What does it cost in Cape Town?
So you might be visiting here from overseas or Africa and want to know what things will cost?
American Express Foreign Exchange's 2005 Holiday Cost of Living Index gives a clue. South Africa is the second cheapest destination in their international survey. (Prices are in SA Rands; highlighted prices are the cheapest.)
| Items |
*Aus |
Fra |
Gre |
Ire |
Ita |
Nor |
Por |
SA |
Spa |
Swi |
Thai |
US |
| Cappuccino (medium): café |
17.41 |
24.56 |
32.75 |
20.52 |
7.38 |
27.56 |
10.26 |
8.53 |
14.76 |
23.75 |
4.96 |
22.02 |
| Bottle of lager at pub/café |
17.41 |
28.71 |
24.56 |
36.90 |
16.03 |
45.89 |
12.34 |
7.49 |
9.80 |
26.40 |
19.83 |
15.68 |
| Six pack of lager: s/market |
62.03 |
22.94 |
49.12 |
65.49 |
44.28 |
79.56 |
22.48 |
37.47 |
22.48 |
39.55 |
33.09 |
28.25 |
| Can of Coca Cola: pub/café |
10.95 |
28.71 |
20.52 |
8.19 |
12.34 |
22.37 |
12.34 |
5.30 |
12.34 |
18.45 |
9.92 |
12.57 |
| 1.5 l Coca Cola: supermarket |
8.88 |
10.49 |
18.79 |
12.68 |
16.37 |
18.79 |
8.65 |
7.49 |
10.61 |
11.07 |
5.77 |
3.11 |
| 1.5 l mineral water: s/market |
8.88 |
1.50 |
4.15 |
9.80 |
8.19 |
17.76 |
3.69 |
5.30 |
4.15 |
7.38 |
4.96 |
6.23 |
| Postcard & stamp for UK |
9.45 |
10.38 |
8.19 |
8.99 |
9.22 |
15.33 |
10.84 |
3.69 |
8.19 |
12.11 |
2.77 |
9.45 |
| Camera film (24 shots) |
16.60 |
28.25 |
18.79 |
49.12 |
20.52 |
33.67 |
31.13 |
8.53 |
49.12 |
42.20 |
20.64 |
18.56 |
| Music CD (popular top 10) |
109.07 |
139.28 |
155.66 |
172.03 |
163.84 |
182.40 |
151.50 |
171.22 |
122.91 |
121.41 |
99.16 |
87.74 |
| Snack meal for 4 + drinks |
124.06 |
458.66 |
327.68 |
491.52 |
204.77 |
387.29 |
249.86 |
203.27 |
327.68 |
316.73 |
165.34 |
157.27 |
| 3-course dinner for 2 + wine |
396.86 |
393.17 |
409.55 |
655.25 |
327.68 |
866.36 |
368.61 |
299.55 |
409.55 |
527.84 |
330.68 |
440.22 |
| Ice cream bar: supermarket |
9.92 |
19.60 |
20.51 |
14.76 |
5.77 |
14.30 |
7.38 |
9.11 |
8.19 |
13.14 |
2.54 |
7.84 |
| Sunscreen: supermarket |
42.20 |
65.49 |
40.93 |
118.76 |
16.37 |
78.52 |
90.05 |
13.37 |
32.75 |
79.21 |
57.88 |
37.47 |
| TOTAL COSTS |
834 |
1232 |
1131 |
1664 |
853 |
1790 |
979 |
780 |
1033 |
1239 |
757 |
846 |
* Australia
Thailand is slightly cheaper than South Africa; Ireland and Norway are more than twice as expensive as South Africa.
For Cape Town, we've chosen middle-of-the-road costs within the different parameters – you will find cheaper but, if cost isn't a
factor, the sky can be the limit. Internationally-known brand names are highlighted in red. We will be adjusting rates regularly to cater for cost and
exchange rate fluctuations, but click here to use our currency converter for more up to date conversions or for other currencies.
If you have any comments, criticisms, requests or suggestions, please email us.
Bear in mind these are average prices throughout the year. Peak season (Christmas/New Year) can be much higher. These are also
averaged across the whole of the City of Cape Town – suburbs can be cheaper and rural areas are frequently much cheaper.
