Moving to South Africa from Arkansas
What to Expect
Considering a move from Arkansas to South Africa? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Arkansas to South Africa, you would find that South Africa is 37.7% cheaper than Arkansas. A $75,000 salary in Arkansas would need to be roughly ZAR792,424 in South Africa to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Arkansas and South Africa.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ZAR792,424
To maintain the same standard of living in South Africa
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 54.4% less
Groceries
pay 38.8% less
Transportation
pay 18.6% more
Housing
pay 53.5% less
Childcare
pay 81.6% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 50.1% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Get free moving quotes to South Africa
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Arkansas to South Africa.
people born in United States live in South Africa · UN DESA
Who's moving to South Africa?
Top countries of origin for South Africa's foreign-born residents.
- 690,243
- 350,463
- 192,008
- 94,119
- 67,382
- 63,892
- · · ·
-
33.7,429
United States
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in South Africa compared to Arkansas.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
South Africa performs significantly better than Arkansas across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Arkansas performs better than South Africa across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Arkansas performs better than South Africa across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Arkansas performs better than South Africa across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Little Rock | Pretoria |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 56°/38°F (13°/3°C) | 83°/64°F (28°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 89°/70°F (32°/21°C) | 72°/47°F (22°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 62°/44°F (17°/7°C) | 79°/60°F (26°/15°C) |
View all months
| Month | Little Rock | Pretoria |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°/33°F (9.7°/0.4°C) | 84°/65°F (29.0°/18.1°C) |
| Feb | 54°/36°F (12.4°/2.4°C) | 84°/64°F (28.7°/18.0°C) |
| Mar | 64°/44°F (17.6°/6.8°C) | 81°/62°F (27.3°/16.6°C) |
| Apr | 73°/53°F (22.7°/11.6°C) | 77°/56°F (24.8°/13.1°C) |
| May | 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.4°C) | 72°/48°F (22.4°/8.7°C) |
| Jun | 88°/69°F (31.2°/20.7°C) | 67°/41°F (19.6°/5.2°C) |
| Jul | 92°/73°F (33.4°/22.7°C) | 68°/42°F (19.8°/5.3°C) |
| Aug | 92°/72°F (33.3°/22.2°C) | 72°/47°F (22.3°/8.2°C) |
| Sep | 84°/65°F (29.1°/18.1°C) | 76°/53°F (24.4°/11.8°C) |
| Oct | 73°/54°F (23.0°/12.3°C) | 77°/57°F (25.2°/14.0°C) |
| Nov | 62°/44°F (16.5°/6.6°C) | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) |
| Dec | 51°/35°F (10.7°/1.7°C) | 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.0°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
South African Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and South Africa. To live, work, or study long-term in South Africa, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check South Africa's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa Free
South Africa passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in South Africa than Arkansas?
On average South Africa is about 37% less expensive than Arkansas, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to South Africa?
Budget about ZAR198,106 for 3 months in South Africa (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from South Africa?
From major South Africa cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Arkansas and South Africa are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in South Africa compared to Arkansas?
South Africa performs significantly better than Arkansas across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in South Africa compared to Arkansas?
The average high temperature in Pretoria is 77°F, compared to 72°F in Little Rock. Pretoria receives around 27.0 in of rainfall per year, while Little Rock gets 50.0 in.
What language do they speak in South Africa?
The official languages in South Africa are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. In Arkansas, the official language is English.
Compare further: Arkansas vs. South Africa
At a Glance
|
ZA
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,915,918 | 57,516,665 |
| Currency | United States Dollar ($) | South African Rand (ZAR) |
| Languages | English | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu |
| Driving side | Right | Left |
| Calling code | +1 | +27 |
| Time zones | 11 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 911 | 10111 |