Moving to South Africa from Saint Lucia

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Saint Lucia to South Africa? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Saint Lucia to South Africa.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in South Africa compared to Saint Lucia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

LC
36.7
ZA
45.5
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

LC
86%
ZA
37%

Saint Lucia performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

LC
$1,228
ZA
$1,354
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

LC
6.5
ZA
8.1

Saint Lucia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

LC
20.0
ZA
47.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LC
1.7t
ZA
6.9t

Saint Lucia performs better than South Africa across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

LC
10.8
ZA
3.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

LC
14.3%
ZA
66.9%

Saint Lucia performs better than South Africa across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

LC
11.1%
ZA
28.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LC
$22,700
ZA
$14,300

Saint Lucia generally does better on employment & economy, though South Africa leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

LC
79.0 yrs
ZA
65.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LC
12.0
ZA
25.9

Saint Lucia generally does better on family life, though South Africa leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Castries Rain: 0.0 in/yr (0 mm)
None° / None°F

Avg. annual high / low

Pretoria Rain: 27.0 in/yr (685 mm)
77° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Castries Pretoria
Jan–Mar 83°/64°F (28°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 72°/48°F (22°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/47°F (22°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 79°/60°F (26°/15°C)
View all months
Month Castries Pretoria
Jan 84°/65°F (29.0°/18.1°C)
Feb 84°/64°F (28.7°/18.0°C)
Mar 81°/62°F (27.3°/16.6°C)
Apr 77°/56°F (24.8°/13.1°C)
May 72°/48°F (22.4°/8.7°C)
Jun 67°/41°F (19.6°/5.2°C)
Jul 68°/42°F (19.8°/5.3°C)
Aug 72°/47°F (22.3°/8.2°C)
Sep 76°/53°F (24.4°/11.8°C)
Oct 77°/57°F (25.2°/14.0°C)
Nov 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C)
Dec 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.0°C)

Data: Saint Lucia Meteorological Services Saint Lucia Meteorological Services, South African Weather Service South African Weather Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Saint Lucia 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.

Saint Lucia passport

Saint Lucia passport holder visiting South Africa

Visa Required
Saint Lucia passport holders need a visa to enter South Africa.
South Africa passport

South Africa passport holder visiting Saint Lucia

Visa Free
South Africa passport holders can enter Saint Lucia without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

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?

Saint Lucia performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in South Africa is 45.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 36.7 in Saint Lucia. About 37% of people in South Africa feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in South Africa compared to Saint Lucia?

Saint Lucia 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 6.5 in Saint Lucia. South Africa scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Saint Lucia: 77).

What's the weather like in South Africa compared to Saint Lucia?

The average high temperature in Pretoria is 77°F, compared to None°F in Castries. Pretoria receives around 27.0 in of rainfall per year.

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 Saint Lucia, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

LC ZA
Population 167,122 57,516,665
Currency East Caribbean Dollar (EC$) South African Rand (ZAR)
Languages English Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +1758 +27
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 10111