Which place is cheaper, Pretoria or Soweto?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Soweto or Pretoria?
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 Pretoria. 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 Pretoria?
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.
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.
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 2-Week Tours from Johannesburg, and The Best Wildlife Tours to South Africa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySoweto $64Pretoria $51
The average daily cost (per person) in Soweto is $64, while the average daily cost in Pretoria is $51. 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 Pretoria in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSoweto $33Pretoria $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSoweto $66Pretoria $52
Compare Hotels in Soweto and Pretoria
Looking for a hotel in Soweto or Pretoria? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Soweto $12Pretoria $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pretoria
Also for Pretoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sun City & Pilanesberg Transfers: $250
- Shuttle and Transfers to Johannesburg and Pretoria: $46
- Shuttle Transfer from Gauteng to Greater Kruger: $63
- Private Oneway Transfer from Johannesburg to Johannesburg Airport: $34
- Pretoria to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) - Departure Private Transfer: $58
- One Way Private Transfer from Airports and Hotels in Sandton: $92
- JHB Shuttle Transfers to Sun City: $172
Is it cheaper to fly into Soweto or Pretoria?
Prices for flights to both Pretoria 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
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Food Meals for one daySoweto $21Pretoria $15
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: $109
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Soweto $17Pretoria $15
Tours and Activities in Soweto
For Soweto, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Johannesburg: Soweto Half-Day Tour: $62
- Johannesburg: Soweto Night Tour: $100
- Johannesburg: Soweto Tour with Lunch: $73
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): $89
- Pilanesberg National Park Full Day Guided Tour( Safari Experience) : $189
- Pretoria City Tour and Cullinan Mine Tour from Johannesburg : $195
- Soweto and Apartheid Museum Day Tour private from Johannesburg Private: $98
- 2 days Lesedi Cultural & Soweto & apartheid & Johannesburg tour: $230
- 5 Hour Lesedi Cultural Village Tour: $97
- Aerial Cableway Private Tour from Johannesburg : $86
- Ann Van Dyk Cheetah Centre Half-Day Tour from Johannesburg: $206
- Apartheid History of South Africa (Full day Experience with lunch: $106
- Apartheid Museum Tour in Johannesburg from Pretoria, every FRIDAY afternoon: $53
- Apartheid Museum Tour in Johannesburg, every FRIDAY afternoon: $53
- Apartheid Museum and Soweto Tour in Johannesburg : $68
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySoweto $8.53Pretoria $32
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Soweto and Pretoria, we can see that Soweto is more expensive. And not only is Pretoria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pretoria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pretoria 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 Soweto would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Soweto than you might in Pretoria.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Soweto Expensive? and Is Pretoria Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Soweto or Pretoria?
Soweto has a larger population, and is about 5% larger than the population of Pretoria. When comparing the sizes of Soweto and Pretoria, 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.