Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Sydney?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sydney or Cape Town?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sydney or Cape Town, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Sydney or Cape Town?
Sydney
Sydney, known as the harbour city, is the most famous and frequently visited city in Australia. It is at the economical and cultural heart of the country, and is one of the most beautiful and livable cities in the world. It's situated on the water with stunning views of the famous harbour throughout the city. It's most famous landmarks include the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is also very close wonderful beaches, parks, and nature.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia, 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 daySydney $278Cape Town $98
The average daily cost (per person) in Sydney is $278, while the average daily cost in Cape Town 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 Sydney and Cape Town in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSydney $104Cape Town $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSydney $208Cape Town $78
Compare Hotels in Sydney and Cape Town
Looking for a hotel in Sydney 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: Sydney Hotel Prices and Cape Town Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sydney $15Cape Town $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sydney
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Sydney:
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Taxi Ride$13
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Taxi to Airport$17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sydney
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sydney:
- Try find your better than us!AirportTransfer inSydney APT-HTL SYD: $62
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Sydney HTL-APT (SYD): $62
- Transfer Between Airport & Hotels or Cruise Terminal: $13
- Tandem Skydive with Optional Transfers: $251
- Private Transfer with Meet and Greet: $79
- Airport Shuttle Transfer to and from CBD Hotels: $36
- Sydney's Best Chauffeured Airport Arrival Transfers: $83
- Sydney to Sydney Airport (SYD) - Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Sydney Port Private Arrival Transfer: Cruise Port to City: $28
- Sydney International Airport to/from Sydney One Way Transfer: $47
- Sydney Airport to White Bay Port transfer: $27
- Sydney Airport to Sydney CBD Private Transfer: $119
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 Sydney or Cape Town?
Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Sydney 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 daySydney $45Cape Town $42
Typical Food Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Sydney:
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Tea$2.64
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Lunch Special$9.91
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Food/Drink Coogie Beach$9.91
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Meat Pies$3.30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sydney
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sydney.
- Vivid Lights Festival Pizza Cruise Tour in Vivid Sydney: $16
- VIVID Dinner Cruise with Complimentary Drink on Arrival: $36
- Admission to Vivid Dinner Cruise in Sydney : $46
- Vivid Sydney Harbor Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $46
- Sydney's Little Italy Food Tour: $50
- Sydney Street Art & Food Tour: $53
- Christmas in July Dinner Cruise on Sydney Harbour: $56
- Twilight Dinner Cruise on Coral Trekker: $59
- Twilight Dinner Cruise (1.5 hour): $59
- Twilight Dinner Cruise on Coral Trekker: $59
- Harbor Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $59
- Sydney Harbour: Tall Ship Vivid Dinner Cruise: $59
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.Sydney $32Cape Town $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Sydney
Here are a few typical costs in Sydney for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Theatre Show$30
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Sydney Tower Visit (for 2)$30
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Blue Mountain Tour/Featherdale Park (for 2)$126
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Powerhouse Museum$9.94
Tours and Activities in Sydney
Here are a few actual costs in Sydney for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Small-Group Sydney's Northern Beaches and Ku-ring-gai National Park Bus Tour: $228
- 2 Hours Sydney Harbour's True Crime Cruise Tour: $36
- 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour in Sydney Harbour National Park : $36
- 3 Hours Abba Tribute Cruise on Sydney Harbour: $65
- 3 Hr Whale Watching Discovery Cruise in Sydney: $72
- 3-Hour Private Bike Tour with a Local Sydney Guide: $227
- 3.5 Hours Explore Bondi Beach and Sydney Sightseeing Tour: $195
- 4-Hour Freediving Taster Experience at Shelly Beach, Manly: $182
- Afternoon Discovery Cruise on Coral Trekker: $46
- Allianz Stadium Guided Walking Tour: $17
- Art Gallery of NSW: State of the Art Gallery Tour: $30
- Art Gallery of NSW: Stories of Art and Place gallery tour: $30
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 daySydney $15Cape Town $21
Typical Alcohol Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Sydney:
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Wine$11
Sample the Local Flavors in Sydney
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sydney:
- Haunted Pub Tour with Local Guide: $21
- Night Out Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $30
- Urban Winery Wine Tasting Tour with Cheese Platter: $56
- Private Wine Tour and Tasting: $56
- Beach and Brew - Hike and Brewery (Men and Women): $73
- Balmain Pub Walking Tour: $76
- Luxury Hunter Valley Wildlife & Wine Tasting Tour from Sydney: $83
- Sydney Beer and Brewery Tour: $102
- Brewery, Winery, and Distillery Tasting Tour: $112
- Northern Beaches Brewery Tour and Tasting: $122
- From Hunter Valley Wine Tour with Cheese Tasting: $145
- Hunter Valley Wine Tour from Sydney with Lunch and 3 Cellar Door Tastings: $149
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 Sydney and Cape Town, we can see that Sydney is more expensive. And not only is Cape Town much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sydney is in Pacific 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 Sydney would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sydney 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 Sydney Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sydney or Cape Town?
Sydney has a larger population, and is about 28% larger than the population of Cape Town. When comparing the sizes of Sydney 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 Sydney or Cape Town?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Sydney or Cape Town in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Sydney as well as Cape Town. Many visitors come to Sydney in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In January, Sydney is generally around the same temperature as Cape Town. Daily temperatures in Sydney average around 23°C (73°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 Sydney this time of the year. In the summer, Sydney often gets less sunshine than Cape Town. Sydney gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 338 hours of full sun.
Sydney receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sydney usually gets more rain in January than Cape Town. Sydney gets 116 mm (4.6 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 JanuarySydney 23°C (73°F)Cape Town 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Sydney or Cape Town in the Autumn?
Both Cape Town and Sydney are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Sydney for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Sydney is around the same temperature as Cape Town in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sydney averages around 19°C (65°F) in April, and Cape Town fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
It's quite sunny in Cape Town. Sydney usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during autumn. Sydney gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 233 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Sydney. In April, Sydney usually receives more rain than Cape Town. Sydney gets 120 mm (4.7 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 AprilSydney 19°C (65°F)Cape Town 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Sydney or Cape Town in the Winter?
Both Cape Town and Sydney during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Sydney because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Sydney is around the same temperature as Cape Town. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sydney in July average around 12°C (53°F), and Cape Town averages at about 13°C (55°F).
It's quite sunny in Sydney. In the winter, Sydney often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Cape Town. Sydney gets 208 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 193 hours of full sun.
Sydney usually gets less rain in July than Cape Town. Sydney gets 54 mm (2.1 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 JulySydney 12°C (53°F)Cape Town 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Sydney or Cape Town in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sydney and Cape Town. The beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Sydney this time of year.
In October, Sydney is generally around the same temperature as Cape Town. Daily temperatures in Sydney average around 18°C (64°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 Sydney, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sydney usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during spring. Sydney gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 278 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Sydney usually receives more rain than Cape Town. Sydney gets 79 mm (3.1 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 OctoberSydney 18°C (64°F)Cape Town 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Cape Town and Sydney
| Sydney | Cape Town | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 21°C (70°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 19°C (65°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jul | 12°C (53°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (67°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 22°C (71°F) | 81 mm (3.2 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.