Moving to South Africa from Taiwan
What to Expect
Considering a move from Taiwan to South Africa? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Taiwan to South Africa, you would find that South Africa is 8.2% cheaper than Taiwan overall. A NT$2,395,350 salary in Taiwan would need to be roughly ZAR881,484 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.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Taiwan and South Africa.
What does your salary buy?
NT$2,395,350 → ZAR881,484
To maintain the same standard of living in South Africa
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 29.6% more
Groceries
pay 46.1% less
Transportation
pay 14.2% more
Housing
pay 40.9% more
Childcare
pay 71.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 21.4% 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.
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 South Africa cost about 24% less than cities in Taiwan.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in South Africa compared to Taiwan.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Taiwan performs better than South Africa 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
share of people below the poverty line
Taiwan performs 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Taiwan performs better than South Africa across all family life metrics.
Data: Taxation Administration, Ministry of Finance, R.O.C., The World Factbook
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Taiwan 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.
Taiwan passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa Required
South Africa passport holder visiting Taiwan
Visa RequiredData: 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 Taiwan?
On average South Africa is about 28% less expensive than Taiwan, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to South Africa?
Budget about ZAR220,371 for 3 months in South Africa (based on a NT$2,395,350 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from South Africa?
From major South Africa cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Taiwan and South Africa are what actually decide it long-term.
What language do they speak in South Africa?
The official languages in South Africa are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. In Taiwan, the official language is Chinese.
Compare further: Taiwan vs. South Africa
At a Glance
TW
|
ZA
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,580,712 | 57,516,665 |
| Currency | New Taiwan Dollar (NT$) | South African Rand (ZAR) |
| Languages | Chinese | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu |
| Driving side | Right | Left |
| Calling code | +886 | +27 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 110 | 10111 |