Durbanis 24% cheaper — BDI "Pricey" (32/10) vs Cape Town "Pricey" (35/10). Dorms avg $23/night vs $17/night.
Cost Comparison
Daily Budget
| Tier | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇿🇦 Durban | You Save / day |
|---|---|---|---|
brokepackr Dorm bed · street food · free activities | $35 | $27 cheaper | $8/day |
backpackr Mix of dorm & private · restaurants | $55 | $45 cheaper | $10/day |
flashpackr Private rooms · dining out · some tours | $85 | $71 cheaper | $14/day |
Price Intelligence
Seasonal Price Curve
Everyday Costs
Cost of Living
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇿🇦 Durban |
|---|---|---|
| 🥙Street food meal Local market, street stall | $11.99 | $7.49 38% less |
| 🍽️Mid-range meal Sit-down restaurant, one person | $23.98 | $17.98 25% less |
| 🍺Beer (local draft) 500ml at a bar | $3 | $2.25 25% less |
| ☕Coffee Espresso or flat white | $2.36 | $2.29 3% less |
| 🚇Single metro / bus Standard single ticket | $1.20 27% less | $1.65 |
Brokepackr Deal Index™
Our Verdict + Hostel Quality
🇿🇦▼
Cape Town
South Africa
35
BDI: Pricey
Brokepackr Deal Index™
Higher dorm prices (avg $23/night). Strong hostel scene (15 hostels).
Hostel Quality
Avg guest rating8.5
Top-rated hostelKhaya Kite & Yoga (9.8)
Annual dorm avg$23/night
Total hostels15
🇿🇦▼
Durban
South Africa
32
BDI: Pricey
Brokepackr Deal Index™
Higher dorm prices (avg $17/night).
Hostel Quality
Avg guest rating8.5
Top-rated hostelAnsteys Beach Backpackers (10.0)
Annual dorm avg$17/night
Total hostels5
Flights
Getting There
City to City
Getting Between Cape Town & Durban
Things To Do
Top Attractions
🇿🇦 Cape Town
No attraction data
🇿🇦 Durban
1. Gunners Memorial and Garden of RemembranceFree
2. Harry EscombeFree
3. Jan SmutsFree
4. John RossFree
5. Krafts4UFree
Common Questions
FAQ
Is Cape Town or Durban cheaper for backpackers?+
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