Cape Town in South Africa has been identified as the most affordable winter sun destination for British tourists, according to a recent survey analyzing the cost of common tourist purchases. The Post Office Travel Money Winter Sun Holiday Costs Barometer assessed prices in 24 popular destinations by examining the average cost of a basket of eight items, including a three-course evening meal for two with house wine, drinks, sun cream, insect repellent, and coffee.
The survey found that the total cost of this basket in Cape Town was £58.24, making it the least expensive location among those analyzed. This represents a nearly 10 percent decrease in prices since March, despite the South African rand strengthening against the British pound by about 4.6 percent over the same period. The affordability in Cape Town, particularly for eating out, was highlighted by the average price of a three-course dinner with wine costing £39.26, the lowest among all destinations surveyed.
Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa ranked second, with the basket costing £63.66, followed by Tokyo in Japan at £66.76. While Mombasa’s prices have remained relatively steady, fluctuations in sterling’s exchange rate against the Kenyan shilling have meant overall costs for UK tourists are similar to earlier this year. Tokyo’s performance in the survey was notable for having the cheapest glass of wine at £2.53, despite higher overall living costs compared with the African cities.
The analysis included both long-haul and short-haul destinations, with a focus on places reachable without transiting through Middle Eastern airports. Several European locations also ranked among the more affordable winter sun options, with Portugal’s Algarve, Spain’s Costa del Sol, and Tenerife in the Canary Islands placing within the top eight. These destinations featured moderately higher costs, with a three-course meal for two including wine averaging £55 in the Algarve and £61 in Tenerife.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Scarborough in Tobago was identified as the most expensive destination, where the same basket of items reached £144.15. The three-course meal there averaged £119.26, representing the highest dining cost in the survey. Other pricey locations included St. George’s in Grenada, Funchal in Madeira, and Cancun in Mexico, with total basket prices exceeding £125.
The survey did not factor in travel or accommodation costs, focusing instead on local spending power for typical tourist essentials. Experts noted that lower inflation rates in South Africa contributed to Cape Town’s strong ranking despite currency fluctuations. Laura Plunkett, head of Post Office Travel Money, commented that South Africa and Kenya remain attractive not only for reliable winter sun but also for offering excellent value to holidaymakers.
Overall, the findings suggest that travelers can stretch their budgets further by considering African and certain Asian destinations for winter sun breaks, while price variations across Europe and the Caribbean point to the importance of researching local costs before booking.