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Expat Lifestyle

Private Schools

Family Friendly

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Expat Exchange > South Africa

South Africa

Coastal Beaches

Cost of Living: Moderate

Train Access: Yes (metrorail, gautrain, relatively safe)

Bus Service: Yes (MyCiTi, Rea Vaya, Go George, relatively safe)

South Africa is a large country located at the southern tip of Africa, bordered by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. It is known for its diverse landscapes, including savannas, mountains, and coastal regions, as well as its rich cultural heritage shaped by multiple ethnic groups and a complex history. The country has a mixed economy with significant natural resources, including gold, diamonds, and platinum, alongside growing sectors in technology and finance. South Africa offers a vibrant lifestyle with world-class cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg, excellent outdoor recreation opportunities, and a relatively developed infrastructure compared to other African nations. The country is home to iconic wildlife and national parks, most notably Kruger National Park. Life in South Africa combines modern urban amenities with access to natural beauty, though visitors and residents should be aware of safety considerations in certain areas.

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Podcasts

Episode 6: Jake Barber - Expat Finance Expert and Lifelong Expat

Jake Barber is an expat finance expert and the founder and principal of SJB Global. A lifelong expat currently living in Marbella, Spain, Jake has vast experience helping expats from the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries manage their finances while living abroad. Get a primer on what you need to know both before and after you move abroad!

Episode 8: Jake Barber - The Expat Finance Expert Returns

Jake Barber, the Founder and CEO of SJB Global, is a life-long expat and an expert in expat finance. Over the course of Expat Exchange's nearly 30 years online, there are few people we have met with as much lived experience and professional acumen as Jake. We were thrilled to welcome him back to the show and look forward to having him on again!

Living in South Africa

Movies Set: District 9, Invictus, Tsotsi, Out of Africa

Popular Foods: South African cuisine is a fusion of many different cultural influences, including Dutch, Malay, Indian, and indigenous African. Some of the most popular dishes include bobotie, a spiced minced meat baked with an egg-based topping; biltong, a type of dried, cured meat; and boerewors, a traditional South African sausage. Desserts like malva pudding, a sweet sponge pudding of Dutch origin, and koeksisters, deep-fried dough twisted into a braided shape then soaked in syrup, are also widely enjoyed.

Unusual Eats: Mopane worms, which are actually caterpillars, are considered a delicacy in South Africa. They are typically dried or smoked and have a chewy texture that can be off-putting to those not accustomed to eating insects.

Popular Sports: Rugby, Soccer, Cricket

Popular Teams: Springboks (rugby), Bafana Bafana (soccer), Proteas (cricket)

Cultural Faux Pas to Avoid: Pointing with your index finger can be considered rude in South Africa, so it's better to use a full hand or the thumb when indicating something. It's also a faux pas to assume that all South Africans understand or speak Afrikaans, as there are 11 official languages and not everyone speaks each one. Visitors should be aware of the country's complex history and avoid making insensitive comments about race or apartheid.

Best Places to Live in South Africa

Discover the top-ranked towns in South Africa. Click on the town's name for a full profile of each town.

Rankings are based on a combination of many factors including schools, recreation, family-friendliness, cost of living and crime.

Visa & Residency

Difficulty Obtaining: average

Popular Expat Visa/s: Critical Skills Visa, General Work Visa, Intra-Company Transfer Visa

Popular Nomad Visa/s: South Africa does not have a specific digital nomad visa, but digital nomads often use a Tourist Visa which allows them to stay for up to 90 days.

