Which place is cheaper, Drakensberg or Pretoria?
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 Pretoria or Drakensberg?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Pretoria or Drakensberg? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Pretoria or Drakensberg?
Pretoria
Located in Gauteng Province, Pretoria is the administrative capital city of South Africa, making it home to many government buildings and three universities. It is actually one of three capital cities, being home to the executive branch, with Cape Town as the legislative capital and Bloemfontein as the judicial capital. Within South Africa, Pretoria is also known as the "Jacaranda City" due to the thousands of jacaranda trees lining its streets, parks, and gardens.
Drakensberg
Drakensberg, whose name derives from the Dutch and means "mountains of the dragons," is a mountainous region which encompasses a vast amount of South Africa's interior, extending into neighboring countries as well. It hugs the eastern border of Lesotho, attracting visitors for hiking, backpacking, and admiring the natural wonders of the landscape.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, The Best Sightseeing Tours in South Africa, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in South Africa, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in South Africa.
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Pretoria Prices
South Africa PricesDrakensberg Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPretoria $64Drakensberg $110
The average daily cost (per person) in Pretoria is $64, while the average daily cost in Drakensberg is $110. 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 Pretoria and Drakensberg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPretoria $27Drakensberg $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPretoria $54Drakensberg $80
Compare Hotels in Pretoria and Drakensberg
Looking for a hotel in Pretoria or Drakensberg? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pretoria $13Drakensberg $74
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pretoria
Also for Pretoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sun City Private Transfer: $246
- Sun City & Pilanesberg Transfers: $250
- Shuttle Transfer from Gauteng to Greater Kruger: $65
- Pretoria to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) - Departure Private Transfer: $43
- Airport transfers,door to door shuttle: $53
- Airport transfers, door to door .private transfers: $41
Is it cheaper to fly into Pretoria or Drakensberg?
Prices for flights to both Drakensberg and Pretoria 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 dayPretoria $27Drakensberg $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pretoria
For Pretoria, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lesedi Cultural Experience + Lunch or Dinner: $113
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pretoria $15Drakensberg $9.31
Tours and Activities in Pretoria
For Pretoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Constitutional Hill and Soweto Half Day Tour.: $77
- Pilanesberg National Park Full Day Guided Tour( Safari Experience) : $194
- 2 Days Historical Cultural and Sightseeing Tour in Johannesburg : $259
- 2 Hours Bicycle Tour in Soweto(Johannesburg): $97
- 2-Day Johannesburg, Soweto and Pretoria Guided Tour: $185
- 3 tours/ cradle human kind caves and Lesedi Cultural village : $153
- 3-Day Private Tour Johannesburg - See everything : $230
- 5 Hour Lesedi Cultural Village Tour: $111
- Aerial Cableway Private Tour from Johannesburg : $88
- Ann Van Dyk Cheetah Centre Half-Day Tour from Johannesburg: $212
- Ann de-wildt cheetah tour: $103
- Apartheid History of South Africa (Full day Experience with lunch: $109
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPretoria $33Drakensberg $4.04
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pretoria and Drakensberg, we can see that Drakensberg is more expensive. And not only is Pretoria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pretoria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pretoria 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 Drakensberg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Drakensberg than you might in Pretoria.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pretoria Expensive? and Is Drakensberg Expensive?.
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.