CPT - SFO

R10 013 Find Cheap Flights from Cape Town to San Francisco – Compare and Save

1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Everything you should know

Cheapest return flight
R15 401
Typical prices: R15 965-R21 079
Virgin Atlantic
Tue 2/10Thu 18/10
CPT - SFO • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way flight
R10 045
Typical prices: R12 447-R19 148
Qatar Airways
Sun 18/11
CPT - SFO • 1 stop
Direct flights
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
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 21 weeks in advance save around 31% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 12% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top stopover airports
Cheapest • Avg R17 292 (return)
Shortest trip • 23h 25m (one-way)
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Insights
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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

Fri, Oct 2 - Sun, Oct 18
Virgin Atlantic Logo
20:05 - 19:58CPT  Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco
32h 53m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
Virgin Atlantic Logo
17:55 - 7:30SFO  San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl
28h 35m1 stop London Heathrow
R15 401Virgin Atlantic
Fri, Oct 2 - Sun, Oct 18
Virgin Atlantic Logo
20:05 - 21:39CPT  Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco
34h 34m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
Virgin Atlantic Logo
18:38 - 7:30SFO  San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl
27h 52m2 stops Los Angeles Los Angeles London Heathrow
R15 563Virgin Atlantic
Sun, Oct 25 - Sun, Nov 1
Delta Logo
20:50 - 23:56CPT  Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco
36h 06m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
Delta Logo
8:00 - 18:35SFO  San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl
24h 35m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
R16 228Delta
Mon, Nov 16 - Tue, Dec 1
Delta Logo
22:00 - 11:41CPT  Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco
47h 41m2 stops London Heathrow Boston Logan Intl
Delta Logo
11:49 - 12:05SFO  San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl
38h 16m2 stops Los Angeles Los Angeles London Heathrow
R16 521Delta
Mon, Feb 1 - Wed, Feb 17
Multiple Airlines Logo
19:10 - 13:51CPT  Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco
52h 41m2 stops Frankfurt am Main Vancouver Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:00 - 11:40SFO  San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl
37h 40m2 stops Toronto Pearson Intl Dubai Intl
R16 521Multiple Airlines
Mon, Feb 1 - Wed, Feb 17
United Airlines Logo
20:50 - 13:44CPT  Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco
26h 54m1 stop Newark
United Airlines Logo
10:20 - 18:00SFO  San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl
21h 40m1 stop Newark
R16 699United Airlines
Mon, Feb 1 - Wed, Feb 17
United Airlines Logo
20:50 - 17:44CPT  Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco
30h 54m2 stops Newark Los Angeles Los Angeles
United Airlines Logo
10:20 - 18:00SFO  San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl
21h 40m1 stop Newark
R16 699United Airlines
Tue, Oct 13 - Tue, Oct 20
Multiple Airlines Logo
20:05 - 17:02CPT  Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco
29h 57m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
Multiple Airlines Logo
17:55 - 12:40SFO  San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl
33h 45m2 stops London Heathrow Johannesburg OR Tambo
R16 715Multiple Airlines
Thu, Oct 1 - Thu, Oct 8
KLM Logo
23:15 - 20:32CPT  Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco
30h 17m2 stops Amsterdam Schiphol Minneapolis St Paul
KLM Logo
13:45 - 21:25SFO  San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl
22h 40m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol
R16 796KLM
Thu, Oct 1 - Thu, Oct 8
KLM Logo
23:15 - 20:32CPT  Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco
30h 17m2 stops Amsterdam Schiphol Minneapolis St Paul
KLM Logo
7:00 - 21:25SFO  San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl
29h 25m2 stops New York John F Kennedy Intl Amsterdam Schiphol
R16 878KLM
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 from Cape Town to San Francisco with more confidence.

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

Return flights from Cape Town to San Francisco start at R15 401. Prices are below average for this route right now, with typical return fares ranging from R15 965 to R21 079. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was R15 401 on Virgin Atlantic.

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

Tuesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Cape Town to San Francisco and is 4% cheaper than the average day. Saturday is the most expensive day with flight prices 20% higher than average. Based on deals found by KAYAK users in the last 12 months.

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 644 return.
  • April (R30 104) and June (R21 373) are the most expensive months.
  • The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 92% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

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

Flights from Cape Town to San Francisco are cheapest 21 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 31% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Key details for Cape Town to San Francisco flights

Low season

February

Cheapest flight

R10 045
Best time to beat the crowds (12% less expensive on average)
Flights 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 route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines, and booking questions.

  • 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 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

  • 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
    • London Heathrow (LHR) – 17% of one-stop connections
    • Dubai Intl (DXB) – 15% of one-stop connections
    • Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) – 13% of one-stop connections

    Doha Hamad Intl (DOH) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

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

    Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 20% on the Cape Town to San Francisco route. Tuesday is the cheapest departure day at R17 267 return on average, while Saturday is the most expensive at R21 438, a difference of R4 171. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

  • What popular places can I visit in San Francisco?

    Fisherman's Wharf is one of the most viewed places in San Francisco on KAYAK.

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

    Last-minute fares on this route (booked within 2 weeks of departure) run 29% above the route average of R17 816. Book 21 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

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

    A direct flight from Cape Town to San Francisco takes 0h 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 are flight prices from Cape Town to San Francisco looking right now?

    One-way fares from Cape Town to San Francisco are currently in line with typical prices for this route. Average one-way fares are about R15 602.

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

    Flying via Newark (EWR) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 23h 25m, compared to 24h 10m via Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl (IAD) and 26h 28m via Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL).

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

    San Francisco is 9 hours behind Cape Town (Pacific Time vs South Africa Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

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

    San Francisco Airport (SFO) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around R248 for economy cars. Top options include:
    • Thrifty
    • Europcar
    • Dollar
    • Hertz
    • Fox

  • 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 R15 965 to R21 079, with an average of R17 816 over the past 12 months. Anything below R15 965 counts as a good deal.

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 instead of Saturday. On this route, Tuesday flights average R17 267 – about R4 171 less than Saturday (19% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 21 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 31% 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 644 return in that month – typically R14 460 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