Moving to South Africa

With its warm climate, stunning landscapes, and relatively low cost of living, South Africa attracts expats seeking adventure, career opportunities, or a relaxed lifestyle. The country offers vibrant cities, world-class game reserves, and a high standard of living, although challenges like crime and economic disparities exist.

Expats with in-demand skills can find job opportunities, while families benefit from quality private healthcare and education. With the right preparation, moving to South Africa can be both exciting and rewarding.

Living in South Africa as an expat

South Africa has 11 official languages, but expats needn’t worry, as most of the locals speak English fairly well. What’s more, adapting to the culture is fairly easy and enjoying the South African lifestyle is effortless.

As a result of skill shortages in sectors such as engineering, education, executive management and information technology, expats with the right skills and experience shouldn’t struggle to find employment. Securing a visa and work permit will be one of the more challenging aspects of moving to South Africa, as the country is notorious for its slow bureaucracy.

Housing in the country is generally of a high standard and improves with your affordability. You can find everything from apartments and townhouses to freestanding homes in gated communities with swimming pools. Most expats choose to live in manned security complexes, where you can find a variety of housing options and a higher level of security than in freestanding homes.

Although there are several public transport options available, many are not up to the standards most expats are used to. As such, most expats opt to buy a car in South Africa, which can be fairly pricey. If you live in a major city like Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban, you can also use ride-hailing services to get around.

Working in South Africa 
Visas for South Africa 
Local Culture in South Africa

Cost of living in South Africa

The cost of living in South Africa is low compared to many destinations overseas and roughly on par with the other more developed African countries. Expats with foreign-currency incomes will be in an excellent position, while those who earn South African rand may find local salaries less competitive than they are used to.

The cost of accommodation in population centres like Cape Town and Johannesburg can be high, but South Africa’s property prices are mainly quite reasonable. Petrol is cheap relative to European prices, which is a blessing because driving cars is the main form of transport.

Local groceries are good quality and well-priced, but imported items (including electronics and cars) are costly. Most expat parents go for private education and healthcare, and these costs vary depending on quality. Expats typically opt for health insurance to help mitigate high costs in emergencies.

Cost of Living in South Africa 
Accommodation in South Africa 
Transport and Driving in South Africa

Families and children in South Africa

Despite issues in the respective public sector, private healthcare in South Africa is world-class. Expat parents will also be glad to know that several of its universities are internationally ranked. The country’s private schools offer a level of education comparable to the best schools around the world, and there are even some public schools that should meet expats’ expectations.

Unfortunately, there is still some way to go in addressing the disparities entrenched by the apartheid era, and crime in South Africa continues to be a problem that affects many citizens and businesses. Private security is a necessary precaution and, with a booming security industry, can easily be contracted for affordable rates.

Healthcare in South Africa 
Education and Schools in South Africa

Climate in South Africa

South Africa’s sunny weather attracts expats and tourists from colder countries yearly. It’s a large country with coastal areas, plateaus, deserts, and forests, each with its own climate.

The coastal regions usually have milder summers and winters. The west coast’s Atlantic brings a Mediterranean feel to Cape Town, while the east coast’s Indian Ocean makes Durban and Port Elizabeth more tropical. Winters are wet, and summers are generally dry.

Inland, the inverse is true. Summers bring afternoon thunderstorms to Johannesburg, while winters are dry. Temperatures in the inland are also given to higher highs and lower lows – highs of up to or exceeding 104°F (40°C) are possible in the summer, and frost in the winter is not unheard of.

While life in the southernmost African country is far from perfect, South Africa’s wonderful weather, reasonable cost of living, friendly population and high quality of life often convince many an expat to stay far longer than they intended.

Climate Charts for South Africa

Fast facts

Official name: Republic of South Africa

Population: Over 63 million

Capital cities: Cape Town (legislative), Pretoria (executive), Bloemfontein (judicial)

Neighbouring countries: Along South Africa’s northern border from west to east are Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and Mozambique. Lesotho is situated on the eastern side of South Africa and is entirely surrounded by the Republic.

Geography: South Africa has a long coastline of 1,600 miles (2,500km) that hugs the south of the country from east to west. A vast plateau characterises the inland area, while a large portion of the south is occupied by a semidesert shrubland called the Karoo.

Political system: Constitutional parliamentary republic

Major religions: Freedom of religion is enshrined in the South African constitution. Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism are the most prominent religions.

Main languages: South Africa has 11 official languages, although English is the standard form of communication. Afrikaans and the Xhosa, Zulu and Sesotho languages are also widely spoken and vary in prevalence depending on geographic location.

Money: The South African Rand (ZAR) is divided into 100 cents. Opening a bank account is usually easy and possible with identification and proof of address. ATMs are widespread but might be more difficult to find in some rural areas. Internet banking is widely available.

Tipping: 10 percent (or more for good service) is common.

Time: GMT+2

Electricity: 230V, 50Hz. Typically, three-pin round plugs are standard.

Internet domain: .za

International dialling code: +27

Emergency contacts: 10111

Transport and driving: Cars drive on the left. Despite the introduction of rapid transport systems in some areas, public transport is generally of a low standard, and most expats purchase a vehicle. Roads are largely of good quality, but certain rural roads may be in disrepair.