CPT - SFO

R11 340 Find Cheap Flights from Cape Town to San Francisco – Compare and Save

1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

Save 29% or more on flights. Compare deals from all over the web.

Never overpay with our price tracking tools.

Filter searches by price, airline and more to find your best flights.

Everything you should know

Cheapest return flight
R17 225
Typical prices: R16 283-R21 644
United Airlines
Wed 4/4Wed 11/4
CPT - SFO • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way flight
R10 764
Typical prices: R12 818-R20 990
Qatar Airways
Mon 5/3
CPT - SFO • 1 stop
Direct flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between Cape Town and San Francisco. You'll need to take a connecting flight to reach the destination.
Insights
Insights
When to book
5 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 5 weeks in advance save around 26% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
February
Cheapest • 12% price drop
July
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top stopover airports
Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)
Cheapest • Avg R16 659 (return)
Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl (IAD)
Shortest trip • 23h 15m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Start a new search
KAYAK searches hundreds of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you enjoy your trip to San Francisco!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Cape Town to San Francisco (CPT-SFO)

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals from Cape Town to San Francisco

Sun, Apr 4 - Sun, Apr 11
United Airlines Logo
20:00 - 21:51CPT  Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco
34h 51m1 stop Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
United Airlines Logo
7:00 - 17:10SFO  San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl
25h 10m1 stop Newark
R17 225United Airlines
1 day ago
Sun, Apr 4 - Sun, Apr 11
United Airlines Logo
20:00 - 14:22CPT  Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco
27h 22m2 stops Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Los Angeles
United Airlines Logo
22:50 - 15:20SFO  San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl
31h 30m2 stops Chicago O'Hare Intl Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
R17 225United Airlines
1 day ago
Thu, Dec 24 - Thu, Dec 31
Virgin Atlantic Logo
19:35 - 14:50CPT  Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco
29h 15m1 stop London Heathrow
Virgin Atlantic Logo
6:05 - 18:35SFO  San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl
26h 30m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
R17 291Virgin Atlantic
9 hours ago
Thu, Dec 24 - Thu, Dec 31
Multiple Airlines Logo
19:35 - 14:50CPT  Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco
29h 15m1 stop London Heathrow
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:05 - 23:35SFO  San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl
31h 30m2 stops Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Johannesburg OR Tambo
R17 307Multiple Airlines
9 hours ago
Thu, Dec 24 - Thu, Dec 31
Multiple Airlines Logo
21:00 - 21:02CPT  Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco
34h 02m2 stops London Heathrow Los Angeles
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:05 - 23:35SFO  San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl
31h 30m2 stops Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Johannesburg OR Tambo
R17 406Multiple Airlines
9 hours ago
Tue, Dec 22 - Tue, Dec 29
Delta Logo
20:50 - 17:54CPT  Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco
31h 04m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
Delta Logo
22:00 - 18:35SFO  San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl
34h 35m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
R19 648Delta
1 day ago
Sat, Apr 3 - Sun, Apr 11
KLM Logo
23:15 - 11:45CPT  Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco
45h 30m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol
KLM Logo
11:05 - 21:25SFO  San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl
25h 20m2 stops Los Angeles Amsterdam Schiphol
R23 637KLM
3+ days ago
Sat, Apr 3 - Sun, Apr 11
KLM Logo
23:15 - 11:45CPT  Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco
45h 30m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol
KLM Logo
13:45 - 21:25SFO  San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl
22h 40m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol
R23 637KLM
3+ days ago
Sun, Dec 20 - Sun, Dec 27
Emirates Logo
20:00 - 13:35CPT  Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco
27h 35m1 stop Dubai Intl
Emirates Logo
15:40 - 16:45SFO  San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl
39h 05m1 stop Dubai Intl
R28 203Emirates
3+ days ago
Sun, Nov 22 - Mon, Dec 7
Delta Logo
7:30 - 11:45CPT  Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco
38h 15m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol
Delta Logo
13:50 - 22:40SFO  San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl
22h 50m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol
R100 119Delta
7 hours ago
Booking Insights

Price, demand, and travel trends for Cape Town to San Francisco flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines, and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

How much is a return flight from Cape Town to San Francisco?

