A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Soweto vs. Antananarivo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Soweto or Antananarivo?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Soweto and Antananarivo. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Soweto or Antananarivo?

Soweto

The name Soweto is an acronym for South Western Townships, first used in 1963 to describe the groups of townships to the south west of Johannesburg. It is a city of contrasts, featuring anything from tin shanties to luxurious mansions, and is probably best known for being the home of two Nobel Prize winners.

Antananarivo

Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar; it is also sometimes referred to as Tana. This city is the cultural and political center of Madagascar as a whole. There are multiple universities, museums, and other social venues in the city, as well as a national rugby team. This city has a very apparent French influence.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cape Town, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cape Town, The Best Wildlife Tours to Madagascar, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Madagascar.


Which place is cheaper, Antananarivo or Soweto?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Soweto is $88, while the average daily cost in Antananarivo is $98. 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 Soweto and Antananarivo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Soweto $36
    Antananarivo $31
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Soweto $72
    Antananarivo $62
Compare Hotels in Soweto and Antananarivo

Looking for a hotel in Soweto or Antananarivo? 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.

Hotels in Soweto


Hotels in Antananarivo


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: Antananarivo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Soweto $13
    Antananarivo $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antananarivo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Antananarivo:

  • Safe Transfer Airport - Hotel in Antananarivo Madagascar: $24
  • Private Airport Transfert Ivato Antananarivo: $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Soweto or Antananarivo?

Prices for flights to both Antananarivo and Soweto 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Soweto $40
    Antananarivo $53

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antananarivo

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Antananarivo.

  • Cooking And Cuisine Tasting From Tana-Malagasy Fine Foodie Madagascar Tour: $245

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Soweto $18
    Antananarivo $25

Tours and Activities in Soweto

For Soweto, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Sip & Paint Walking Tour: $38
  • Visit Gospel service with additional Bicycle Tour of Soweto: $52
  • Johannesburg: Soweto Half-Day Tour: $64
  • Johannesburg: Soweto Tour with Lunch: $75
  • Johannesburg: Soweto Night Tour: $103

Tours and Activities in Antananarivo

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Antananarivo are as follows:

  • 4 Days Adventure to wild Andasibe Mantasoa from Antananarivo: $997
  • 6 Days Adventure to Andasibe & Tamatave from Antananarivo: $1,700
  • 7 Days Sainte-Marie Island Tour by Plane from Antananarivo: $3,811
  • 9 Days Adventure from Antananarivo to Isalo Park & Tulear: $2,345
  • Andasibe Lemur Experience 4 Days/3 Nights (Comfort).: $1,847
  • Antananarivo : Custom Walking Tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $38
  • Antananarivo : Day tour to Mantasoa Lake: $384
  • Antananarivo Private Walking Tour with a Local: $25
  • 10-Day Southern National Parks & Reserves Tour: $3,700
  • 2-Days tour to Andasibe National Park: $752
  • Baobab Avenue & Kirindy Tours 4 Days/3 Nights: $1,415
  • Guided Tour and sunset in queen's palace: $69

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Soweto $9.35
    Antananarivo $10


When comparing the travel costs between Soweto and Antananarivo, we can see that Antananarivo 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 Soweto Expensive? and Is Antananarivo Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Soweto or Antananarivo?

Soweto has a larger population, and is about 22% larger than the population of Antananarivo. When comparing the sizes of Soweto and Antananarivo, 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.