Cape Town on a Budget
A city where the exchange rate does much of the budgeting work for you, and Table Mountain’s hiking trails and Bo-Kaap’s streets cost nothing at all, here’s how to keep the rest of the costs down too.
Cape Town is genuinely one of the more affordable major cities in the world to visit for international travellers, the exchange rate stretches most budgets a long way. Here’s how to keep the costs down further without cutting the trip short.
Hike Table Mountain instead of the cable car
Walking up via Platteklip Gorge costs nothing beyond a bit of effort, roughly two to three hours each way, a considerable saving over the cable car fare. Bo-Kaap’s colourful streets and the city centre’s walking routes cost nothing either.
Visit outside December and January for lower prices
South African summer, December through January, brings Cape Town’s highest accommodation prices and heaviest crowds, considerably higher given local holiday travel too. Shoulder season, autumn or spring, instead offers noticeably lower rates.
Use MyCiTi buses over private transfers
Cape Town’s MyCiTi bus network covers the city centre, the Waterfront and the airport cheaply and reliably. A rental car becomes worthwhile only if you’re planning to explore further, the Winelands or the Cape Peninsula.
A Bo-Kaap food stall beats a Waterfront tourist restaurant
Cape Malay curry from a proper local spot is widely a Cape Town institution, considerably cheaper than a sit-down restaurant at the V&A Waterfront. A braai, South African barbecue, from a local market remains one of the better cheap eats too.
Consider Observatory or Woodstock over the city centre
Hotels right at the Waterfront sit at the top of the price range given the location. Observatory and Woodstock, both a short drive or bus ride away, run noticeably cheaper while offering a genuinely strong, more local food and arts scene of their own.
That’s everything I’ve got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government’s latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
