Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Dar es Salaam?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Dar es Salaam or Cape Town?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dar es Salaam and Cape Town can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Cape Town?
Dar es Salaam
Having grown from a fishing village, Dar es Salaam is now a major city and commercial port on Tanzania's Indian Ocean coast. While it is mainly used as a stopping point on the way to Zanzibar, it has a few unique treasures of its own such as the Kariakoo Market, National Museum, and the open-air Village Museum.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Camping Tours in South Africa, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in South Africa.
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Dar es Salaam Prices
Tanzania PricesCape Town Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDar es Salaam $493Cape Town $179
The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $493, while the average daily cost in Cape Town is $179. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Dar es Salaam and Cape Town in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDar es Salaam $452Cape Town $83
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDar es Salaam $904Cape Town $166
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Cape Town
Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam or Cape Town? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Dar es Salaam Hotel Prices and Cape Town Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dar es Salaam $14Cape Town $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dar es Salaam
Also for Dar es Salaam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer/Airport pick up and drop off: $192
- Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $106
- Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
- Zanzibar Ferry & Hotel Transfer: $125
- Private Layover Tour with Airport Transfer: $120
- Dar es Salaam Airport Transfers Comfortable Ride to Your Hotel: $60
- Dar es Salaam Airport Transfer: $75
- Classic Day trip: Train Transfer To Mikumi National Park: $340
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Tandem Paragliding Adventure with Transfers: $350
- From Hermanus Whale Watching Tour with Transfer: $317
- Full Day Private Chauffeur and Transfer Services in Cape Town: $300
- Aquila Safari and Cheese & Wine Tasting with Private Transfers: $300
- Shark Cage Diving & Penguins Tour to Gansbaai with private transfers: $292
- Full day Cape Point + Constantia Wine Tour with Private Transfer: $274
- Cape Peninsula and Boulders Full Day Tour with Private Transfer: $274
- Stellenbosch Winelands Connoisseur Day Tour with Private Transfer: $273
- Full Day Big Five Safari Tour from Cape Town with Transfers: $271
- Aquila Safari Game Drive, Lunch & Shared Transfers from Cape Town: $268
- West Coast Wonders Full Day Tour with Private Transfer: $253
- Helderberg Valley Winelands Day Tour with Private Transfer: $253
Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Cape Town?
Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Dar es Salaam change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayDar es Salaam $33Cape Town $77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dar es Salaam
For Dar es Salaam, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Taste of Tanzania Cooking Class and Food Tour: $20
- Tuk-Tuk Food Tour: $110
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cape Town
For Cape Town, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- African Cooking with a Chef Founder: $30
- Cape Malay Cooking Class in Bo-Kaap: $43
- Malay Cooking Class and Lunch in Bo-Kaap: $46
- Bo-Kapp Walking Tour and Malay Cooking Class: $63
- Sunset Champagne Cruise and 3-Course Dinner: $66
- Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience: $66
- Private Indonesian & Cape Malay Cultural Cooking Class : $71
- African Dinner, Drumming Experience with Transfer: $72
- From African Dinner and Drumming Experience: $72
- African Dinner Experience from Cape Town: $75
- Cape Malay Dinner at SPYCED: $75
- Cape Malay/Creole Cooking Class and Local Shopping in Salt River: $77
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dar es Salaam -Cape Town $25
Tours and Activities in Dar es Salaam
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dar es Salaam.
