Moving to South Africa from Germany
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Germany to South Africa — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Germany to South Africa, you would find that South Africa is 41.9% cheaper than Germany overall. A €67,000 salary in Germany would need to be roughly ZAR721,000 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. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Johannesburg averages 71°F vs 56°F in Berlin, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is South Africa cheaper than Germany?
Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 50.5% less
Groceries
pay 32.6% less
Transportation
pay 23.2% less
Housing
pay 48.2% less
Childcare
pay 66.9% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 45.3% 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.
What salary do you need in South Africa?
What does your salary buy?
€67,000 → ZAR721,000
To maintain the same standard of living in South Africa
Calculate with your salary →Cost of living by city
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 30% less than cities in Germany.
Compare cities head-to-head
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?
How many people actually move from Germany to South Africa, based on official data.
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
- · · ·
-
19.16,595
Germany
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Germany to South Africa.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Germany 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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Germany generally does better on environment, though South Africa leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Germany 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
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Germany generally does better on employment & economy, though South Africa leads in top income tax rate.
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
Germany generally does better on family life, though South Africa leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), World Health Organization (2024), Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) (2016), South African Revenue Service (2017). How we calculate this
Weather in South Africa vs Germany
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Berlin | Johannesburg |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) | 77°/57°F (25°/14°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) | 66°/45°F (19°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) | 67°/44°F (20°/7°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) | 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) |
View all months
| Month | Berlin | Johannesburg |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) | 78°/58°F (25.6°/14.7°C) |
| Feb | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) | 77°/57°F (25.1°/14.1°C) |
| Mar | 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) | 75°/56°F (24.0°/13.1°C) |
| Apr | 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) | 70°/51°F (21.1°/10.3°C) |
| May | 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) | 66°/45°F (18.9°/7.2°C) |
| Jun | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) | 61°/39°F (16.0°/4.1°C) |
| Jul | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) | 62°/39°F (16.7°/4.1°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) | 67°/43°F (19.4°/6.2°C) |
| Sep | 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) | 73°/49°F (22.8°/9.3°C) |
| Oct | 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) | 75°/52°F (23.8°/11.2°C) |
| Nov | 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) | 76°/55°F (24.2°/12.7°C) |
| Dec | 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) | 77°/57°F (25.2°/13.9°C) |
Deutscher Wetterdienst
South African Weather ServiceCan you move from Germany to South Africa?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Germany 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.
Germany passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa Free
South Africa passport holder visiting Germany
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 Germany?
Yes — South Africa is on average about 42% cheaper than Germany. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to South Africa?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ZAR180,250 in South Africa on a €67,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from South Africa?
Internet is rarely the blocker — South Africa has 5.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is South Africa safe for expats?
Germany performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in South Africa is 43.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Germany. About 37% of people in South Africa feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in South Africa compared to Germany?
Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 7.9 doctors per 10,000 people in South Africa, compared to 45.3 in Germany. South Africa scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Germany: 88).
What's the weather like in South Africa compared to Germany?
The average high temperature in Johannesburg is 71°F, compared to 56°F in Berlin. Johannesburg receives around 28.1 in of rainfall per year, while Berlin gets 22.5 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 Germany, the official language is German.
Compare further: Germany vs. South Africa
At a Glance
DE
|
ZA
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 83,491,249 | 64,747,319 |
| Currency | Euro (€) | South African Rand (ZAR) |
| Languages | German | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu |
| Driving side | Right | Left |
| Calling code | +49 | +27 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 112 | 10111 |