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11 Reasons Why South Africa Is a Good Place to Live In
- Is South Africa a good place to live?
- It’s cheaper than most countries
- It boasts great digital connectivity
- It offers excellent private healthcare
- It has unique traditional dishes
- It has a rich culture
- It’s an LGBTQ+ friendly community
- It has a more relaxed work culture
- It allows you to maintain a unique lifestyle
- It’s abundant with natural resources
- It has sunny and warm weather all year round
- It has different modes of transportation
- Frequently Asked Questions about South Africa
Moving to a new place could be challenging since it’s a big decision to make. From a wide range of options around the world, South Africa is worth a look through.
Here’s a full guide to help you see that South Africa is a good place to live.
Is South Africa a good place to live?
South Africa is a good place to live because of the following reasons:
- It’s cheaper than most countries.
- It boasts great digital connectivity
- It offers excellent private healthcare.
- It has unique traditional dishes.
- It has a rich culture.
- It’s an LGBTQ+ friendly community.
- It has a more relaxed work culture.
- It allows you to maintain a unique lifestyle.
- It’s abundant with natural resources.
- It has sunny and warm weather all year round.
- It has different modes of transportation.
Know more about the different reasons why South Africa is a good place to live by reading through the details below.
1. It’s cheaper than most countries
Most cities in South Africa like Cape Town and Johannesburg have cheaper living expenses compared to other mega-urban cities like London and Hong Kong. Generally, consumer prices in London are 96.4% higher than in Johannesburg without rent.
Here are some price comparisons between the two cities with both the South African rand (ZAR) or (R) and the British Pound (£) for your convenience. This is the latest data found by Numbeo:
| Restaurants | Johannesburg | London |
| Meal for 2 people in an average quality restaurant | 150 R(7 £) | 321.26 R(15 £) |
| Common combo meal at a fast food restaurant | 600 R(28.01 £) | 1,4994.24 R(70£) |
| Regular cup of coffee | 31.82 R(1.49£) | 72.57 R(3.39£) |
| 0.33-litre bottle of soda (from brands like Coke or Pepsi) | 15.89 R(0.74 £) | 38.03 R(1.78 £) |
| Groceries | Johannesburg | London |
| 1-litre of regular milk | 18.72 R(0.87 £) | 24.60 R(1.15 £) |
| 500-gram loaf of fresh white bread | 16.31 R(0.76 £) | 23.84 R(1.11 £) |
| 1 kilogram of white rice | 26.14 R(1.22 £) | 38.94 R(1.82 £) |
| 1 kilogram of apples | 27.18 R(1.27 £) | 44.88 R(2.10 £) |
| Transportation | Johannesburg | London |
| One-way ticket in a local transport | 32 R(1.49 £) | 55.69 R(2.60 £) |
| 1 litre of gasoline | 24.52 R(1.14 £) | 38.07 R(1.78 £) |
| Regular price of a monthly pass | 1,095.65 R(51.16 £) | 3,309.03 R(154.50 £) |
| Normal tariff of a taxi for 1-kilometre distance | 16.50 R(0.77 £) | 36.41 R(1.70 £) |
| Monthly utilities | Johannesburg | London |
| Basic utilities like electricity and heating for an 85-metre square apartment | 1,869.27 R(87.28 £) | 5,849.42 R(273.11 £) |
| Internet (at least 60 Mbps) | 834.79 R(39.48 £) | 612.11 R(28.95 £) |
| Monthly rent | Johannesburg | London |
| 1 bedroom apartment in the city centre | 6,971.30 R(325.49 £) | 42,962.80 R(2,005.95 £) |
| 1 bedroom apartment outside the city centre | 6,380.08 R(297.89 £) | 30,652.17 R(1,431.16 £) |
| 3 bedroom apartment in the city centre | 13,399.63 R(625.63 £) | 75,722.31 R(3,535.51 £) |
| 3 bedroom apartment outside the city centre | 13,132.19 R(613.15 £) | 52,141.98 R(2,434.53 £) |
2. It boasts great digital connectivity
South Africa’s high quality of digital life allows residents to have better access to the internet. This includes more affordable services, good internet quality, and great electronic infrastructure.
Compared to other countries in the African continent, South Africa scored the highest in the Digital Quality of Life Index in both 2021 and 2022. Globally, it ranked 66th out of 117 analysed nations, according to Statista.
3. It offers excellent private healthcare
South Africa’s private healthcare is of the same standard as the best options in western parts of the world like Europe and the United States. This includes a large array of choices for hospitals, treatments and doctors.
The country also offers good private healthcare insurance for expatriates. Should you choose to live here as a foreigner, there are lots of healthcare perks waiting for you.
