Cape Town Hostel Prices

How much do hostels in Cape Town cost?

Available dorm-bed prices in Cape Town, South Africa range from $16 to $91/night over the next 3 months. HostelHound compares 41 hostels. Cheaper dates to stay include Oct 9.

On a typical date, the cheapest available dorm bed is around $16.

Based on current listings, October dorm beds typically start around $16/night.

At $16/night and up, Cape Town is one of the pricier hostel destinations in South Africa.

How these prices work: Hostelworld listings, based on one night and the selected dorm-bed type. “Typical starting price” is the median of daily minimum prices across 24 contributing properties—not the typical hostel’s price. Amounts are converted to USD; verify availability and final taxes and fees on Hostelworld. Filters can narrow the advertised results below, but this summary remains citywide. Latest city scrape: 2026-10-07T18:55:51.499Z.

Cheaper dates to stay

The lower-priced dates currently available include October 9 (one night). Cheaper stay dates show when lower prices are available. They do not say how far ahead to book.

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Check a hostel’s price history

Open a tracked hostel to see its own recent prices in Cape Town.

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Local knowledge for Cape Town

Where to stay

Long Street is the classic backpacker corridor, with hostels above bars and easy walking to the Company's Garden and the CBD. Observatory (Obs) runs cheaper and more local, and sits on the Metrorail southern line into town, though most travelers use a rideshare to reach the V&A Waterfront after dark.

Getting around

The MyCiTi bus from Cape Town International to the Civic Centre costs around R85. Buy a myconnect card at the airport terminal before you leave arrivals.
Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock runs every Saturday morning. Go before 11am. The best stalls sell out and the crowds get thick by noon.
Avoid hostels on or just off Bree Street if noise matters to you. The bar scene runs late on weekends and earplugs only do so much.

When to go

June through August is the cheapest window despite some rain, while December through mid-January, especially the New Year's stretch, pushes Long Street hostels to their highest prices of the year and beds book out weeks in advance.

Frequently asked questions

How much do hostels in Cape Town cost?

On a typical date, the cheapest available dorm bed is around $16. Dorm beds currently range from $16 to $91/night across the next 3 months of availability.

What are cheaper dates to stay in Cape Town?

Based on current listed prices, cheaper upcoming dates to stay in Cape Town include October 9.

How many hostels does HostelHound track in Cape Town?

HostelHound currently tracks 41 hostels in Cape Town, South Africa.

How much do hostels in Cape Town cost in October?

Based on current listings, October dorm beds typically start around $16/night.

Is Cape Town affordable compared to other hostel cities in South Africa?

Cape Town is one of the pricier hostel destinations in South Africa, with dorm prices starting from $16/night.

Where do backpackers stay in Cape Town?

Long Street is the classic backpacker corridor, with hostels above bars and easy walking to the Company's Garden and the CBD. Observatory (Obs) runs cheaper and more local, and sits on the Metrorail southern line into town, though most travelers use a rideshare to reach the V&A Waterfront after dark.

What is the best time of year to visit Cape Town?

June through August is the cheapest window despite some rain, while December through mid-January, especially the New Year's stretch, pushes Long Street hostels to their highest prices of the year and beds book out weeks in advance.