Sub-Saharan Africa · 1 city covered
We track one city in South Africa. Its mid-range shoulder-season day comes to $236, which is 15% below the median across all 68 cities in the index.
Cape Town is the anchor — mountain-meets-ocean drama and wine-farm afternoons. Accommodation is 51% of the mid-range day there, so where you sleep decides most of the budget.
Season coefficients are calibrated per city, not shared. Across South Africa the peak-to-low swing runs 66%–66%, widest in Cape Town (66%, southern-hemisphere summer peak pattern: low May–Aug at ×0.82, peak Jan–Feb, Dec at ×1.36). Peak sits over the southern summer and local school holidays in December–February; the winter trough is real but mild in coastal cities.
Mid-range, shoulder season, same five line items. Difference is relative to South Africa ($236/day).
| Country | Mid · shoulder | vs South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya | $236/day | — |
| Tanzania | $236/day | — |
On average, a mid-range traveller spends $236 per day in South Africa during shoulder season. Budget travellers can get by on around $84/day, while a luxury trip averages $899/day.
The most affordable destination in South Africa is Cape Town, where a budget trip costs about $84 per day in low season.
At the top end, Cape Town reaches around $899 per day during peak season.
The best windows vary by city, but many destinations in South Africa are ideal during Nov–Mar or shoulder season for a balance of weather and price.