Moving to South Africa from California
What to Expect
Considering a move from California to South Africa? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from California to South Africa, you would find that South Africa is 52.4% cheaper than California. A $75,000 salary in California would need to be roughly ZAR560,597 in South Africa to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between California and South Africa. What does your salary buy? $75,000 → ZAR560,597 To maintain the same standard of living in South Africa How key spending categories compare Restaurants pay 60.5% less Groceries pay 54.2% less Transportation pay 23.2% less Housing pay 64.0% less Childcare pay 88.2% less Entertainment and Sports pay 63.2% 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. Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%). On average, cities in South Africa cost about 60% less than cities in California. Compare cities head-to-head 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. What the data shows about people moving from California to South Africa. people born in United States live in South Africa · UN DESA Top countries of origin for South Africa's foreign-born residents. The numbers behind daily life in South Africa compared to California. share of adults with obesity South Africa performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics. share of households with internet California performs better than South Africa across all infrastructure metrics. percentage of the labour force without work a broad measure of economic output per person share of people below the poverty line California performs better than South Africa across all employment & economy metrics. average years of life at birth California 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) Monthly averages — select a city to compare. Avg. annual high / low Avg. annual high / low Data: 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 South Africa passport holder visiting United States Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements. On average South Africa is about 56% less expensive than California, with major cities narrowing the gap. Budget about ZAR140,149 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. From major South Africa cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in California and South Africa are what actually decide it long-term. South Africa performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics. The average high temperature in Pretoria is 77°F, compared to 74°F in Sacramento. Pretoria receives around 27.0 in of rainfall per year, while Sacramento gets 18.5 in. The official languages in South Africa are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. In California, the official language is English. How Far Will Your Money Go?
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What's the Climate Like?
Months Sacramento Pretoria Jan–Mar 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) 83°/64°F (28°/18°C) Apr–Jun 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) Jul–Sep 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) 72°/47°F (22°/8°C) Oct–Dec 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) 79°/60°F (26°/15°C) View all months
Month Sacramento Pretoria Jan 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) 84°/65°F (29.0°/18.1°C) Feb 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) 84°/64°F (28.7°/18.0°C) Mar 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) 81°/62°F (27.3°/16.6°C) Apr 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) 77°/56°F (24.8°/13.1°C) May 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) 72°/48°F (22.4°/8.7°C) Jun 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) 67°/41°F (19.6°/5.2°C) Jul 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) 68°/42°F (19.8°/5.3°C) Aug 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) 72°/47°F (22.3°/8.2°C) Sep 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) 76°/53°F (24.4°/11.8°C) Oct 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) 77°/57°F (25.2°/14.0°C) Nov 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) Dec 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.0°C) 
National Weather Service, 
South African Weather Service Visitor Visa Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
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Compare further: California vs. South Africa
At a Glance
 |  ZA | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 37,253,956 | 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 |