How much spending money do I need for South Africa?
If you have a trip to South Africa coming up - as a tourist, to visit friends and family, for work or for any other reason - it’s important to know how much spending money is needed based on your plans. This guide looks at the prices in South Africa for tourists, including some budgeting tips and ideas, for luxury and budget travel alike.
How Much Money Should You Take to South Africa?
So - your question might well be: how much do I need in ZAR (South African Rand) for a week in South Africa?
We'll break down how much money you should take to South Africa by different spending types later - but first, an overview. Here are some handy estimates to give you a flavour, looking at the costs of accommodation, food, transport and sightseeing, so you can start to budget, and decide how much money to bring to South Africa, based on your spending for a day or for a week.
| Travel Style | Average Daily cost | One Week cost |
|---|---|---|
| Budget (Cheap) | $36 ZAR 659 | $252 ZAR 4,611 |
| Mid-range | $92 ZAR 1,683 | $644 ZAR 11,783 |
| High-end (Luxury) | $243 ZAR 4,446 | $1,701 ZAR 31,123 |
How Much Cash Should You Take to South Africa?
Let's kick off with some key points when it comes to deciding how much cash to take to South Africa.
While cash is still used in South Africa, many stores, restaurants and hotels would prefer card payments. Plus, taking a card to spend with instead of carrying lots of cash is more convenient and secure. You’ll still be able to use your card whenever you need to, to make ATM withdrawals - handy for when cash is easier, like for tipping or small purchases.
Bear in mind that some ATMs may charge extra fees for foreign cards - and your own card issuer might have fees including foreign transaction fees and out of network ATM costs. Using an international travel debit card from a provider like Wise can make overseas spending cheaper.
Wise travel card
Order a Wise travel card to buy, hold and exchange 40+ currencies. You’ll be able to spend conveniently in South Africa - and all currency exchange uses the mid-market rate with no markup.
Card holders get some free ATM withdrawals available every month, and there’s no annual or monthly fees to pay, and no minimum balance requirement.
Is South Africa Expensive to Visit (in 2024)?
Ultimately, the cost of visiting South Africa varies depending on your plans, and how you like to enjoy yourself when you're abroad.
Overall, South Africa is rated as a "fairly affordable" place to visit by BudgetYourTrip. Accommodation, food, and activities are all available to suit any budget - but you'll need to plan your time to make sure you're making the most of both your time and your money while you're away.
What Currency should I take to South Africa?
The official local currency used in South Africa is the South African Rand-ZAR. If you plan to take cash with you to spend while you're away, you'll need South African Rand.
The currency symbol is R, which is what you'll see in stores and on restaurant menus.
| South African Rand | |
|---|---|
| Currency name | South African Rand |
| Currency symbol | R |
| Currency code | ZAR |
| Exchange rate today | 1 USD = 18.297 ZAR 1 ZAR = 0.0546538 USD |
How to Save Money in South Africa - Traveller tips
No matter what you're planning on doing during your trip to South Africa, you want to make sure your money goes as far as possible.
Here are some top tips to save money in South Africa:
- Book your hotels or accommodation in advance to secure the best available deals
- Use public transport where possible, or approved taxi and ride hailing operators
- Use Google maps and reviews to find good restaurants. You'll often find better food and more reasonable prices away from the most touristy areas of town
- Look online for recommendations of free or low-cost attractions and activities in South Africa - blogs and travel magazines are a great place to start
- Use travel cards that offer fair exchange rates with transparent fees such as Wise, to keep down the costs of currency conversion and ATM use while you're away
Get a free multi-currency account and card to buy, hold, convert and send over 40 currencies. Fast, secure, easy and cheap transfers at the commercial exchange rate.
Get a Revolut account that supports 30+ currencies and cards to buy, store, send and receive money. Safe, reliable and cheap transfers at the real exchange rate.
Costs and Prices in South Africa for Tourists
Let's move on to the typical prices in South Africa for tourists. Below we've got a handy overview of prices for accommodation, food and services for tourists in South Africa. Use this along with your own research to figure out the likely costs and prices you'll come across during your visit.
Accommodation Costs in South Africa
Accommodation is usually one of the biggest costs on any trip abroad - but what you pay in the end will depend a lot on the accommodation type you pick. Below is an example of accommodation costs in South Africa based on two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room.
| Types of accommodation | Prices per night |
|---|---|
| Budget | $18 ZAR 329 |
| Mid-Range | $49 ZAR 897 |
| Luxury | $144 ZAR 2,635 |
Daily Food Costs in South Africa
Food is an important feature of a trip abroad for many of us - but what you spend can vary significantly depending on where you purchase your meals in South Africa. As you might expect, buying food from local markets and stores can be one of the cheapest options, or you could choose to eat at mid-range restaurants, or sample some high-end establishments.
