The average price of a 7-day trip to South Africa is $1,814 for a solo traveler, $3,138 for a couple, and $1,891 for a family of 4. South Africa hotels range from $46 to $210 per night with an average of $82, while most vacation rentals will cost $120 to $470 per night for the entire home. Average worldwide flight costs to South Africa (from all airports) are between $1,100 and $2,001 per person for economy flights and $3,454 to $6,283 for first class. Depending on activities, we recommend budgeting $36 to $75 per person per day for transportation and enjoying local restaurants.
See below for average, budget, and luxury trip costs. You can also look up flight costs from your airport for more tailored flight pricing.
The Cheapest Times to Visit South Africa
On average, these will be the cheapest dates to fly to South Africa and stay in a South Africa hotel:
- January 8th to March 25th
- April 23rd to May 20th (except the week of May 7th)
- August 27th to September 23rd
- October 22nd to December 9th
The absolute cheapest time to take a vacation in South Africa is usually late January.
Average South Africa Trip Costs
Average Solo Traveler
The average cost for one person to visit South Africa for a week is $1,194-$2,764($171-$395 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $36 to $75 per day for one person’s daily expenses
Flights: $588 to $1,711 for economy
Lodging: $59 to $75 per night for one 2 or 3-star hotel room
or $72 to $88 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental
Average Couple’s Trip
The average cost for a couple to visit South Africa for a week is $2,041-$4,993($292-$713 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $73 to $149 per day for two people’s daily expenses
Flights: $1,176 to $3,422 for economy
Lodging: $59 to $75 per night for one 2 or 3-star hotel room
or $72 to $88 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental
Average Family Vacation
The average cost for 4 people to visit South Africa for a week is $4,022-$9,843($575-$1,406 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $146 to $299 per day for four people’s daily expenses
Flights: $2,352 to $6,844 for economy
Lodging: $118 to $151 per night for two 2 or 3-star hotel rooms
or $108 to $132 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental
Traveling Cheap to South Africa
How cheap can you make a vacation to South Africa? The cheapest trip to South Africa is about $135 per person per day for travelers willing to take standby flights, deal with inconvenience, and otherwise limit travel expenses. About 4% of rentals are available in the $0 to $100 range for an entire place, and vacation rentals can be booked for as low as $16 per night. These inexpensive rentals must be booked as early as possible and may not be in the most desirable areas. 1-star hotels are more likely to be available, with rooms starting at around $39.
Even cheaper trips are possible depending on where you live and whether you can drive. Check the cheapest times to fly for more saving ideas.
Budget Solo Traveler
The lowest cost for one person to visit South Africa for a week is $948-$2,623($135-$375 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $18 to $36 per day for one person’s daily expenses
Flights: $588 to $1,711 for economy
Lodging: $39 to $46 per night for one 1-star hotel room
or $80 to $110 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental
Budget Couple’s Trip
The lowest cost for a couple to visit South Africa for a week is $1,662-$4,593($237-$656 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $36 to $73 per day for two people’s daily expenses
Flights: $1,176 to $3,422 for economy
Lodging: $39 to $46 per night for one 1-star hotel room
or $80 to $110 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental
Budget Family Vacation
The lowest cost for 4 people to visit South Africa for a week is $3,337-$8,850($477-$1,264 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $73 to $146 per day for four people’s daily expenses
Flights: $2,352 to $6,844 for economy
Lodging: $79 to $93 per night for two 1-star hotel rooms
or $122 to $164 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental
Overall it is very possible to travel to South Africa cheaply.
The Cost of a Luxury South Africa Trip
There is no true ceiling on the cost of a luxury trip, so our estimates are based on what most people do in South Africa.
Luxury Solo Traveler
The high-end price for one person to visit South Africa for a week is $2,625-$10,862($375-$1,552 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $73 to $150 per day for one person’s daily expenses
Flights: $1,478 to $4,274 for first class
Lodging: $106 to $210 per night for one 4 or 5-star hotel room
or $463 to $923 per night for a preferred vacation rental
Luxury Couple’s Trip
The high-end price for a couple to visit South Africa for a week is $4,615-$16,187($659-$2,312 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $146 to $300 per day for two people’s daily expenses
Flights: $2,957 to $8,549 for first class
Lodging: $106 to $210 per night for one 4 or 5-star hotel room
or $463 to $923 per night for a preferred vacation rental
Luxury Family Vacation
The high-end price for 4 people to visit South Africa for a week is $9,237-$29,607($1,320-$4,230 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $293 to $599 per day for four people’s daily expenses
Flights: $5,914 to $17,098 for first class
Lodging: $212 to $420 per night for two 4 or 5-star hotel rooms
or $696 to $1,386 per night for a preferred vacation rental
South Africa Hotel Prices
The cost of staying in South Africa is slightly lower than the average city. On average hotels are less expensive than vacation rentals. Luxury vacation rentals are more expensive in South Africa due to very high property costs. The graphs below show how much cost can vary depending on the type of experience you’re looking for.
South Africa Lodging Cost by Star Status
The average price for the class of hotel is on the (y) axis. The hotel class (out of 5 stars) is on the (x) axis.
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Prices are based on South Africa hotel averages and may not reflect current prices. In some cases, we extrapolate prices to estimate costs, and hotels with your desired star rating may not be available.
Vacation Rental Prices
The percent of vacation rentals in the price range is on the left (y) axis. Price range is on the bottom (x) axis.
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There are a healthy amount of vacation rentals serving all budgets in South Africa.
Flight Costs to South Africa
Averaging flights around the world, prices go from a high of $2,001 average in late December to a low of $1,100 in late January. Median flight price is $1,324. These prices are based on millions of flights. For South Africa our data includes thousands of originating airports, and hundreds of airlines. The area has more variance in price compared with other locations.
Average Flight Cost by Season
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Average Flight Cost by Day of Week
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The cheapest day to fly in is typically Tuesday, and the cheapest day to fly back is usually Tuesday. Click here to see data for the cost of flights from your airport. In South Africa, the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive week is about $901, so you can easily save about 82% simply by using our free flight guides and booking in advance.
Daily Expenses Budget
Daily vacation expenses vary more based on what you’re interested in doing. A fine dining restaurant with drinks around South Africa can easily cost $273 per person or more, while a standard nice meal might be about $18 per person. Private tours can cost $547 per day, but self-guided tours to see the outdoor sights can be free. Costs vary wildly, so recommendations are made based on the cost of living and averages we see for this type of vacation.