Moving to South Africa from Slovenia

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Slovenia to South Africa — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Slovenia to South Africa, you would find that South Africa is 33.1% cheaper than Slovenia overall. A €65,374 salary in Slovenia would need to be roughly ZAR781,590 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 — Pretoria averages 77°F vs 59°F in Ljubljana, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Slovenia to South Africa.

What does your salary buy?

€65,374 ZAR781,590

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 49.9% less

Groceries

pay 31.2% less

Transportation

pay 1.8% more

Housing

pay 28.6% less

Childcare

pay 64.6% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 30.2% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 18.75 ZAR (June 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Slovenia to South Africa.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SI
0.6
ZA
45.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SI
5.8
ZA
24.5

Slovenia performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

SI
$5,425
ZA
$1,354
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

SI
33.3
ZA
8.1

Slovenia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

SI
19.0
ZA
47.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SI
6.3t
ZA
6.9t

Slovenia 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

SI
31.9
ZA
3.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SI
6.3%
ZA
66.9%

Slovenia 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

SI
3.6%
ZA
28.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SI
$48,100
ZA
$14,300

Slovenia generally does better on employment & economy, though South Africa leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SI
81.8 yrs
ZA
65.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SI
1.5
ZA
25.9

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

Data: Tax Administration of the Republic of Slovenia, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Ljubljana Rain: 53.9 in/yr (1368 mm)
59° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Ljubljana Pretoria
Jan–Mar 44°/30°F (7°/-1°C) 83°/64°F (28°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 68°/48°F (20°/9°C) 72°/48°F (22°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 77°/56°F (25°/13°C) 72°/47°F (22°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 48°/36°F (9°/2°C) 79°/60°F (26°/15°C)
View all months
Month Ljubljana Pretoria
Jan 37°/27°F (3.0°/-2.7°C) 84°/65°F (29.0°/18.1°C)
Feb 43°/29°F (6.2°/-1.9°C) 84°/64°F (28.7°/18.0°C)
Mar 52°/35°F (11.2°/1.4°C) 81°/62°F (27.3°/16.6°C)
Apr 60°/41°F (15.4°/4.9°C) 77°/56°F (24.8°/13.1°C)
May 69°/49°F (20.8°/9.4°C) 72°/48°F (22.4°/8.7°C)
Jun 75°/55°F (23.9°/12.7°C) 67°/41°F (19.6°/5.2°C)
Jul 80°/58°F (26.5°/14.6°C) 68°/42°F (19.8°/5.3°C)
Aug 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.4°C) 72°/47°F (22.3°/8.2°C)
Sep 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C) 76°/53°F (24.4°/11.8°C)
Oct 60°/44°F (15.3°/6.7°C) 77°/57°F (25.2°/14.0°C)
Nov 46°/35°F (7.9°/1.7°C) 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C)
Dec 38°/29°F (3.4°/-1.7°C) 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.0°C)

Data: Slovenian Environment Agency Slovenian Environment Agency, South African Weather Service South African Weather Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Slovenia 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.

Slovenia passport

Slovenia passport holder visiting South Africa

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

South Africa passport holder visiting Slovenia

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

Data: 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 Slovenia?

Yes — South Africa is on average about 36% cheaper than Slovenia. 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 ZAR195,398 in South Africa on a €65,374 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).

Can I work remotely from South Africa?

Internet is rarely the blocker — South Africa has 3.3 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?

Slovenia performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in South Africa is 45.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.6 in Slovenia.

How is healthcare in South Africa compared to Slovenia?

Slovenia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 8.1 doctors per 10,000 people in South Africa, compared to 33.3 in Slovenia. South Africa scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Slovenia: 84).

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

The average high temperature in Pretoria is 77°F, compared to 59°F in Ljubljana. Pretoria receives around 27.0 in of rainfall per year, while Ljubljana gets 53.9 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 Slovenia, the official language is Slovene.

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At a Glance

SI ZA
Population 2,101,208 57,516,665
Currency Euro (€) South African Rand (ZAR)
Languages Slovene Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +386 +27
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 10111