- Bagamoyo Full-Day Tour: Historic Slave Trade Route & Kaole Ruins: $255
- Dar Es Salaam City Tour (Full Day With Private Guide And Car): $140
- 1 Night Mikumi Adventure safari From Dar es Salaam: $390
- 1-Day experience safari to Mikumi from Dar-es-Salaam by car: $320
- 2 Days 1 Night Bagamoyo Historical Tour : $300
- 2 Days Cheap Mikumi NP Safari & Maasai Cultural Tour: $451
- 2-Days safari adventure to Mikumi N. Park from Dar-es-Salaam: $425
- 2-day adventures to Mikumi by luxury train from Dar-es-Salam: $400
- 3 Days Camping Experience Safari: mikumi national Park: $449
- 3-Day Mikumi Adventure Safari: $550
- 3-Day Mikumi NP, Maasai Village & Udzungwa Mountains NP Tour: $759
- 3-Days safari adventure to Mikumi N. Park from Dar-es-Salaam: $440
Tours and Activities in Cape Town
For Cape Town, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Days Private Guided Tour in Cape Town: $295
- 3 Wineries Private Tour in Stellenbosch, Paarl Tasting Included: $148
- Cape Agulhas Full Day Private Tour: $208
- Cape Agulhas, Hermanus Stony Point Penguins Colony Tour : $230
- Cape Point Full Day Tour: $206
- Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope, Penguins Experience: $88
- Cape Town - Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens and City Tour: $300
- Cape Town Central wine and cheese pairing private Tour Drive : $224
- Cape Town Woodstock Street Art Walking Tour: $33
- Cape Town, Destination for Wine and galery Lovers Private Tour: $283
- Cape Winelands From Cape Town Private Day Tour: $175
- Cape Winelands Tour to Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl: $104
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDar es Salaam $7.97Cape Town $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Cape Town
Also in Cape Town, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Stellenbosch Small Group Wine Tasting Tour From Cape Town: $2.65
- Distillery Tour, rum and gin tasting: $12
- Experience South African Craft Rum tasting and distillery tour in Cape Town: $14
- Deep South Distillery Gin Tasting Experience: $14
- Craft Gin Tasting Experience and Distillery Tour: $14
- Indigenous Food and Wine Tasting: $26
- Silvermist Estate Wine Tasting & Drumstruck Show: $26
- Hop-On Bus & Wine Tasting at Groot Constantia: $28
- Drumstruck at Silvermist. Live African Drum Show & Wine tasting: $28
- Urban Wine Tasting: $30
- Wine Tasting & Storytelling with SA Tapas add-on: $30
- Cape Town Hop- On Hop -Off Tour and Groot Constantia Wine Tasting: $31
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Cape Town, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Cape Town much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cape Town would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cape Town and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Dar es Salaam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dar es Salaam than you might in Cape Town.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dar es Salaam Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Cape Town?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 27% larger than the population of Dar es Salaam. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam and Cape Town, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Dar es Salaam or Cape Town?
Cape Town has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Dar es Salaam experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Cape Town in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Dar es Salaam and Cape Town. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dar es Salaam year-round.
In the summer, Dar es Salaam is a little warmer than Cape Town. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dar es Salaam in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Cape Town averages at about 21°C (70°F)in January.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cape Town this time of the year. In Dar es Salaam, it's very sunny this time of the year. Dar es Salaam usually receives less sunshine than Cape Town during summer. Dar es Salaam gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 338 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Dar es Salaam usually receives more rain than Cape Townin January. Dar es Salaam gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryDar es Salaam 25°C (77°F)Cape Town 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Cape Town in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Dar es Salaam as well as Cape Town. Dar es Salaam attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Dar es Salaam is generally a little warmer than Cape Townin April. Daily temperatures in Dar es Salaam average around 25°C (78°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cape Town. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dar es Salaam this time of the year. In the autumn, Dar es Salaam often gets more sunshine than Cape Townin April. Dar es Salaam gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 233 hours of full sun.
Dar es Salaam usually gets more rain in October than Cape Townin April. Dar es Salaam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilDar es Salaam 25°C (78°F)Cape Town 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Cape Town in the Winter?
Both Cape Town and Dar es Salaam are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dar es Salaam throughout the year.
Dar es Salaam is much warmer than Cape Town in the winter. The daily temperature in Dar es Salaam averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Cape Town fluctuates around 13°C (55°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam usually receives more sunshine than Cape Town during winter. Dar es Salaam gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Town receives 193 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Dar es Salaam usually receives around the same amount of rain as Cape Townin July. Dar es Salaam gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyDar es Salaam 28°C (82°F)Cape Town 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Cape Town in the Spring?
Both Cape Town and Dar es Salaam during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Dar es Salaam because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Dar es Salaam is much warmer than Cape Town. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dar es Salaam in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Cape Town averages at about 16°C (61°F)in October.
In Cape Town, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Dar es Salaam often gets less sunshine than Cape Townin October. Dar es Salaam gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Town receives 278 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam usually gets more rain in April than Cape Townin October. Dar es Salaam gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberDar es Salaam 27°C (81°F)Cape Town 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Cape Town and Dar es Salaam
| Dar es Salaam | Cape Town | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
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.