How Much is a Trip to South Africa: Travel Cost 2025

South Africa is undoubtedly one of the best destinations for tourists. Thanks to its natural beauty, low cost of living, and friendly locals, it is the kind of place where you can forget about the worries of the outside world. South Africa invites travelers with its beautiful landscapes and holds them at affordable rates.

If you are considering visiting this popular destination, familiarise yourself with the overall costs and see if it aligns with your budget. This comprehensive guide will discuss how much a trip to South Africa is and help you estimate all the relevant costs. 

What is the Cost of Traveling to South Africa

Traveling, be it through air, train, or even local transportation, tends to be the most expensive part of any trip. In addition to being costly, it’s also the most personalized factor while calculating a budget. It is important to note that specific details of your trip and life affect the cost of travel drastically. A person who lives nearer to South Africa will incur lower costs than someone who lives halfway across the world. Hence, for the purposes of this article, we will not be adding the initial cost of airfare to the overall budget.

Either way, the average amount a person can expect to spend on an international flight is listed below (for a round-trip ticket): 

  • From the United Kingdom (London): $610-$950
  • From the United States: $1,238–$1,726
  • From Australia: around $2400
  • From Canada: around $2027

Factors affecting the cost of traveling 

  • Time of year: the time of the year when you decide to travel is extremely vital and it affects other costs as well. Naturally, peak tourist seasons like summer vacations and winter holidays are expected to incur higher rates in general. Airlines are tied up during high seasons and busy times of the year so flights are way more expensive. Whereas the prices will decrease significantly during the low season. This is mainly because of the demand-supply ratio and it will affect everything from the cost of traveling to general prices in South Africa itself. 
  • Destination: most of all, the destination you are flying from will affect the cost of traveling. As you can see above, there can be vast differences with respect to your current location and its distance to South Africa. Their proximity to each other, exchange rate, and inflation will influence the rates.
  • Travel style: your travel style is also one of the main factors. Whether you are a budget traveler, mid-range traveler, or luxury-seeking one, this will change the cost to a great extent. You need to decide what level and quality of services you are comfortable with and plan accordingly. The class of travel; economy, first class, and business class each have different rates. 

Here’s how you can save some money in this regard: 

  1. Fly with the cheapest airline and choose inexpensive travel dates 
  2. Travel during the low season
  3. Plan your itinerary smartly; direct flights are quicker but they cost more than connecting flights.
  4. Book your flights in advance as last-minute registrations are more expensive.
  5. Compare the rates of different airlines in your area and choose the cheapest one.

What Are the Costs of Local Transportation in South Africa

Once you have made it to South Africa, you’ll need an everyday budget to travel around and explore the beautiful destination. Some places like Central Cape Town are walkable while others require you to access local and public transportation. There are several options for getting around in South Africa and each has varied rates.

If you acquire Uber services in South Africa, you can expect to spend around $50 per day. The infamous Uber safari ride through Cape Town costs $200 and takes up to 4 people, meaning a solo traveler can find a $50 budget to be accurate. The exact amount will change based on the distance you travel, time of year, and even time of day (there are peak times that incur higher rates).

If you go with public transportation i.e. buses and trains, you’ll be spending less money. The rates change as per region and major cities have higher ticket prices than smaller cities. On average, the standard budget for one day should be around $6. Consider accessing the reliable Baz bus if you wish to cover longer distances and explore tourist attractions located far away. This will cost $60 for a 10-day trip. If you go with a combination of taxis and buses, allocate a $15 budget for the day and $150-200 for 10 days.

You can also go with car rentals but make sure to account for parking fees and gas prices. You can rent a medium-sized rental car for around $32 a day in South Africa, amounting to $320 for a 10-day trip (excluding gas).

What Are the Costs of Accommodation in South Africa

One of the best things about South Africa is that it has a variety of options for accommodation. From hostels and budget-friendly hotel rooms to luxury rooms, this country has it all. You can find the one that fits your travel budget and personal preferences. South Africa has a bunch of attractive neighborhoods and different types of accommodations, catering to different preferences, travel styles, and budget options. Let’s break down the costs for each.

