Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Seoul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Seoul and Cape Town can help you decide which place is right for you.
With a population of more than 11 million, Seoul is easily the largest city in South Korea. It is also the financial, political, and cultural capital of the country and has much to offer open minded travelers. It is often overlooked by travelers who instead head to Tokyo or Shanghai, but Seoul has a wide range of cultural experiences, food options, and historical sights. Seoul is a city of contrasts with ancient traditions, flashy technology, religious temples and a modern youth culture. It is also more affordable than many of the other Asian metropolis' to which it is often compared. If you're looking for an interesting and different experience that is a little off the tourist trail, Seoul can definitely offer that opportunity.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea, The Best Camping Tours in South Africa, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in South Africa.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Seoul is $107, while the average daily cost in Cape Town is $96. 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 Seoul and Cape Town in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Seoul 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Seoul 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.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
For Cape Town, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
For Cape Town, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Also in Cape Town, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When comparing the travel costs between Seoul and Cape Town, we can see that Seoul 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 Seoul is in Asia 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 Seoul Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cape Town. When comparing the sizes of Seoul 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.
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 Seoul has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Both Cape Town and Seoul during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Seoul for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Seoul is a little warmer than Cape Town in the summer. The daily temperature in Seoul averages around 26°C (78°F) in July, and Cape Town fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
In Cape Town, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Seoul often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin January. Seoul gets 121 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 338 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Seoul. Seoul usually gets more rain in July than Cape Townin January. Seoul gets 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Seoul and Cape Town. The autumn months attract visitors to Seoul because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
In the autumn, Seoul is cooler than Cape Town. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Seoul in October average around 15°C (59°F), and Cape Town averages at about 18°C (64°F)in April.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cape Town this time of the year. In Seoul, it's very sunny this time of the year. Seoul usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during autumn. Seoul gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 233 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Seoul usually receives more rain than Cape Townin April. Seoul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Seoul as well as Cape Town. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Seoul this time of year.
It's quite cold in Seoul in the winter. In January, Seoul is generally much colder than Cape Townin July. Daily temperatures in Seoul average around -3°C (27°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
In the winter, Seoul often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin July. Seoul gets 163 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 193 hours of full sun.
Seoul usually gets less rain in January than Cape Townin July. Seoul gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Cape Town and Seoul are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Seoul for the activities around the city.
Seoul is cooler than Cape Town in the spring. The daily temperature in Seoul averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Cape Town fluctuates around 16°C (61°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Cape Town. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Seoul. Seoul usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during spring. Seoul gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 278 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Seoul usually receives more rain than Cape Townin October. Seoul gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Seoul | Cape Town | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
Feb | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
May | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
Jul | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
Aug | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
Dec | 0°C (33°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |