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Cape Town vs Johannesburg: weather compared

Across the year, Cape Town has the better travel weather in 6 months and Johannesburg in 5 — based purely on climate data, not opinion. Best months: Cape Town in September–May, Johannesburg in March–October.

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Cape Town · South Africa

January: 17 mm rainFebruary: 12 mm rainMarch: 43 mm rainApril: 33 mm rainMay: 73 mm rainJune: 136 mm rainJuly: 144 mm rainAugust: 99 mm rainSeptember: 53 mm rainOctober: 46 mm rainNovember: 24 mm rainDecember: 32 mm rainJanuary high: 26°CFebruary high: 26°CMarch high: 24°CApril high: 22°CMay high: 19°CJune high: 18°CJuly high: 16°CAugust high: 17°CSeptember high: 18°COctober high: 21°CNovember high: 22°CDecember high: 24°CJanuary low: 17°CFebruary low: 17°CMarch low: 16°CApril low: 14°CMay low: 12°CJune low: 11°CJuly low: 10°CAugust low: 10°CSeptember low: 11°COctober low: 13°CNovember low: 15°CDecember low: 16°CJFMAMJJASOND Avg high Avg low Rainfall

Johannesburg · South Africa

January: 108 mm rainFebruary: 103 mm rainMarch: 39 mm rainApril: 71 mm rainMay: 14 mm rainJune: 11 mm rainJuly: 1 mm rainAugust: 3 mm rainSeptember: 12 mm rainOctober: 38 mm rainNovember: 84 mm rainDecember: 125 mm rainJanuary high: 25°CFebruary high: 25°CMarch high: 25°CApril high: 21°CMay high: 20°CJune high: 17°CJuly high: 17°CAugust high: 21°CSeptember high: 25°COctober high: 26°CNovember high: 26°CDecember high: 25°CJanuary low: 15°CFebruary low: 14°CMarch low: 13°CApril low: 10°CMay low: 7°CJune low: 4°CJuly low: 4°CAugust low: 7°CSeptember low: 10°COctober low: 12°CNovember low: 14°CDecember low: 15°CJFMAMJJASOND Avg high Avg low Rainfall

At a glance

MetricCape TownJohannesburg
Hottest month high26°C26°C
Coldest month low10°C4°C
Annual rainfall710 mm608 mm
Avg sunshine10.5 h/day10.7 h/day
Best monthsSeptember–MayMarch–October

Travel score, month by month

MonthCape TownJohannesburgBetter weather
January 10.0 · Excellent 8.4 · Good Cape Town
February 10.0 · Excellent 8.6 · Excellent Cape Town
March 10.0 · Excellent 9.8 · Excellent Cape Town
April 10.0 · Excellent 9.8 · Excellent Cape Town
May 9.6 · Excellent 10.0 · Excellent Johannesburg
June 8.7 · Excellent 10.0 · Excellent Johannesburg
July 7.6 · Good 10.0 · Excellent Johannesburg
August 8.1 · Good 10.0 · Excellent Johannesburg
September 9.8 · Excellent 10.0 · Excellent Johannesburg
October 10.0 · Excellent 10.0 · Excellent
November 10.0 · Excellent 8.8 · Excellent Cape Town
December 10.0 · Excellent 7.8 · Good Cape Town

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Frequently asked questions

Which has better weather, Cape Town or Johannesburg?

Cape Town has the better travel weather in 6 of 12 months, versus 5 for Johannesburg — based on temperature, rainfall and sunshine.

When is the best time to visit Cape Town?

The best months to visit Cape Town are September–May, based on six years of climate data.

When is the best time to visit Johannesburg?

The best months to visit Johannesburg are March–October, based on six years of climate data.

Where should you go next month?

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