  • Budget hotels: you can find private rooms at inexpensive hotels to decrease the overall costs. It’s a better option considering that you’ll be out exploring most of the time anyway. A lot of travelers opt for hotels while visiting this country and you can find good options. The lowest price goes as low as $20 but it comes with more problems than advantages. If you want a decent and safe room at a budget hotels, expect to pay $42-78 per night. This will amount to $420-780 for a 10-day trip.
  • Mid-range hotel room: you can also consider renting a room in a mid-range hotel. As per calculations, the average cost per night is $77-144 and for a 10-day trip, that’ll be $770-1440.
  • Luxury hotels: you can opt for luxury hotels too, if that’s something your budget allows. The minimum price can start from $200 per day and increase from there, depending on the specific place you choose and the amenities you acquire. For a 10-day trip, you can expect to spend more than $2000. 

Remember that the rates per night depend on some external factors. The region you are in, the specific city and hotel, the time of the year, and the time of the booking are some of the surface factors that will influence the price of accommodation. For instance, Port Elizabeth and rural areas are relatively cheaper than some other cities so it will have cheaper hotels. You can also opt for a more touristy experience by seeking residence in safari lodges, spending over $250 per night.

What is the Cost of Food and Activities in South Africa 

Food and activities are also imperative parts of your trip so make sure to account for them while estimating your budget.

Food

South Africa is filled with great options; bars, restaurants, cafes, and street vendors offering delicious food. You can find luxurious restaurants, mid-range coffee shops, and cheap street food. 

Depending on how much money you are willing to spend, you can find street vendors who sell full meals within a price range of $1-2. Prices may vary based on where you are staying as food may be more expensive in larger cities and popular tourist destinations. Either way, you can allocate $5 for each day and $50 for a 10-day trip according to these estimates.

The local restaurants are also a great place for tourists who are traveling on a mid-range budget. You can get delicious food at cheap rates and enjoy variety. They may charge an average price of $20-30. By these standards, you can allocate a budget of $200-300 for a 10-day trip.

As for fine dining, there are a bunch of luxury places that cost way more than average places. If you are willing, you can spend $100-200 on a single meal, enjoying international drinks and fine delicacies. The course selection may affect this price.

Lastly, you can go with home-cooked meals to save money. It may be a good idea to buy groceries at once and make your own meals for the entire trip. 10-day grocery shopping from local markets will cost $100-150.

Assuming that an average traveler will go for a mix of these options, the average budget should be around $300-400.

Activities 

If you are coming to South Africa as a tourist, you must be coming to explore its beauty and delve into nature. With that in mind, you must engage in activities to make the most of your trip and have the best time. Depending on what you prefer and choose, the cost of activities can vary a huge deal.

The good news is that South Africa offers a range of outdoor activities, meaning you can find your desired one. 

Ticket prices may change based on where you are but some examples include national parks like the famous Kroger National Park, museum visits, historical landmarks, tourist attractions like the cable mountain, garden routes, and Robben Island. You should allocate a minimum of $500 for this part of the trip!

How Much is a Trip to South Africa on Average

As established throughout this article, the average cost of a vacation to South Africa depends solely on your preferences. What we can say with confidence is that South Africa is perfect for a variety of visitors. It’s suitable for backpackers who are on a tight budget, solo travelers who want to explore the island on a mid-range budget, and even tourists who are looking for a luxurious vacation. After taking numerous factors into consideration, we can say that a 10-day trip will cost a minimum of $1800-4500 on average with a $40 daily budget for budget travelers, $100 for mid-range travelers, and $250 for luxury travelers. This is with the exclusion of travel costs (airfare, train tickets, etc). Take a look at the breakdown below.

South African vacation breakdown

Transportation costs: $150-200

Accommodation costs: $420-2000+

Food: $300-400

Activities: $500-1000

Final thoughts

If this natural tapestry has captured your attention and convinced you to travel here, go over this comprehensive guide and learn all the basics. This place is perfectly adequate for budget travelers as it offers affordable rates and the lowest prices. Meanwhile, there are plenty of options and amenities for luxury travelers who are willing to spend more. 

We hope this article helped you understand the South Africa cost of a vacation and answered all the questions. If you have any further lingering doubts, feel free to contact us and we’d be happy to help.

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