Moving to South Africa from Iowa
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Iowa to South Africa — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Iowa to South Africa, you would find that South Africa is 39.9% cheaper than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly ZAR792,003 in South Africa to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Pretoria averages 77°F vs 60°F in Des Moines, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Iowa to South Africa.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ZAR792,003
To maintain the same standard of living in South Africa
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 51.6% less
Groceries
pay 43.5% less
Transportation
pay 11.9% more
Housing
pay 48.4% less
Childcare
pay 82.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 56.1% 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.
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 40% less than cities in Iowa.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Iowa to South Africa, based on official data.
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
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iowa to South Africa.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
South Africa performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa 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
Iowa performs better than South Africa across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa 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 | Des Moines | Pretoria |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 83°/64°F (28°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 72°/47°F (22°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 79°/60°F (26°/15°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Pretoria |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 84°/65°F (29.0°/18.1°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 84°/64°F (28.7°/18.0°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 81°/62°F (27.3°/16.6°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 77°/56°F (24.8°/13.1°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 72°/48°F (22.4°/8.7°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 67°/41°F (19.6°/5.2°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 68°/42°F (19.8°/5.3°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 72°/47°F (22.3°/8.2°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 76°/53°F (24.4°/11.8°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 77°/57°F (25.2°/14.0°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°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 Iowa?
Yes — South Africa is on average about 37% cheaper than Iowa. 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 ZAR198,001 in South Africa on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from South Africa?
Usually fine from major cities in South Africa. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in South Africa compared to Iowa?
South Africa performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in South Africa compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Pretoria is 77°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Pretoria receives around 27.0 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in South Africa?
The official languages in South Africa are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. In Iowa, the official language is English.
Compare further: Iowa vs. South Africa
More relocation comparisons
At a Glance
|
ZA
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,046,355 | 57,516,665 |
| Currency | United States Dollar ($) | 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 |