Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Zagreb?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zagreb or Cape Town?
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 Zagreb and Cape Town. 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: Zagreb or Cape Town?
Zagreb
Zagreb, in central Croatia, is the country's capital. It has a wonderful old town that has cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and a great atmosphere. Many people travel to Croatia specifically for its beaches and coastal towns, but if you overlook this lovely capital city, you'll miss a large part of the culture and personality that is Croatia.
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 Dubrovnik, The Best 2-Week Tours from Split, 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 dayZagreb $82Cape Town $98
The average daily cost (per person) in Zagreb is $82, 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 Zagreb and Cape Town in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZagreb $51Cape Town $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZagreb $102Cape Town $78
Compare Hotels in Zagreb and Cape Town
Looking for a hotel in Zagreb 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: Zagreb Hotel Prices and Cape Town Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zagreb $9.69Cape Town $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zagreb
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zagreb:
- private transfer from Trogir/Split to Zagreb via Plitvice: $1,765
- Private Walking Tour with Funicular Ride & Transfers: $54
- Private Transfer to/from Zagreb Airport: $20
- Bus transfer from/to Rijeka: $7.00
- Zagreb to Split Group Transfer with Plitvice Lakes guided Tour: $152
- Zagreb to Rovinj private transfer or vice versa: $274
- Zagreb to Pula private one way transfer (or vice versa): $241
- Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes area - Private Transfer (or vice-versa): $164
- Zagreb to Franjo Tudman Airport(ZAG) - Departure Private Transfer: $16
- Zagreb to Budapest Private Transfer by Minivan: $537
- Zagreb city to Zagreb Airport private transfer: $88
- Zagreb Departure Private Transfers from Zagreb City to Zagreb Airport ZAG: $62
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 Zagreb or Cape Town?
Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Zagreb 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 dayZagreb $18Cape Town $42
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zagreb
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zagreb.
- Taste Zagreb Food Tour: $74
- Taste Zagreb Food Tour: $75
- Private Authentic Croatian Cooking Class in Central Zagreb: $114
- Zagreb Walking Food Tour - Sightseeing - Dolac market visit: $137
- Private Authentic Market Tour and Cooking Class in the Heart of Zagreb: $144
- PRIVATE Half-Day Food Tour: The 10 Tastings of Zagreb With Locals: $196
- Wine & Food tour of Plešivica near Zagreb: $958
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.Zagreb $13Cape Town $23
Tours and Activities in Zagreb
Here are a few actual costs in Zagreb for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private eclectic experience of Rastoke and Plitvice Lakes National Park: $164
- Zagreb History Walking Tour: $32
- 2-Hour Private Walking Tour in Zagreb City with Guide (up to 10): $153
- 2-Hour Unveiling A Captivating History Tour: $108
- 4 Day Touristic Adventure from Zagreb: $2,465
- 4-hour Private Zagreb & the Mountain Tour in a Yugo car: $115
- All-Inclusive Day Tour Zagreb-Rastoke-Plitvice Lakes-Split: $968
- Back to Yugoslavia Private City Tour in Old-Timer Yugo Car: $93
- Baroque Varaždin and Trakošćan Castle Private Tour: $177
- Beautiful Christmas in Zagreb - Walking Tour: $435
- Best of ISTRIA: Amphitheater PULA + ROVINJ + HUM or POREČ - fully Private Tour: $263
- Best of Zagreb Walking Tour: $73
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 dayZagreb $9.49Cape Town $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Zagreb
Also in Zagreb, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Zagreb Pub Crawl: $16
- Zagreb:Private Bar Crawling and Alcohol Testing with a Guide: $32
- Zagreb Wine Tasting & Jarun Lake Tour: $75
- Private Zagreb Walking Tour and Wine Tasting From Zagreb: $103
- Taste Zagreb Heritage Wine Tasting with Traditional Lunch: $179
- Plesivica countryside Wine Tasting: $199
- Fairytale castle & delicious wine tasting and lunch: $202
- Private Wine Tasting Tour from Zagreb: $208
- Castles & Wine Tasting - Private Day Trip from Zagreb: $235
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 Zagreb and Cape Town, we can see that Cape Town is more expensive. And not only is Zagreb much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Zagreb is in Europe 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 Zagreb would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zagreb 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 Cape Town would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cape Town than you might in Zagreb.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zagreb Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zagreb or Cape Town?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Zagreb. When comparing the sizes of Zagreb 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 Zagreb 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 Zagreb has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Zagreb or Cape Town in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Zagreb as well as Cape Town. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Zagreb this time of year.
Zagreb is around the same temperature as Cape Town in the summer. The daily temperature in Zagreb averages around 22°C (72°F) in July, and Cape Town fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cape Town. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zagreb this time of the year. In the summer, Zagreb often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin January. Zagreb gets 266 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 338 hours of full sun.
Zagreb usually gets more rain in July than Cape Townin January. Zagreb gets 87 mm (3.4 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 July and JanuaryZagreb 22°C (72°F)Cape Town 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Zagreb or Cape Town in the Autumn?
Both Cape Town and Zagreb are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Zagreb for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Zagreb is cooler than Cape Town. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zagreb in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Cape Town averages at about 18°C (64°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Cape Town. Zagreb usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during autumn. Zagreb gets 133 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 233 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Zagreb usually receives more rain than Cape Townin April. Zagreb gets 70 mm (2.8 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 October and AprilZagreb 13°C (55°F)Cape Town 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Zagreb or Cape Town in the Winter?
Both Cape Town and Zagreb during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Zagreb in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Zagreb can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Zagreb is generally much colder than Cape Townin July. Daily temperatures in Zagreb average around 1°C (35°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
In the winter, Zagreb often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin July. Zagreb gets 54 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 193 hours of full sun.
Zagreb usually gets less rain in January than Cape Townin July. Zagreb gets 53 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 January and JulyZagreb 1°C (35°F)Cape Town 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Zagreb or Cape Town in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Zagreb and Cape Town. Most visitors come to Zagreb for the activities around the city during these months.
Zagreb is cooler than Cape Town in the spring. The daily temperature in Zagreb averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Cape Town fluctuates around 16°C (61°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cape Town this time of the year. Zagreb usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during spring. Zagreb gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 278 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Zagreb usually receives more rain than Cape Townin October. Zagreb gets 65 mm (2.6 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 April and OctoberZagreb 13°C (55°F)Cape Town 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Cape Town and Zagreb
| Zagreb | Cape Town | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 1°C (35°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 20°C (69°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (71°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (37°F) | 62 mm (2.4 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.