Obtaining a residency in South Africa involves several steps and the process can be quite bureaucratic, but it is manageable with the right preparation. The most common types of visas for expats seeking residency are the Critical Skills Visa, General Work Visa, and Intra-Company Transfer Visa. The Critical Skills Visa is aimed at individuals who possess skills or qualifications deemed critical by the South African government. Applicants must provide proof of their qualifications and an evaluation by the South African Qualifications Authority. This visa can lead to permanent residency if certain conditions are met. The General Work Visa requires a job offer from a South African employer and the employer must prove that the position could not be filled by a South African citizen. The Intra-Company Transfer Visa is for employees who are being transferred by their current employer to a branch, affiliate, or subsidiary in South Africa. The process for each visa involves submitting a completed application form along with various supporting documents, such as a passport valid for at least 30 days after the intended return date, a yellow fever vaccination certificate if the applicant traveled through or was in a yellow fever endemic area, proof of financial means, and a medical and radiological report. The application is submitted to a South African embassy, consulate, or Department of Home Affairs office. The processing time can vary greatly, from several weeks to several months. It is recommended to start the application process well in advance of the intended move date. The difficulty of the process can depend on the type of visa and the individual's circumstances, but generally, it is considered to have an average level of difficulty compared to other countries.

Healthcare in South Africa

South Africa has a two-tiered system comprising both a public and a private sector. The public healthcare system serves the majority of the population and is funded by the government, but it often faces challenges such as underfunding, staff shortages, and long waiting times. In contrast, the private healthcare sector offers higher quality services with better facilities and shorter waiting times, but it is also much more expensive and accessible primarily to middle and upper-class citizens or those with adequate health insurance. The cost of private healthcare is high compared to public healthcare, which is subsidized and more affordable, but still may be out of reach for many South Africans. Expats and digital nomads can access public healthcare services, but they are typically required to have health insurance or pay out of pocket for private care to ensure a higher standard of treatment. It is advisable for expats and digital nomads to have comprehensive health insurance that covers medical costs in private hospitals.

"Hi! I'm preparing to move to Johannesburg later this year from the United States and have questions about the financial part of things. I'll be paid my salary in US Dollars instead of South African Rand. I'm wondering about how easy it is to open a bank account in South Africa, and then transferring money from my US bank to a local South Africa bank as needed, or on a set schedule. Or, should I open a bank account with a bank that has branches in the US and South Africa? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Erin" - enirpi

Connect with Others on the South Africa Community

Cost of Living

South Africa offers relatively affordable living compared to developed Western nations, though costs vary significantly between cities and neighborhoods. Housing in major cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg ranges from moderate to expensive, with property prices and rental costs higher in desirable areas; however, affordable options exist in suburban and township areas. Daily expenses including groceries, dining, and transportation are generally low to moderate, making South Africa an attractive destination for expatriates seeking good value for money.

Weather

South Africa experiences a subtropical to temperate climate with significant regional variation. The country has a summer season from November to March, characterized by warm to hot temperatures and occasional rainfall, particularly in coastal and eastern regions. Winter months from June to August are mild to cool, with minimal rainfall in most areas except the southwestern Cape, which receives winter precipitation. Seasonal variation is moderate overall, with coastal areas experiencing more temperate conditions year-round compared to inland regions.

Educational System in South Africa

The educational system in South Africa is structured to provide learning opportunities from early childhood development to tertiary education. The system is divided into three levels: General Education and Training (GET), Further Education and Training (FET), and Higher Education and Training (HET). Children typically start school at age 5 or 6 with Grade R, which is the reception year before Grade 1. Primary school runs from Grade 1 to Grade 7, and secondary school from Grade 8 to Grade 12. The school year in South Africa runs from January to December, with public schools following a four-term calendar. Students complete their National Senior Certificate (NSC) at the end of Grade 12, which is required for entrance into tertiary education. The quality of education can vary significantly between public schools, with those in affluent areas generally offering a higher standard of education compared to under-resourced schools in less affluent areas. There are also many private schools that offer different curricula, including the International Baccalaureate (IB) and the British GCSE and A-levels. South Africa also has a number of special needs schools catering to children with disabilities. The government has been working to improve the educational system, but challenges such as resource allocation, teacher training, and infrastructure development remain.