Moving to South Africa from Bangladesh
What to Expect
Considering a move from Bangladesh to South Africa? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Bangladesh to South Africa, you would find that South Africa is 3.1 times more expensive than Bangladesh overall. A BDT9,207,064 salary in Bangladesh would need to be roughly ZAR1,865,456 in South Africa to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Pretoria averages 77°F vs 87°F in Dhaka, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Bangladesh and South Africa.
What does your salary buy?
BDT9,207,064 → ZAR1,865,456
To maintain the same standard of living in South Africa
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 3.9 times more
Groceries
pay 96.8% more
Transportation
pay 2.5 times more
Housing
pay 4.6 times more
Childcare
pay 5.0 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 46.1% more
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 Bangladesh to South Africa.
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
- · · ·
-
20.15,565
Bangladesh
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in South Africa compared to Bangladesh.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Bangladesh performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Bangladesh generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Bangladesh generally does better on environment, though South Africa leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Bangladesh generally does better on infrastructure, though South Africa leads in electricity per capita.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Bangladesh generally does better on employment & economy, though South Africa leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
South Africa generally does better on family life, though Bangladesh leads in life expectancy.
Data: National Board of Revenue (NBR), Bangladesh, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Dhaka | Pretoria |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 84°/61°F (29°/16°C) | 83°/64°F (28°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 91°/76°F (33°/25°C) | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 89°/79°F (32°/26°C) | 72°/47°F (22°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 85°/67°F (29°/19°C) | 79°/60°F (26°/15°C) |
View all months
| Month | Dhaka | Pretoria |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.7°C) | 84°/65°F (29.0°/18.1°C) |
| Feb | 83°/60°F (28.1°/15.5°C) | 84°/64°F (28.7°/18.0°C) |
| Mar | 90°/69°F (32.4°/20.3°C) | 81°/62°F (27.3°/16.6°C) |
| Apr | 93°/74°F (33.8°/23.6°C) | 77°/56°F (24.8°/13.1°C) |
| May | 91°/76°F (32.9°/24.5°C) | 72°/48°F (22.4°/8.7°C) |
| Jun | 90°/79°F (32.2°/26.1°C) | 67°/41°F (19.6°/5.2°C) |
| Jul | 89°/79°F (31.4°/26.2°C) | 68°/42°F (19.8°/5.3°C) |
| Aug | 89°/79°F (31.6°/26.3°C) | 72°/47°F (22.3°/8.2°C) |
| Sep | 89°/79°F (31.8°/25.9°C) | 76°/53°F (24.4°/11.8°C) |
| Oct | 89°/75°F (31.6°/23.8°C) | 77°/57°F (25.2°/14.0°C) |
| Nov | 85°/67°F (29.6°/19.2°C) | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) |
| Dec | 80°/58°F (26.4°/14.3°C) | 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.0°C) |
South African Weather ServiceVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Bangladesh 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.
Bangladesh passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa Required
South Africa passport holder visiting Bangladesh
Visa Online (e-Visa)Data: 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 Bangladesh?
On average South Africa is around 53% pricier than Bangladesh, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to South Africa?
Budget about ZAR466,364 for 3 months in South Africa (based on a BDT9,207,064 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from South Africa?
Connectivity is usually fine (South Africa: 3.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does South Africa offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is South Africa safe for expats?
Bangladesh performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in South Africa is 45.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.3 in Bangladesh.
How is healthcare in South Africa compared to Bangladesh?
Bangladesh generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 8.1 doctors per 10,000 people in South Africa, compared to 6.7 in Bangladesh. South Africa scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Bangladesh: 52).
What's the weather like in South Africa compared to Bangladesh?
The average high temperature in Pretoria is 77°F, compared to 87°F in Dhaka. Pretoria receives around 27.0 in of rainfall per year, while Dhaka gets 84.8 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 Bangladesh, the official language is Bengali.
Compare further: Bangladesh vs. South Africa
At a Glance
BD
|
ZA
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 165,650,475 | 57,516,665 |
| Currency | Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) | South African Rand (ZAR) |
| Languages | Bengali | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu |
| Driving side | Left | Left |
| Calling code | +880 | +27 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 999 | 10111 |