Return flights from Cape Town to San Francisco typically range from R16 283 to R21 644. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was R17 225 on United Airlines.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from Cape Town to San Francisco?

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Tuesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Cape Town to San Francisco. It's 6% cheaper than the average day, while Thursday is the most expensive, with prices 16% higher.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Cape Town to San Francisco?

•February is the cheapest month to fly from Cape Town to San Francisco at R15 890 return.
•April (R36 560) and November (R24 412) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 130% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are flights from Cape Town to San Francisco the cheapest?

Flights from Cape Town to San Francisco are cheapest 5 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 26% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Find deals

Key details for Cape Town to San Francisco flights

Low season

February

Cheapest flight

R10 764
Beat the crowds with an average 55% drop in travellers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 74% increase in travellers.
One-way flight from Cape Town to San Francisco

When to book flights from Cape Town to San Francisco

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Cape Town to San Francisco based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price

Your Cape Town to San Francisco flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines, and booking tips.

  • Which cabin classes can I book on flights from Cape Town to San Francisco?

    Three cabin classes are available on flights from Cape Town to San Francisco:

    • Economy class
    • Premium Economy Class
    • Business Class

  • How long is a flight from Cape Town to San Francisco?

    A direct flight from Cape Town to San Francisco takes 00m, covering 26 533 km.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from Cape Town to San Francisco?

    Yes, a valid passport is required for this international route. Many destinations require at least six months of validity beyond your travel dates. Check your passport expiry well before booking.

  • How much should I expect to pay for a Cape Town to San Francisco flight?

    Return flights from Cape Town to San Francisco range from R16 283 to R21 644, with an average of R18 065 over the past 12 months. Anything below R16 283 counts as a good deal.

  • How expensive are last-minute Cape Town to San Francisco flights?

    Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 26% above the R18 065 route average. Book 5 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

  • How are flight prices from Cape Town to San Francisco looking right now?

    One-way fares from Cape Town to San Francisco are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about R13 795, which is 16% below the typical average for this route.

  • Which car hire options are available at San Francisco Airport (SFO)?

    San Francisco Airport (SFO) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates averaging R1 033 for economy cars. Top options include:

    • Europcar
    • Thrifty
    • Dollar
    • Hertz
    • Fox

  • Which airports can I use when flying from Cape Town to San Francisco?

    Flights from Cape Town to San Francisco usually depart from Cape Town Intl (CPT) and arrive at San Francisco (SFO).

  • Which airports do connecting flights from Cape Town to San Francisco pass through?

    One-stop flights from Cape Town to San Francisco most commonly connect through:

    • Doha Hamad Intl (DOH) – 18% of one-stop connections
    • Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) – 16% of one-stop connections
    • Dubai Intl (DXB) – 16% of one-stop connections
    • Newark (EWR) – 15% of one-stop connections

  • Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from Cape Town to San Francisco?

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 20% on flights from Cape Town to San Francisco. Tuesday is the cheapest departure day at R17 011 return on average, while Thursday is the most expensive at R21 082, a difference of R4 071.

    KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to three days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

  • How much time can I save by choosing a different stopover airport from Cape Town to San Francisco?

    Flying via Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl (IAD) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 23h 15m, compared to 23h 26m via Newark (EWR) and 25h 21m via Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL).

  • What is the time difference between Cape Town and San Francisco?

    San Francisco is 10 hours behind Cape Town (Pacific Time vs South Africa Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

  • What popular places can I visit in San Francisco?

    Some of the most popular sights in San Francisco are Moscone Center and Fisherman's Wharf. These are among the most viewed places in San Francisco on KAYAK.

Your guide to booking Cape Town to San Francisco flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly, and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates are flexible, aim for a Tuesday departure and avoid flying on Thursday. On this route, Tuesday flights average R17 011, which is about R4 071 less than Thursday fares (19% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 5 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 26% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Cape Town to San Francisco trip for February. Fares historically average R15 890 return in that month – typically R20 670 less than the most expensive month, which is April (based on the last 12 months).

More options for your flight from Cape Town to San Francisco

Complete your trip to San Francisco with a hotel stay or car hire

Car hire in San Francisco
Hotels in San Francisco