| |
SA Rand |
UK £ |
US $ |
€ |
Exchange rate used: one foreign unit equals |
|
R13 |
R7 |
R9 |
| Accommodation |
| 5-star hotel |
per person sharing |
R1 500 |
£115 |
$214 |
€167 |
| 3-star hotel |
per person sharing |
R400 |
£31 |
$57 |
€44 |
| Standard Holiday Inn, 3-star hotel |
per person sharing |
R350 |
£27 |
$50 |
€39 |
| Guest house/B&B (5-star) |
per person sharing |
R550 |
£42 |
$79 |
€61 |
| Budget accommodation |
per person sharing |
R200 |
£15 |
$29 |
€22 |
| Backpacking/youth hostel |
per person |
R70 |
£5 |
$10 |
€7.8 |
| |
| Drink |
| Premium red wine |
Bottle: 750ml |
R130 |
£10 |
$19 |
€14.4 |
| Good quality everyday red wine |
Bottle: 750ml |
R30 |
£2.30 |
$4.3 |
€3.3 |
| Premium white wine |
Bottle: 750ml |
R85 |
£6.50 |
$12 |
€9.4 |
| Good quality everyday white wine |
Bottle: 750ml |
R25 |
£1.90 |
$3.5 |
€2.80 |
| Local beer |
Can: 375ml |
R5 |
£0.39 |
$0.7 |
€0.55 |
| Imported beer (Heinecken) |
Can: 375ml |
R8 |
£0.60 |
$1.20 |
€0.90 |
| Scotch Whisky (Bells, J&B) |
Bottle: 750ml |
R95 |
£7.30 |
$13.6 |
€10.60 |
| Soft drinks (Coca Cola) |
Bottle/can: 375ml |
R4 |
£0.30 |
$0.60 |
€0.45 |
| Hotel/restaurant wine |
Bottle |
add 100%+ |
| Hotel/restaurant wine |
by the glass |
R12+ |
£0.92 |
$1.70 |
€1.35 |
| Hotel/restaurant beer |
375ml local can/bottle |
R8 |
£0.62 |
$1.20 |
€0.90 |
| Hotel/restaurant beer |
500ml local draft |
R10 |
£0.77 |
$1.40 |
€1.10 |
| Hotel/restaurant Scotch Whisky |
tot |
R15+ |
£1.12 |
$2.10 |
€1.70 |
| Hotel/restaurant Soft drinks |
Bottle/can: 375ml |
R7+ |
£0.54 |
$1 |
€0.80 |
| |
| Food |
| Top restaurant |
starter, main, dessert: p/p |
R200 |
£15.40 |
$28.60 |
€22.20 |
| A memorable meal |
main, starter/dessert: p/p |
R120 |
£9.20 |
$17 |
€13.30 |
| Steakhouse rump steak |
500g |
R70 |
£5.40 |
$10 |
€7.80 |
| Family restaurant: fish |
|
R60 |
£4.60 |
$8.60 |
€6.70 |
| Family restaurant: Pasta/Pizza |
p/p |
R45 |
£3.50 |
$6.40 |
€5 |
| Coffee Shop breakfast |
"English" breakfast |
R30 |
£2.30 |
$4.30 |
€3.30 |
| Sandwich take-out |
a variety of fillings |
R12 |
£0.92 |
$1.70 |
€1.35 |
| McDonalds |
Basic burger |
R4.5 |
£0.35 |
$0.64 |
€0.50 |
| |
| Main attractions |
| Table Mountain Cableway |
adult:
child: |
R105
R55 |
£8
£4.2 |
$15
$7.8 |
€11.70
€6.10 |
| Robben Island |
|
|
|
|
|
| Kirstenbosh |
|
R20 |
£1.5 |
$2.9 |
€2.20 |
| Cape Point |
|
R35 |
£2.7 |
$5 |
€3.90 |
| Chapman's Peak Drive |
toll road: per car |
R20 |
£1.5 |
$2.9 |
€2.20 |
| |
| Entertainment & leisure |
| Cinema tickets |
per person |
R28 |
£2.1 |
$4 |
€3.1 |
| Round of golf |
per person, from |
R100+ |
£7.7+ |
$15+ |
€11+ |
| |
| Transport |
| Airport Shuttle |
one way, per person |
R130 |
£10 |
$18.60 |
€14.50 |
| Taxi |
per km |
R9 |
£0.7 |
$1.3 |
€1 |
| Car rental |
per day |
R250 |
£19.2 |
$35.7 |
€27.8 |
| |
| Tours |
| Full day peninsula tour |
per person |
R400 |
£30.8 |
$57 |
€44.50 |
| Full day winelands tour |
per person |
R400 |
£30.8 |
$57 |
€44.50 |
Cape Town Routes Unlimited conducted a tourism pricing study for the period December 2003 through December 2004 which was released in May 2005. It found:
- For all accommodation (including high-end, mid-range and budget accommodation), 42% had zero increase, 53% increased prices by more than 5%, and 5% increased prices by 5% or less.
- The average price of a spa treatment (including a manicure, pedicure and facial) increased by 2.7%, that is, a median increase from R460 to R480.
- Golf course green fees, on average, increased by R15 or 7.7 % (from R194 in December 2003 to R209 in December 2004).There was, however, a huge range in golf course pricing, from the most expensive at R500 to the least expensive at R80.
- The majority of attractions in the Western Cape, such as museums, charge nominal entry fees (R10 or less), while a few cover charges include the cost of transportation and a tour (such as the Robben Island Museum, which charges R150 for transportation by ferry as well as a tour of the facility).
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