As of November 12, 2026, South Africa is cheaper than Tanzania for travelers: a mid-range day costs about $103 in South Africa against $117 in Tanzania, a gap of 13.8%. Over the past year Tanzania has moved more in the US-dollar traveler's favor (+7.7% after inflation, against −3.9%). Both sit at US advisory Level 2. South Africa is the easier of the two to travel.
| Measure | South Africa | Tanzania |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day | $103 | $117 |
| Lean day | $46 | $43 |
| Comfortable day | $240 | $319 |
| Real change, 12 months | −3.9% | +7.7% |
| Exchange rate alone, 12 months | −3.2% | +8.1% |
| Versus 5-year average | −5.5% | +8.9% |
| US advisory | Level 2 · Increased caution | Level 2 · Increased caution |
| Ease of travel | 4.2 · Well set up | 3.3 · Workable |
| Index score | 55 | 59 |
| Best months | Sep, Oct, Nov, Mar, Apr, May | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Jan, Feb |
| Shoulder months | Jun, Aug | Nov, Dec |
The better figure in each row is in bold. Costs are modeled estimates per person, excluding international flights.
First-world safari, wine and coast, bought with a volatile rand.
The catchViolent crime is real and requires planning. Power cuts have eased but not vanished.
Serengeti, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar: bucket-list sights with bucket-list prices.
The catchSafari and climb costs are dollar-denominated and dominate any budget. Only the beach and city days are cheap.
Source: Trip Arbitrage (triparbitrage.com), reading of November 12, 2026. How this is calculated.