Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Tallinn?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tallinn or Cape Town?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Tallinn 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: Tallinn or Cape Town?
Tallinn
Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland. It has a population of more than 430,000 people and is a charming, yet cosmopolitan place to visit. The Old Town is at the center of the city's tourism, and the beauty and architecture is very impressive. The city's close proximity to Helsinki makes it a popular day trip from Finland, but cheap plane flights have also encouraged visitors from around Europe to spend several days in this city. In particular, summer months can become quite crowded.
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 2-Week Tours from Tallinn, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Estonia, 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 dayTallinn €95Cape Town €91
The average daily cost (per person) in Tallinn is €95, 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 Tallinn and Cape Town in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTallinn €47Cape Town €36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTallinn €94Cape Town €72
Compare Hotels in Tallinn and Cape Town
Looking for a hotel in Tallinn 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: Tallinn Hotel Prices and Cape Town Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tallinn €12Cape Town €16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tallinn
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Tallinn:
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Tram Around Town for Two€1.66
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tallinn
Also for Tallinn, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport Transfer: $43
- Highlights Shore Excursion with Return Transfer: $48
- Beginner Archery Class with Transfer: $81
- Airport Transfer Service: $48
- Tallinn hotels to Tallinn Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $16
- Tallinn Return Airport Transfers: $68
- Tallinn Limo Airport Transfer: $75
- Tallinn Lennart Meri Airport (TLL): Transfer to Tallinn Port: $102
- Tallinn Highlights Shore Excursion With Port Return Transfer: $65
- Tallinn Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Tallinn hotels: $102
- Tallinn Cruise Port to Tallinn hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $33
- Tallinn Arrival Private Airport Transfer in Minivan: $118
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Whale Watching In Hermanus with Private Transfer: $250
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cape Town HTL-APT(CPT): $44
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cape Town APT-HTL(CPT): $44
- Transport Shuttle Transfer from Constantia to Cape Town Airport: $18
- Transfer To Safari- Aquila From Cape Town Excluding Entry Fees Full Day: $159
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Simonstown to Cape Town Airport: $26
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Claremont to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Shuttle Transport Transfer from Cape Town City Center (CBD) to Cape Town Airport: $17
- Shopping Mall Transfers: $22
- Shark Cage Diving: Full Day Tour Transfer: $97
- Shared Transfers to and from Safari Game Reserve (excluding entrance fees): $85
- Shared Transfer to Cape Agulhas - Where The Two Oceans Meet From Cape Town F/Day: $183
Is it cheaper to fly into Tallinn or Cape Town?
Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Tallinn 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 dayTallinn €36Cape Town €39
Typical Food Prices in Tallinn
For Tallinn, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two€7.68
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Dessert€1.15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tallinn
For Tallinn, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Tallinn TV Tower evening dinner (2-course meal): $56
- Tallinn TV Tower evening dinner (3-course meal): $64
- Tallinn Russian Dinner: $84
- Tallinn Food Tour: $116
- Tallinn 3-Hour Estonian Food Tour: $127
- Tallinn Food Tour with Round-trip Transfer Port-City: $137
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.Tallinn €5.63Cape Town €21
Tours and Activities in Tallinn
For Tallinn, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "Legends and Landmarks: A Tallinn Walking Adventure": $22
- 120 Degrees daily guided walking tour: $27
- 2 Hour Tales of Tallinn Private Car Tour: $66
- 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour of Tallinn: $49
- 3-Hour Private Tour of Tallinn: $294
- 3-Hour Private Tour of Tallinn: $188
- 5 Hour Deluxe Shore Excursion in Tallinn from Cruise Port: $48
- 5 Hour Majestic Tallinn Tour from Cruise Port: $45
- Accessible tour in Tallinn: $743
- Aegna Island: Self-Guided Discovery Tour: $8.60
- Alcohol Tasting Tour In Tallinn: $65
- All-in-One Tallinn - See stunning Estonian Capital from a Cruise Ship or Hotel: $78
Tours and Activities in Cape Town
For Cape Town, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3 Wineries Private Tour in Stellenbosch, Paarl Tasting Included: $137
- Cape Agulhas Full Day Private Tour: $192
- Cape Point Full Day Tour: $192
- Cape Point Private Tour withTable Mountain and Penguin Colony : $257
- Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope day tour Up to 10 persons: $66
- Cape Town - Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens and City Tour: $280
