“Cape Town has been named the best-value winter sun destination for 2026 in the latest Post Office Travel Money Winter Sun Holiday Costs Barometer, which compared everyday tourist expenses across 24 international destinations. The report found that prices for commonly purchased holiday items in Cape Town had fallen by 9.7% since March, strengthening the city’s appeal to UK travellers looking for sunshine while keeping spending under control.”
Cape Town has received fresh international attention after being identified as the best-value winter sun destination in the latest Post Office Travel Money Winter Sun Holiday Costs Barometer. The finding, published on 26 September 2026, places the South African coastal city ahead of 23 other destinations examined for the cost of everyday holiday purchases.
The report is particularly relevant to UK travellers preparing for the Northern Hemisphere winter because it examines what visitors can expect to spend once they arrive at their destination. Cape Town recorded a barometer total of £58.24, putting it ahead of Mombasa in Kenya at £63.66 and Tokyo in Japan at £66.76.
The result gives Cape Town another opportunity to promote itself internationally as a destination that combines scenery, culture, food, outdoor activities and relatively accessible visitor spending. However, the research measures local holiday costs rather than the complete price of a trip. Flights and accommodation are specifically excluded, meaning travellers still need to consider the total cost of getting to and staying in the city.
What the 2026 research found
The Winter Sun Holiday Costs Barometer compared 24 destinations using a selection of products and services that tourists commonly purchase during a holiday. These included meals, drinks, coffee, beer, wine, bottled water, sun cream and insect repellent.
Cape Town’s overall figure was the lowest among the destinations included in the study. The report also found that prices in the city had fallen by 9.7% since March 2026, contributing to its position at the top of the latest assessment.
One of the clearest examples was the cost of an evening meal. A three-course dinner for two people, including a bottle of house wine, was reported at £39.26 in Cape Town. By comparison, the same type of meal in Scarborough, Tobago, came to £119.26, making it the most expensive destination surveyed for that particular comparison.
Mombasa recorded £42.78 for the meal, while Tokyo recorded £48.50. These figures illustrate why destinations in Africa performed strongly in the latest survey.
The report placed Mombasa second and Tokyo third, while Colombo, Phuket, the Algarve, Costa del Sol, Tenerife, Punta Cana and Penang completed the top 10.
Why Cape Town continues to attract international travellers
Cape Town’s appeal extends beyond the price of meals and other tourist essentials. The city offers a combination of natural landscapes, beaches, mountains, cultural attractions, restaurants, vineyards and urban experiences within a relatively concentrated destination.
Table Mountain remains one of its most recognisable attractions, while the Atlantic coastline provides beaches and waterfront experiences. The V&A Waterfront adds restaurants, shops, entertainment and harbour activities, while areas around the Cape Peninsula provide opportunities for sightseeing and outdoor exploration.
The city’s location also makes it possible for visitors to combine several types of travel experiences within one trip. A holiday can include city sightseeing, coastal excursions, food and wine experiences, hiking, cultural tourism and visits to nearby attractions.
This variety is significant for destination marketing because affordability is only one part of the decision-making process for international travellers. A destination also needs to offer experiences that justify the cost of travelling there.
Cape Town’s latest position in the Post Office research therefore provides another piece of evidence that the destination remains visible in the international winter-sun market.
A useful distinction between value and total holiday cost
Although the report is positive for Cape Town’s destination profile, travellers should understand what the ranking actually measures.
The Post Office research does not compare the complete cost of a holiday. Airfare, accommodation and other major expenses are excluded from the barometer. Instead, the research focuses on everyday spending after travellers arrive.
That distinction is important.
A destination can have relatively inexpensive restaurants, drinks and other tourist essentials while still requiring a significant budget for flights and accommodation. Conversely, a destination with higher daily prices might have cheaper flights or accommodation from a particular source market.
For this reason, the Cape Town result should be interpreted as an indication of on-the-ground tourist spending, rather than proof that an entire holiday to the city will cost less than travelling elsewhere.
The research nevertheless provides useful information for consumers because daily spending can form a substantial part of a holiday budget, particularly for longer stays.
Cape Town’s position in the African tourism market
Cape Town’s result also highlights the strength of African destinations in this year’s winter-sun comparison. Cape Town and Mombasa occupied the first two positions, showing that two African coastal destinations performed strongly when everyday visitor costs were considered.
For South Africa, the finding comes during Tourism Month, when the country is promoting domestic and international tourism and highlighting destinations beyond the country’s traditional hotspots. The national government has also placed emphasis on expanding tourism opportunities and showcasing a wider range of South African destinations.
Cape Town’s international visibility can potentially benefit surrounding tourism businesses, including accommodation providers, restaurants, tour operators, attractions, transport companies and cultural enterprises.
The city also serves as a gateway to the wider Western Cape, where travellers can access destinations such as the Cape Winelands, the Cape Peninsula and coastal communities.
What the result means for winter travel
For travellers from the UK, the timing of the announcement is significant. As autumn progresses in the Northern Hemisphere, interest in winter-sun destinations typically becomes more relevant to holiday planning.
The Post Office report was designed to help travellers compare the cost of everyday purchases at different destinations. Its findings suggest that looking beyond traditional European winter-sun markets may provide alternative options for travellers prepared to consider longer-haul destinations.
Cape Town’s position also demonstrates that destination affordability can change over time. The reported 9.7% decline in prices since March means that travellers considering a visit may encounter different local costs from those recorded earlier in the year.
However, exchange rates can change, and prices vary between businesses and neighbourhoods. Travellers should therefore use the report as a general guide rather than a guarantee of what they will spend.
Broader implications for South African tourism
The latest recognition adds to a series of positive developments around South Africa’s tourism sector. Recent industry reporting has pointed to continued growth in international arrivals, while Tourism Month activities are being used to promote both established attractions and lesser-known destinations.
The timing also coincides with preparations for World Tourism Day on 27 September 2026, with the national celebration taking place in Limpopo. The event is being held under the theme “Growing South Africa’s Tourism Sector in the Digital Era” and is intended to highlight technology, destination management, visitor experiences and sustainable tourism.
Although the Cape Town ranking is based on international consumer spending rather than South Africa’s domestic tourism strategy, the two developments illustrate the increasingly competitive nature of destination marketing.
Cities and regions are competing not only through traditional attractions but also through affordability, digital visibility, visitor experience and the ability to offer different forms of tourism.
Cape Town’s latest tourism spotlight
The new Post Office Travel Money report gives Cape Town another international destination story at a time when travellers are beginning to plan their winter holidays.
With a reported barometer cost of £58.24, the city recorded the lowest overall daily tourist basket among the 24 destinations assessed. Its three-course meal for two with wine was priced at £39.26, while local prices were reported to have fallen 9.7% since March.
The findings do not mean that every holiday to Cape Town will be inexpensive, because flights, hotels and individual travel choices can substantially change the final budget. Instead, they show that everyday visitor spending in the city compared favourably with the other destinations included in this particular 2026 study.
For South Africa’s tourism industry, the recognition provides another opportunity to showcase Cape Town’s combination of natural attractions, urban experiences, culture, food and outdoor activities to international audiences.
As travellers begin planning the Northern Hemisphere winter season, Cape Town is therefore entering the conversation with a fresh affordability credential—one that adds to the city’s established reputation as a major international tourism destination.
