Cape Town
South Africa's most expensive city, and still a bargain for what it is.
- Lean
- $55
- Comfort
- $288
Slightly pricier. Tracks South Africa as a whole.
Pricier than the national figure of $103 a day.
The short answerIn US dollars, as of November 12, 2026
As of November 12, 2026, a mid-range day in Cape Town costs about $123 per person, excluding flights: about 20% more than the average for South Africa. For US-dollar travelers it is 3.9% more expensive than a year ago after inflation, in line with South Africa as a whole. South Africa's most expensive city, and still a bargain for what it is.
What your money buys in South Africa
Exchange rates and inflation are national, so the city follows this line. The dashed line is the exchange rate alone; the solid line is after inflation.
Cape Town, in five questions
City costs are the national model scaled by a premium of +20% that we set by hand. To cite: “Trip Arbitrage (triparbitrage.com), reading of November 12, 2026.”
- How much does a day in Cape Town cost?
- About $55 on a lean budget, $123 mid-range and $288 in comfort, per person per day as of November 12, 2026, excluding international flights. These are modeled estimates: the national figure for South Africa, updated daily, scaled by a city premium.
- Is Cape Town expensive compared with the rest of South Africa?
- Cape Town costs about 20% more than the national average for South Africa, which is $103 a day mid-range. South Africa's most expensive city, and still a bargain for what it is.
- Is Cape Town cheaper to visit than last year?
- The exchange rate moved −3.2% for US-dollar holders over twelve months while prices in South Africa rose +4.2%, a real change of −3.9%. City prices broadly follow the country.
- When is the best time to visit Cape Town for lower prices?
- For South Africa the shoulder months, with workable weather and lower prices, are June, August. Peak season is September, October, November, March, April, May.
- Is Cape Town safe?
- The US State Department rates South Africa at Level 2: Increased caution. Country-wide levels can hide large differences between cities and regions, so read the full advisory.