- Cape Town Woodstock Street Art Walking Tour: $30
- CapeWinelands Private Tour to Stellenbosch,Franschhoek and Paarl: $96
- Day Tour in Robben Island, Bo-Kaap and Table Mountain : $166
- Long Walk to Freedom in Robben Island including Ticket & Afrogem: $156
- Mandela's Robben Island Museum Bo-Kaap Cape Town City Tour + Ferry ticket f/d: $165
- Penguins Private Tour- Cape of Good Hope & Cape Point Tour from Cape Town: $114
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTallinn €15Cape Town €19
Sample the Local Flavors in Tallinn
Also in Tallinn, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Mad Monk’s Pub Crawl Tallinn: $22
- Tallinn Pub Crawl (Ex The Epic Bar Crawl): $27
- Tallinn Exclusive Pub & Bar Crawl - Free Drinks, Local Guide: $42
- Tallinn Brewery Fiesta: $72
- Tallinn Guided Bar Crawl: $124
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 comparing the travel costs between Tallinn and Cape Town, we can see that Tallinn 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 Tallinn is in Europe 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 Tallinn Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tallinn or Cape Town?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Tallinn. When comparing the sizes of Tallinn 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 Tallinn 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 Tallinn has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Tallinn or Cape Town in the Summer?
Both Cape Town and Tallinn are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Tallinn in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
Tallinn is cooler than Cape Town in the summer. The daily temperature in Tallinn averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Cape Town fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Cape Town. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tallinn. Tallinn usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during summer. Tallinn gets 279 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 338 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Tallinn usually receives more rain than Cape Townin January. Tallinn gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryTallinn 17°C (62°F)Cape Town 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Tallinn or Cape Town in the Autumn?
Both Cape Town and Tallinn during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Tallinn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Tallinn is much colder than Cape Town. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Tallinn in October average around 7°C (44°F), and Cape Town averages at about 18°C (64°F)in April.
In Cape Town, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Tallinn often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin April. Tallinn gets 92 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 233 hours of full sun.
Tallinn usually gets more rain in October than Cape Townin April. Tallinn gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilTallinn 7°C (44°F)Cape Town 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Tallinn or Cape Town in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Tallinn and Cape Town. The winter months attract visitors to Tallinn because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Tallinn can be very cold. In January, Tallinn is generally much colder than Cape Townin July. Daily temperatures in Tallinn average around -5°C (22°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
Tallinn usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during winter. Tallinn gets 25 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 193 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Tallinn usually receives less rain than Cape Townin July. Tallinn gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyTallinn -5°C (22°F)Cape Town 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Tallinn or Cape Town in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Tallinn as well as Cape Town. The natural beauty are the main draw to Tallinn this time of year.
It's quite cold in Tallinn in the spring. Tallinn is much colder than Cape Town in the spring. The daily temperature in Tallinn averages around 4°C (39°F) in April, and Cape Town fluctuates around 16°C (61°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cape Town. In the spring, Tallinn often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin October. Tallinn gets 186 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 278 hours of full sun.
Tallinn usually gets more rain in April than Cape Townin October. Tallinn gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberTallinn 4°C (39°F)Cape Town 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Cape Town and Tallinn
| Tallinn | Cape Town | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (22°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | -6°C (22°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | -2°C (29°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 4°C (39°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (58°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (60°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (52°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (44°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (34°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | -3°C (27°F) | 55 mm (2.2 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.