Moving to Mexico from South Africa
What to Expect
Considering a move from South Africa to Mexico? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from South Africa to Mexico, you would find that Mexico is 11.4% more expensive than South Africa overall. A ZAR1,200,000 salary in South Africa would need to be roughly MX$1,500,000 in Mexico to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in 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 Mexico cheaper than South Africa?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 23.2% more
Groceries
pay 32.3% more
Transportation
pay 18.9% less
Housing
pay 11.3% more
Childcare
pay 19.3% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 14.5% more
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 Mexico?
What does your salary buy?
ZAR1,200,000 → MX$1,500,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Mexico
Calculate with your salary →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 Mexico cost about 1% less than cities in South Africa.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from South Africa to Mexico.
people moved from South Africa to Mexico · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Mexico compared to South Africa.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Mexico 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
Mexico generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Mexico performs significantly better than South Africa across all environment metrics.
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
Mexico 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
Mexico performs significantly better than South Africa across all employment & economy metrics.
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
Mexico generally does better on family life, though South Africa leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), World Health Organization (2024), South African Revenue Service (2017), Servicio de Administración Tributaria, SHCP (2016). How we calculate this
Weather in Mexico vs South Africa
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Johannesburg | Mexico City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 77°/57°F (25°/14°C) | 74°/45°F (23°/7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 66°/45°F (19°/7°C) | 79°/53°F (26°/12°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 67°/44°F (20°/7°C) | 73°/53°F (23°/12°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) | 71°/47°F (22°/8°C) |
View all months
| Month | Johannesburg | Mexico City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78°/58°F (25.6°/14.7°C) | 70°/42°F (21.2°/5.8°C) |
| Feb | 77°/57°F (25.1°/14.1°C) | 73°/45°F (22.9°/7.1°C) |
| Mar | 75°/56°F (24.0°/13.1°C) | 78°/49°F (25.7°/9.2°C) |
| Apr | 70°/51°F (21.1°/10.3°C) | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.8°C) |
| May | 66°/45°F (18.9°/7.2°C) | 80°/53°F (26.5°/11.7°C) |
| Jun | 61°/39°F (16.0°/4.1°C) | 76°/54°F (24.6°/12.2°C) |
| Jul | 62°/39°F (16.7°/4.1°C) | 73°/53°F (23.0°/11.5°C) |
| Aug | 67°/43°F (19.4°/6.2°C) | 74°/53°F (23.3°/11.6°C) |
| Sep | 73°/49°F (22.8°/9.3°C) | 72°/53°F (22.3°/11.5°C) |
| Oct | 75°/52°F (23.8°/11.2°C) | 72°/50°F (22.2°/9.8°C) |
| Nov | 76°/55°F (24.2°/12.7°C) | 71°/46°F (21.8°/7.9°C) |
| Dec | 77°/57°F (25.2°/13.9°C) | 69°/44°F (20.8°/6.6°C) |
Data:
South African Weather Service,
Coordinación General del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional
Can you move from South Africa to Mexico?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Africa and Mexico. To live, work, or study long-term in Mexico, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Mexico's immigration authority.
South Africa passport holder visiting Mexico
Visa Required
Mexico passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa Online (e-Visa)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 Mexico than South Africa?
On average Mexico is around 11% pricier than South Africa, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Mexico?
Budget about MX$375,000 for 3 months in Mexico (based on a ZAR1,200,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Mexico?
Connectivity is usually fine (Mexico: 21.7 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Mexico offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Mexico safe for expats?
Mexico performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Mexico is 24.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 43.7 in South Africa. About 39% of people in Mexico feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Mexico compared to South Africa?
Mexico generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 25.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Mexico, compared to 7.9 in South Africa. Mexico scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (South Africa: 71).
What's the weather like in Mexico compared to South Africa?
The average high temperature in Mexico City is 74°F, compared to 71°F in Johannesburg. Mexico City receives around 32.1 in of rainfall per year, while Johannesburg gets 28.1 in.
What language do they speak in Mexico?
The official language in Mexico is Spanish. In South Africa, the official languages are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.
Compare further: South Africa vs. Mexico
At a Glance
ZA
|
MX
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 64,747,319 | 131,946,900 |
| Currency | South African Rand (ZAR) | Mexican Peso (MX$) |
| Languages | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu | Spanish |
| Driving side | Left | Right |
| Calling code | +27 | +52 |
| Time zones | 1 | 3 |
| Emergency number | 10111 | 911 |