Is Cape Town Expensive?

Is Cape Town expensive to visit?

Cape Town is a popular destination that is also moderately priced. It falls in the middle range of travel cost prices globaly with a daily average travel cost of $96. If we compare it to the rest of Africa, it is a moderately priced place to visit. It ranks in the top 50% of cities in Africa for its travel costs. Its travel costs are comparable with places such as Johannesburg and Tsavo National Park.

Cape Town, South Africa

How expensive is Cape Town?

Travelers spend an average of $96 per day when visiting Cape Town (U.S. Dollars). This is according to our calculations which come from the expenses of previous visitors. While this is an average cost, prices can vary by travel style, the length of your trip, and other factors. You can stay fairly close to this average if you stay at moderately priced hotels, eat at affordable restaurants, and take public transportation when possible. See more travel costs for Cape Town here.

How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to Cape Town?

Based on the travel expenses of others, a weekend trip to Cape Town costs around $289 on average, per person. This includes food, sightseeing, local transportation, accommodation, and nightlife. For two people, a weekend trip costs $578.

How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to Cape Town?

Based on our calculations from previous travelers, a one week trip to Cape Town will cost around $675 per person. This amount includes sightseeing activities, hotels, restaurants, local transportation, and other travel expenses. For two people, a one week trip would cost $1,349.

The view from Table Mountain, Cape Town

Is it expensive to backpack in Cape Town?

Cape Town is a popular backpacker destination with more than 30 hostels. Dorm beds in hostels cost, on average, $17 per night. (See hostel prices in Cape Town here.) You'll find quite a range in prices here, too. The most expensive beds are priced around $31 and the cheapest around $10 per night.

Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Cape Town.

• $21 for a dorm bed at Villa Viva Cape Town
  more details
• $15 for a dorm bed at Ashanti Lodge Gardens
  more details
• $14 for a dorm bed at 91 Loop
  more details

Are hotels expensive in Cape Town?

If you're considering hotel prices in Cape Town, you'll find them to be notably budget-friendly in comparison to hotels in other cities. On average, a night in a hotel room here will set you back approximately $79. In Cape Town, there are about 73 five-star hotels with an average nightly rate of $218. For a more affordable option, three-star hotels come in at an average of $75 per night, while two-star hotels offer an even more economical choice at $37 per night.

How expensive are sightseeing activities in Cape Town?

In Cape Town, the cost of activities and things to do can vary by the type of activity, its length, and the location. To provide an estimate of what to expect during your visit, below are several popular activities that are common in the area. On average, previous travelers have spent around $23 per day on sightseeing and entertainment, which is more than the country's average of $17.

• Private Cape Of Good Hope Tour with Table Mountain Ticket Including Park Fees: $185
• Authentic Cape Town Tour: $289
• Table Mountain Private Hike Tour of Kasteelpoort Route from Cape Town: $134
• Robben Island Tickets, Penguins & Cape of Good Hope Private Tour: $163
• African Food and Storytelling Tour Cape Town City Centre: $80
• Cape Point Private Tour withTable Mountain and Penguin Colony : $249
• Franschhoek wine Tram & Stellenbosch Town Full day tour: $60
• Cape Town Khayelitsha Township Tour: $45

Is food expensive in Cape Town?

In Cape Town, the cost of food can vary by the type of restaurant and food options available. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible. On average, previous travelers have spent around $41 per day on food, which is more than the country's average of $20.

• Dinner At Mandela's - Cultural Township Dinner Experience: $27
• African Cooking with a Chef Founder: $27
• The Cape Town Essentials Food Tour: $106
• Cape Town Food tour with locals: $100
• South African Cooking Class in Cape Town with a Local Family: $82
• Private Walking Food Tour in the Mother City CBD: $160

Is transportation expensive in Cape Town?

The prices of local transportation in Cape Town can vary by the type of transit used. Other travelers have spent an average of $17 on local transportation per person per day, which is more than the country's average of $15. To save money, take public transit whenever possible, as it will almost always be cheaper than a taxi or private driver.

More for Cape Town

If you're planning a trip to Cape Town, South Africa, check out these other informative travel guides.

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.