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Cheese and bread€10
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Espresso€2.00
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Dinner€58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
- Award-Winning Roman Food Tours: $16
- Eat Pasta in Rome, Testaccio - Self-Guided Walking Food Tour: $17
- Vatican and Trionfale Farmers Market Food tour and Wine tasting : $32
- Vatican Street Food Tour around the Biggest Fresh Market in Rome: $32
- Roman Master Chef Cooking Class with Wine: $37
- Roman Dinner & History Tour: An Epic Journey Through Time: $37
- Tasty Trionfale Farmers Market Food Tour and Local Wines Tasting: $38
- Campo dei Fiori & Jewish Ghetto area Street Food Tour: $42
- Rome Food Tour : Street Food Testings with Local Guide: $43
- Painting and Pizza Party in Rome: $43
- Pub Crawl and Ultimate Party with Open Bar and Pizza: $43
- Tiber River Urban Rafting Tour with Roman Pizza: $43
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.Rome €36Cape Town €21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome
Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)€69
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Coliseum Tickets (for Two)€33
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Roma Pass€30
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Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)€20
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Segway Tour€75
Tours and Activities in Rome
Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour: $89
- Colosseum and Ancient Rome Tour with Circus Maximus and Forums: $16
- Cruise into Rome?! Full-Day Rome Discovery from Civitavecchia : $97
- Doria Pamphilj Gallery Entry Ticket : $38
- Electric - Bike 3 hour Tour : $56
- Electric Bike Tour of City Centre with Gelato Highlights of Rome: $75
- Haunted Rome Walking Tour : $233
- Hidden Gems & Rome Catacomb Semi Private Tour 8 People Max. : $98
- Palatine Hill and Colosseum Tour in Rome: $86
- Premium Rome Walking Tour: from Colosseum to the Orange Gardens: $295
- Private Tour - Capuchin Crypt and Hidden Gems of Rome: $285
- Private Tour in Ferrari with Driver in Rome: $273
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 dayRome €18Cape Town €19
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
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Bottle of Wine€6.50
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Pint of Beer€6.34
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Beer€10
Sample the Local Flavors in Rome
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
- Cabaret & Burlesque Show: $32
- Vatican Street Food and Wine Tour with Farmers Market: $38
- The Best Wine Tasting in Trastevere with food pairing and Gelato: $49
- Bar Crawl with Local Guide & Drinks: $53
- Roman Night Life and Burlesque Show Tour: $54
- Wine Tour in Historic Center of Rome: $55
- Agricultural Brewery Tour in the Roman Countryside: $55
- Small-Group Exclusive Winery and Wine Tasting Tour in Frascati: $60
- Pasta Making Class & Wine Tasting in a Trasteve Villa: $68
- E-Bike Night Tour with Food and Wine Tasting: $69
- Rome by Night-Ebike tour with Food and Wine Tasting: $70
- Taste of Tuscany: Food & Wine tour with Florentine Steak: $74
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rome and Cape Town, we can see that Rome is more expensive. And not only is Cape Town much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rome is in Europe and Cape Town is in Africa, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Cape Town would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cape Town 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 Rome would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rome than you might in Cape Town.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rome Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rome or Cape Town?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 34% larger than the population of Rome. When comparing the sizes of Rome 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 Rome 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 Rome has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Rome or Cape Town in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Rome as well as Cape Town. Many travelers come to Rome for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Rome is generally a little warmer than Cape Townin January. Daily temperatures in Rome average around 25°C (77°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cape Town. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Rome this time of the year. In the summer, Rome often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Cape Townin January. Rome gets 338 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 338 hours of full sun.
Rome usually gets more rain in July than Cape Townin January. Rome gets 19 mm (0.7 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 JanuaryRome 25°C (77°F)Cape Town 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Rome or Cape Town in the Autumn?
Both Cape Town and Rome are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Rome in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Rome is around the same temperature as Cape Town in the autumn. The daily temperature in Rome averages around 17°C (63°F) in October, and Cape Town fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Cape Town. Rome usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during autumn. Rome gets 198 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 233 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Rome usually receives more rain than Cape Townin April. Rome gets 94 mm (3.7 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 AprilRome 17°C (63°F)Cape Town 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Rome or Cape Town in the Winter?
Both Cape Town and Rome during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Rome for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Rome is much colder than Cape Town. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rome in January average around 8°C (47°F), and Cape Town averages at about 13°C (55°F)in July.
In the winter, Rome often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin July. Rome gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 193 hours of full sun.
Rome usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Cape Townin July. Rome gets 81 mm (3.2 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 JulyRome 8°C (47°F)Cape Town 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Rome or Cape Town in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rome and Cape Town. The spring months attract visitors to Rome because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Rome is generally cooler than Cape Townin October. Daily temperatures in Rome average around 14°C (57°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cape Town this time of the year. In Rome, it's very sunny this time of the year. Rome usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during spring. Rome gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 278 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Rome usually receives more rain than Cape Townin October. Rome gets 50 mm (2 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 OctoberRome 14°C (57°F)Cape Town 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Cape Town and Rome
| Rome | Cape Town | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 8°C (47°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (49°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 42 mm (1.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (49°F) | 94 mm (3.7 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.