4. It has unique traditional dishes
South Africa has a wide variety of cuisine across its many ethnic groups. The most popular ones are the Zulu traditional dishes, as it’s the largest community in the country.
Its famous uphuthu, a maize meal created similarly to porridge but with a more crumbly texture, is a staple for every occasion. Usually, it’s served with African spinach, milk or amasi (sour milk).
Cape breyani is another must-try dish from South Africa. It’s from the Cape Malay cuisine with various layers of marinated meat, rice, lentils and spices garnished with crisp-fried onions and hard-boiled eggs.
As for delicious desserts, South Africans are described to have sweet tooths with large sugar consumption. According to the World Health Organization, residents consume an approximate amount of 24 teaspoons of sugar per day.
The most famous treats include Koeksisters, a deep-fried circular pastry dipped in syrup-like sugar, and melktert or also known as milk tart which is perfect for the summer.
5. It has a rich culture
With over ten ethnic groups, South Africa is a melting pot of cultures. It has 11 official languages and a long and rich history, from its colonisation to its independence.
As a result, the country has various traditional music styles, lots of beautiful dances and numerous internationally-acclaimed artworks. They also hold several theatre plays and festivals, showcasing the greatness of their local talent.
In South Africa, the music scene has both traditional and modern counterparts. Its famous genres include jive, Marabi and hip hop.
Dancing is another popular activity in South Africa. Pantsula is one of the most well-known variations for its fast pace using kwaito music.
For dances with partners, the top pick is the Afrikaans Sokkie Sokkie which translates to ‘socks socks’ in their local language. As its name suggests, the dance movements involve gliding over the floor while wearing socks.
In terms of art, South Africa has numerous artists with their works presented in different museums and galleries across the country. When you’re in Johannesburg, it’s a good idea to participate in the First Thursdays Art night.
It’s a fun activity that involves exploring galleries, taking a sip of free wine and learning more about the art industry in an interesting way. This is also a good opportunity for you to interact with the people in your community and gain new friends.
6. It’s an LGBTQ+ friendly community
Ranked as the third most inclusive country in the world, you’ll feel welcome staying in South Africa. They have a high social acceptance for different people, regardless of their religion, political views, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) community are given equal treatment in this country. In fact, Cape Town is known as the ‘gay capital of Africa’ where queer individuals feel safer and more relaxed visiting the place.
7. It has a more relaxed work culture
In contrast to most countries where it’s all about the ‘hustle and bustle’, the work culture in South Africa is more relaxed. It has a more laid-back approach to its tasks where work-life balance is taken into good consideration.
This is a great thing for people who want a more comfortable working environment without being too pressed for time. Moreover, personal time is greatly respected by most companies in this country.
8. It allows you to maintain a unique lifestyle
Staying in South Africa allows you to maintain a one-of-a-kind lifestyle because of its amazing weather. You can often do activities outdoors and explore beautiful places whenever you want.
A good routine would involve taking a walk in the morning, enjoying a wine-tasting event in the afternoon and sitting by the shore during the evening. Switch things up depending on your mood but for sure, it’s always a new experience in South Africa.
9. It’s abundant with natural resources
You’ll be in awe at the beauty of nature when you live in South Africa. It has a vast collection of mountain ranges, forests and deserts.
Moreover, it’s home to over eighty parks and more than 20 natural reserves, allowing you to connect deeper with Mother Nature. Enjoy the 3,000 kilometres long of breathtaking coastline with clear waters which is the perfect place to take a dip.
The most popular pick for some sea therapy is The Wild Coast, boasting of its majestic cliffs, secret coves and untouched beaches. Consider hiking up to nearby mountains by the coast for a better panoramic view of the entire place.
10. It has sunny and warm weather all year round
Once you stay in South Africa, you can expect sunny and warm weather all throughout the year. To experience snow in the country, visit Cape Town where their winter temperature goes up to 25 degrees Celsius.
As for the possibility of natural disasters, this rarely happens in South Africa. There may be floods at times when rain is continuous but it’s not as dangerous as you might assume.
They also don’t suffer from earthquakes or cyclonic storms so you can feel safe about travelling and staying in the country.
11. It has different modes of transportation
Travelling from one point of South Africa to the other is fairly manageable with its several modes of transportation. Some examples of these are buses, trains, planes and taxis.
Although going from one city to the next has a long travel time, given their geographical location, it has a reliable system for a convenient experience on your end.
For example, going to Johannesburg from Cape Town takes approximately 18 hours by bus. Meanwhile, it takes around 30 hours by train and just two hours by plane.
For nearby locations, you can opt for minibus taxis since it’s more affordable.
Frequently Asked Questions about South Africa
If you’re interested in living in South Africa, here are some frequently asked questions about the country that might strike your interest. Read through them now.
