Moving to Bolivia from South Africa
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from South Africa to Bolivia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from South Africa to Bolivia, you would find that Bolivia is 48.1% cheaper than South Africa overall. A ZAR1,200,000 salary in South Africa would need to be roughly BOB442,000 in Bolivia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua and Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Bolivia cheaper than South Africa?
Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 59.9% less
Groceries
pay 41.3% less
Transportation
pay 56.8% less
Housing
pay 49.8% less
Childcare
pay 41.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 33.5% 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 Bolivia?
What does your salary buy?
ZAR1,200,000 → BOB442,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Bolivia
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from South Africa to Bolivia, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from South Africa to Bolivia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Bolivia performs significantly 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
Bolivia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in health coverage index.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
South Africa generally does better on environment, though Bolivia 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
Bolivia generally does better on infrastructure, though South Africa leads in electricity per capita.
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
South Africa generally does better on employment & economy, though Bolivia leads in unemployment 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Bolivia performs significantly better than South Africa across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), World Health Organization (2024), South African Revenue Service (2017), Autoridad de Impugnación Tributaria (AIT), Bolivia (2016). How we calculate this
Can you move from South Africa to Bolivia?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Africa and Bolivia. To live, work, or study long-term in Bolivia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Bolivia's immigration authority.
South Africa passport holder visiting Bolivia
Visa Free
Bolivia passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Bolivia than South Africa?
Yes — Bolivia is on average about 48% cheaper than South Africa. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Bolivia?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly BOB110,500 in Bolivia on a ZAR1,200,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Bolivia?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Bolivia has 12.1 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 Bolivia safe for expats?
Bolivia performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bolivia is 4.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 43.7 in South Africa. About 59% of people in Bolivia feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Bolivia compared to South Africa?
Bolivia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in health coverage index. There are 12.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Bolivia, compared to 7.9 in South Africa. Bolivia scores 65 on the WHO universal health coverage index (South Africa: 71).
What language do they speak in Bolivia?
The official languages in Bolivia are Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua and Spanish. In South Africa, the official languages are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.
Compare further: South Africa vs. Bolivia
At a Glance
ZA
|
BO
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 64,747,319 | 12,581,843 |
| Currency | South African Rand (ZAR) | Bolivian Boliviano (BOB) |
| Languages | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu | Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua, Spanish |
| Driving side | Left | Right |
| Calling code | +27 | +591 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 10111 | 110 |