Travel Budget for Cape Town Visit Cape Town on a Budget or Travel in Style

Cape Town, Province of the Western Cape, South Africa

How much does it cost to travel to Cape Town?

You should plan to spend around $95 (R1,814) per day on your vacation in Cape Town. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $41 (R773) on meals
  • $17 (R317) on local transportation
  • $75 (R1,429) on hotels

A one week trip to Cape Town for two people costs, on average, $1,332 (R25,397). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $95
    R1,814
  • One Week Per person
    $666
    R12,699
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $1,332
    R25,397
  • One Month Per person
    $2,855
    R54,423
  • One Week For a couple
    $1,332
    R25,397
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $2,665
    R50,795
  • One Month For a couple
    $5,710
    R108,846
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Cape Town cost?

A one week trip to Cape Town usually costs around $666 (R12,699) for one person and $1,332 (R25,397) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Cape Town on average costs around $1,332 (R25,397) for one person and $2,665 (R50,795) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Cape Town will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Cape Town on average costs around $2,855 (R54,423) for one person and $5,710 (R108,846) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Cape Town has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Cape Town expensive to visit?

Prices in Cape Town are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.

Within Africa, Cape Town is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Johannesburg or Serengeti National Park.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Cape Town Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Cape Town?

The average Cape Town trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Cape Town travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) R1,429 ($75)
Local Transportation 1 R317 ($17)
Food 2 R773 ($41)
Entertainment 1 R427 ($22)
Tips and Handouts 1 R26 - 78 ($1 - 4)
Alcohol 2 R191 - 574 ($10 - 30)
Accommodation Budget in Cape Town
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Cape Town is $37 (R714). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Cape Town is $75 (R1,429). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $37
    R714
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $75
    R1,429

Hotel Prices in Cape Town

Looking for a hotel in Cape Town? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Cape Town based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $79. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Cape Town
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Cape Town is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $17 (R317) per person, per day, on local transportation in Cape Town.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $17
    R317

Recommended Services


Flights to Cape Town
How much does it cost to go to Cape Town? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Cape Town
The price of renting a car in Cape Town will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.



Food Budget in Cape Town
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Cape Town can vary, the average cost of food in Cape Town is $41 (R773) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Cape Town should cost around $16 (R309) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Cape Town is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $41
    R773

Recommended


Entertainment Budget in Cape Town
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Cape Town typically cost an average of $22 (R427) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $22
    R427

Recommended Activities


Tips and Handouts Budget in Cape Town
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Cape Town is $2.72 (R52) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Cape Town is 5% - 15%.


  • Tips and Handouts1 For guides or service providers
    $2.72
    R52


Alcohol Budget in Cape Town
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $20 (R383) on alcoholic beverages in Cape Town per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $20
    R383

Recommended


Water Budget in Cape Town
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • On average, people spend $0.28 (R5.31) on bottled water in Cape Town per day. The public water in Cape Town is not usually considered safe to drink.


  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    $0.28
    R5.31


Cape Town On a Budget
Cape Town The view from Table Mountain, 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.
Sights
As one of the most picturesque places on the planet, no web page could cover the amount of things to see in Cape Town, South Africa. But here are just a few highlights:

To begin your visit, learn about the city's racially turbulent city at the District Six Museum. You'll get an overview of the city's history and how it was destroyed during apartheid.

If lounging around on the beach is your number one goal, tell your cab to head straight for Clifton Beaches. This stretch of four beaches is separated by giant rocks, but is easily accessible for all tourists. Beaches 1 and 2 and are for your everyday sunbathing tourists. Beach 3 is the gay beach - though straight people are always welcome, and beach 4 is typically full of families. When you go to dip your toes in, keep in mind those waves are rolling in from Antarctica - it's quite frigid!

For a breathtakingly scenic view, take a leisurely cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain. This 1086 mile high peak is a perfect lookout any given afternoon - unless it's too windy. In that case, the cable cars won't be operating.

To get really in touch with Mother Nature, head over to Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden. It's a stunning gathering of plants and wildlife in a 52,000 square kilometer area. Free, guided walks are available.

Plenty more activities are available in Cape Town such as visiting Bo Kaap, Robben Island, Boulders Beach, or the Bay Harbour Market. It's a great place to visit at any time of the year. If you don't believe it, check out all of these things to do in Cape Town today or this other amazing list of the top 10 things to do in Cape Town.
Neighborhoods
Cape Town is a very large city with a relatively small city center sitting right between Table Mountain and Table Bay. Off to the east is Durbanville and Somerset West. The north is where you'll find Atlantis while the south is home to Cape Point.

Activities
Just like with sightseeing, there's never a lack of adventures to be had in South Africa. One of the most exciting and scenic journeys you can take is to drive, cycle or walk along the "Chappies." Chapman's Peak Drive is a 5 kilometer toll road full of picnic spots and viewpoints. It's one of the most amazing coastal highways in the world complete with a bronze leopard statue to commemorate the wildlife of the area.

Just outside of Cape Town is the city of Hermanus where you can see the most majestic whales at the height of mating season. From July to November, tourists can enjoy a land-based viewing spot to witness the Southern Right Whale and even seals and dolphins. But if a rugged, outdoor hike is what you're after, try Table Mountain without the cable car. This multi-day hike is full of beautiful scenery and magnificent wildlife.

Also, check out this terrific itinerary for visiting South Africa with kids.

Cape Town is also home to plenty of festivals. Whether it's Ultra South Africa, the Jazz Festival, or Rocking the Daisies, there's plenty of excitement to be found. Don't miss this guide to the best festivals in South Africa for more information.
Food and Dining
You can get any variety of food you'd like in Cape Town, but be sure to get your hands on some good seafood - especially things like local line fish or oysters.

Moreover, though, Cape Town has some of the world's finest wine producing vineyard. With more than 250 wine farms, you'll have plenty to taste. Ensure a safe and sober ride every time, however, set up your visits with a dedicated wine tour company.

While the food in Cape Town is delicious and high quality, beware of buying the fruit from street vendors. It has been known to make tourists sick. Further, make sure you always ask about the price of any delicacies. There are only a few, but very high profile cases of extreme overcharging tourists when prices aren't listed.

Transportation
Cape Town is very large, so unless you only plan on being in the city center, you'll want to arrange your own transportation. Renting a car is certainly an option, but remember that in South Africa they drive on the left hand side of the road. Also, you might have a hard time finding a car with automatic transmission. Scooter and motorbike rentals are also good options.

The metered taxis are controlled by the city council and are considered to be very safe and reliable. Minibus taxis, however, are the most extensively used mode of public transportation. Be careful, though, as they are not always the safest option and there's no route map.
Related
Looking for a hostel in Marrakesh, Cape Town, Nairobi, or Zanzibar?

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.