Moving to South Africa from Sao Tome and Principe
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Sao Tome and Principe to South Africa — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Sao Tome and Principe to South Africa, 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.
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Key Indicator Comparison
How Sao Tome and Principe and South Africa stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Sao Tome and Principe 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
Sao Tome and Principe 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
Sao Tome and Principe 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
Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on infrastructure, though South Africa leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
Sao Tome and Principe 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 Sao Tome and Principe leads in life expectancy.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sao Tome and Principe 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.
Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa Free
South Africa passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe
Visa Online (e-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?
With 3.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, South Africa can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Sao Tome and Principe and South Africa.
Is South Africa safe for expats?
Sao Tome and Principe performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in South Africa is 45.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.2 in Sao Tome and Principe.
How is healthcare in South Africa compared to Sao Tome and Principe?
Sao Tome and Principe 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 4.9 in Sao Tome and Principe. South Africa scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sao Tome and Principe: 59).
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 Sao Tome and Principe, the official language is Portuguese.
Compare further: Sao Tome and Principe vs. South Africa
At a Glance
ST
|
ZA
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 217,164 | 57,516,665 |
| Currency | São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD) | South African Rand (ZAR) |
| Languages | Portuguese | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu |
| Driving side | Right | Left |
| Calling code | +239 | +27 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | — | 10111 |