Here's an example of how much a meal costs in South Africa based on different restaurant types.
| Types of Meal | Average Daily Cost |
|---|---|
| Budget | $9 ZAR 161 |
| Mid-Range | $21 ZAR 384 |
| Luxury | $48 ZAR 878 |
Cost of Drink & Beverages
Let's move on to the cost of beer, wine, water and other beverages in South Africa:
| Drink & Beverages | Prices |
|---|---|
| Beer (bottle) | $2 ZAR 31 |
| Wine (bottle) | $5 ZAR 83 |
| Can of Coca-cola /Pepsi | $1 ZAR 18 |
| Mineral water (1.5L bottle) | $1 ZAR 14 |
| Coffee, Cappuccino, Hot Chocolate | $2 ZAR 36 |
Travel Costs in South Africa
Once you've arrived in South Africa you still need to figure out how to get around. The cost of travel can be different depending on your preferences - and how much of a hurry you're in. Using public transport is often our cheapest choice, but getting a taxi or hiring a car could be faster and more flexible, depending on your budget.
Some common ways to save money on transport in South Africa include:
- Where possible use airport shuttles on arrival to get to the city centre
- Use buses, metro, trams or other public transport where you can - Google Maps can help you navigate more easily
Plan activities to limit the travel needed by covering the popular sites in one area before exploring the next, to avoid excess travel time
Use known taxi operators and approved ride-hailing companies.
Tourist Attractions Costs in South Africa
South Africa has many tourist attractions and beautiful places to visit.
The average daily cost for visiting attractions and entertainment in South Africa is R329 South African Rand ($18).
| Top Tourist Attractions | Information |
|---|---|
| Kruger National Park | One of Africa's largest game reserves, known for its Big Five and diverse wildlife. |
| Table Mountain | A flat-topped mountain offering panoramic views of Cape Town and the surrounding ocean. |
| Robben Island | A UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its history as a prison, including the incarceration of Nelson Mandela. |
Data Roaming, Internet, Local Sim Cards
Having easy access to your phone while you're away is important - not only to keep in touch with your friends and family, but also to navigate, look up good places to eat or visit, and to translate if needed. Make sure you don't get stuck without your phone - or with a big roaming bill - when you're in South Africa with these tips:
- Turn off your data roaming if you're concerned about running up excess fees, and only use your phone on secure wifi networks while you're away
- Check the roaming costs with your mobile operator - you may be able to add a roaming data package to your normal plan for a fairly low price
- Consider getting an international eSIM if your phone is compatible with eSIMs - these can be low hassle ways to keep access to your data, without needing to install a physical SIM card
- Check the SIM card price for tourists in South Africa, before travelling - you'll likely find people trying to sell you a local SIM in the airport when you arrive, so knowing the price you should pay can help you avoid scams
How Much Should You Tip in South Africa?
Tipping etiquette can vary a lot between countries, and naturally depends a lot on the type of establishment you're in, or service you've received. Generally, tipping around 10-15% of the bill when you are happy with the service is in line with expectations.
Bear in mind that in some places a service fee - which is a percentage of the amount you spend - is already added to the bill, and means you don't need to add an additional tip unless you really want to. Check your bill before you pay - or just ask if the tip has already been included or not.
Shopping and Souvenirs
Take away something to remember your trip to South Africa with - or as a gift to someone back home.
Zulu Beadwork and Rooibos Tea are the most popular souvenirs to buy from South Africa. While you can pick up these and many other souvenirs and gifts at the airport, you'll normally save money by buying them from local shops instead.
How to Get the Best Exchange Rate for South African Rand
Naturally you want to get the very best USD to ZAR exchange rate. However, bear in mind that you'll also need to pick a secure and reputable provider when you exchange money. Black market money changers may look like they're offering great rates but they're not safe or reliable. Look out for the USD - ZAR exchange rate online or at the currency exchange office.
Always seek out official exchange companies that offer fair rates and transparent fees. Or, consider getting a travel money card, such as Wise, to ensure your transactions are secure and convenient. Use your Wise card to pay where card transactions are supported, or to get cash from the ATM whenever you need it during your visit to South Africa.
The live exchange rate today is:
1 USD = 18.297 ZAR
1 ZAR = 0.0546538 USD
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