How much does a trip to Johannesburg Cost?
The Cost of a Trip to Johannesburg
Visitors to Johannesburg usually spend between $45 and $198 per day on average for one person and $90 to $395 for two people. While this is a wide range, the average daily cost averages $94 (R1,764) per person. This average includes sightseeing, hotel, food, and local transportation expenses from other travelers. Your individual travel expenses may vary based on travel style and the locations visited, but if you plan wisely while visiting the most popular destinations, then you'll likely spend somewhere around this average cost during your trip. Further down we have a breakdown of expenses by category, as well as accommodation and activity prices.
How much money should you budget for your trip to Johannesburg?
Budget travelers to Johannesburg often spend around $45 per day. This usually includes a stay at a hostel and meals at affordable restaurants around town. Many budget travelers also prefer free activities over those that cost too much money. If you have a bit more money to spend, you should budget around $94 (R1,764) per day. This average includes a mid-range hotel and more meals in restaurants, along with a higher budget for entertainment and activities. Luxury travelers should plan to spend around $198 a day which includes higher-end accommodations, restaurants, tours, and activities. For more details, see our average travel costs for Johannesburg here.
Average Daily Costs, Per Person, by Category
| Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation1 | $22 | $54 | $123 |
| Local Transportation1 | $7 | $16 | $36 |
| Food2 | $7 | $17 | $31 |
| Water2 | $1 | $1 | $1 |
| Entertainment1 | $7 | $21 | $63 |
| Souvenirs1 | $13 | $13 | $13 |
| Living Expenses2 | $26 | $26 | $26 |
| Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1 | $29 | $29 | $29 |
| Alcohol2 | $2 | $5 | $9 |
| Tips and Handouts1 | $66 | $66 | $66 |
How much does a weekend trip to Johannesburg cost?
Travelers spend, on average, $281 per person on a three-day trip to Johannesburg. This includes sightseeing, hotels, food, and local transportation. You can stick close to this average price by staying at mid-range hotels and eating at mid-level restaurants, while also paying for some entry tickets to popular attractions. If you wish to travel cheaper, it's possible to find lower-cost accommodations, eat at less expenive restaurants, and find more free activities. It's also common for many visitors to have a much higher travel budget, as many high-end hotels and restaurants can be found around town.
Johannesburg, South Africa
How much does a five day trip to Johannesburg cost?
With five days in Johannesburg, you can expect to spend about $469 total, not including transportation to and from the city. It's possible to stay close to this daily average by booking mid-range hotels, eating at normal restaurants, and paying for some entry tickets to popular attractions. It's possible to find lower-cost accommodations, eat at less expenive restaurants, and find more free activities if you want to spent less money.
How much does a one week trip to Johannesburg cost?
Most visitors spend between $314 and $1,383 for a one week trip to Johannesburg, with the average being $656. This includes sightseeing, local transportation, food, and hotels. One week is enough time to have a more in-depth experience in Johannesburg. Also, one week allows you to be more flexible with your time and money, so you can potentially save money on some aspects of your trip while spending more on others.
Hostel Prices in Johannesburg
With more than 10 hostels in Johannesburg, the average price is $14 per night for a dorm bed. The cheapest hostel costs $8 and the most expensive is $34. Usually popular with younger travelers, hostels are a great way to save money while also being social. But not all hostels are the same, and we've analyzed the prices of both dorms and private rooms to find the average prices and best places to stay. You can see more details about the hostel prices in Johannesburg here.
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Johannesburg.
- $14 for a dorm bed at CURIOCITY Backpackers in Johannesburg
- $11 for a dorm bed at Brown Sugar Backpackers in Johannesburg
- $14 for a dorm bed at Lebo's Soweto Backpackers in Johannesburg
Hotel Prices in Johannesburg
The average price for a hotel room in Johannesburg is $54 per night. This average is based on our detailed analysis of available hotels in the area. If you want to save money, or if you're planning a more luxurious trip, it's important to look at hotel prices based on the overall star-rating as well as guest reviews. Also, prices can vary by location and amenities. You can see more details from our analysis of hotel prices in Johannesburg here, and below is a breakdown of hotel prices by star-rating.
Hotels by star rating in Johannesburg
| Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 26 | $206 |
| 4 stars | 107 | $65 |
| 3 stars | 98 | $43 |
| 2 stars | 13 | $34 |
| 1 star | 9 | $34 |
Should you do a tour in Johannesburg?
You'll find a wide range of guided tours in Johannesburg and many visitors enjoy the convenience of having an expert guide leading them through the chosen activity. Tours range in price from $24 for the Johannesburg's Migration History with a local lunch to $669 for the 3 Day Luxury Pilanesberg Safari - 4 Star Lodge.
- Half Day Guided Tour in Soweto: $60
- Private Full Day Soweto and Johannesburg Tour from Johannesburg or Pretoria : $132
- Johannesburg and Soweto Tour (6-7 hours): $95
- Private Half Day Authentic Soweto Tour from Johannesburg or Pretoria : $105
- Soweto half day Tour: $56
- Private Half Day Pretoria City Tour from Johannesburg or pretoria: $101
- Johannesburg and Apartheid Museum and Soweto Guided Full-Day Tour : $135
- Big 5 Safari Experience at Pilanesberg National Park: $229
More for Johannesburg
If you're planning a trip to Johannesburg, 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.
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.
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.
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