Moving to Pakistan from South Africa
What to Expect
Considering a move from South Africa to Pakistan? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from South Africa to Pakistan, you would find that Pakistan is 52.5% cheaper than South Africa overall. A ZAR1,218,000 salary in South Africa would need to be roughly PKR11,402,723 in Pakistan to maintain the same lifestyle.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between South Africa and Pakistan.
What does your salary buy?
ZAR1,218,000 → PKR11,402,723
To maintain the same standard of living in Pakistan
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 57.3% less
Groceries
pay 50.6% less
Transportation
pay 43.8% less
Housing
pay 62.2% less
Childcare
pay 74.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 31.3% 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.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Pakistan compared to South Africa.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Pakistan 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Pakistan 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 Pakistan 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
South Africa performs better than Pakistan across all infrastructure metrics.
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
Pakistan 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 Pakistan leads in life expectancy.
Data: South African Revenue Service, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Pretoria | Islamabad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 83°/64°F (28°/18°C) | 69°/44°F (21°/7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) | 95°/68°F (35°/20°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/47°F (22°/8°C) | 94°/74°F (34°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 79°/60°F (26°/15°C) | 78°/48°F (26°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Pretoria | Islamabad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 84°/65°F (29.0°/18.1°C) | 64°/38°F (17.9°/3.2°C) |
| Feb | 84°/64°F (28.7°/18.0°C) | 68°/43°F (19.8°/6.0°C) |
| Mar | 81°/62°F (27.3°/16.6°C) | 76°/51°F (24.5°/10.7°C) |
| Apr | 77°/56°F (24.8°/13.1°C) | 87°/60°F (30.5°/15.8°C) |
| May | 72°/48°F (22.4°/8.7°C) | 97°/69°F (36.0°/20.7°C) |
| Jun | 67°/41°F (19.6°/5.2°C) | 101°/75°F (38.4°/23.8°C) |
| Jul | 68°/42°F (19.8°/5.3°C) | 96°/76°F (35.3°/24.4°C) |
| Aug | 72°/47°F (22.3°/8.2°C) | 93°/75°F (33.7°/23.8°C) |
| Sep | 76°/53°F (24.4°/11.8°C) | 93°/70°F (33.7°/21.1°C) |
| Oct | 77°/57°F (25.2°/14.0°C) | 88°/58°F (30.9°/14.5°C) |
| Nov | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) | 79°/47°F (25.9°/8.3°C) |
| Dec | 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.0°C) | 68°/40°F (20.2°/4.3°C) |
South African Weather ServiceVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Africa and Pakistan. To live, work, or study long-term in Pakistan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Pakistan's immigration authority.
South Africa passport holder visiting Pakistan
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Pakistan 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 Pakistan than South Africa?
On average Pakistan is about 45% less expensive than South Africa, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Pakistan?
Budget about PKR2,850,681 for 3 months in Pakistan (based on a ZAR1,218,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Pakistan?
Connectivity is usually fine (Pakistan: 1.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Pakistan offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Pakistan safe for expats?
Pakistan performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Pakistan is 4.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 45.5 in South Africa.
How is healthcare in Pakistan compared to South Africa?
Pakistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in health coverage index. There are 10.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Pakistan, compared to 8.1 in South Africa. Pakistan scores 45 on the WHO universal health coverage index (South Africa: 71).
What's the weather like in Pakistan compared to South Africa?
The average high temperature in Islamabad is 84°F, compared to 77°F in Pretoria. Islamabad receives around 49.1 in of rainfall per year, while Pretoria gets 27.0 in.
What language do they speak in Pakistan?
The official languages in Pakistan are English and Urdu. 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. Pakistan
At a Glance
ZA
|
PK
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,516,665 | 242,923,845 |
| Currency | South African Rand (ZAR) | Pakistani Rupee (PKR) |
| Languages | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu | English, Urdu |
| Driving side | Left | Left |
| Calling code | +27 | +92 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 10111 | 15 |