Moving to South Africa from Yemen
What to Expect
Considering a move from Yemen to South Africa? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Yemen to South Africa, you would find that South Africa is 4.6% more expensive than Yemen overall. A YER17,780,624 salary in Yemen would need to be roughly ZAR1,045,536 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.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Yemen and South Africa.
What does your salary buy?
YER17,780,624 → ZAR1,045,536
To maintain the same standard of living in South Africa
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 10.2% less
Groceries
pay 41.4% less
Transportation
pay 30.7% less
Housing
pay 48.8% more
Childcare
pay 2.0 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 22.8% 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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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Yemen to South Africa.
Who's moving to South Africa?
Top countries of origin for South Africa's foreign-born residents.
- 690,243
- 350,463
- 192,008
- 94,119
- 67,382
- 63,892
- · · ·
-
122.96
Yemen
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in South Africa compared to Yemen.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Yemen generally does better on safety, though South Africa leads in road traffic deaths.
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
Yemen generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Yemen generally does better on environment, though South Africa leads in air pollution deaths.
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
South Africa performs significantly better than Yemen 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
Yemen 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
South Africa generally does better on family life, though Yemen leads in life expectancy.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank, Yemen Tax Authority
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Yemen 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.
Yemen passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa Required
South Africa passport holder visiting Yemen
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 Yemen?
On average South Africa is about 15% less expensive than Yemen, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to South Africa?
Budget about ZAR261,384 for 3 months in South Africa (based on a YER17,780,624 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from South Africa?
Connectivity is usually fine (South Africa: 3.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does South Africa offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is South Africa safe for expats?
Yemen generally does better on safety, though South Africa leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in South Africa is 45.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.3 in Yemen.
How is healthcare in South Africa compared to Yemen?
Yemen generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 8.1 doctors per 10,000 people in South Africa, compared to 2.9 in Yemen. South Africa scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Yemen: 42).
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 Yemen, the official language is Arabic.
Compare further: Yemen vs. South Africa
More relocation comparisons
At a Glance
YE
|
ZA
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 30,984,689 | 57,516,665 |
| Currency | Yemeni Rial (YER) | South African Rand (ZAR) |
| Languages | Arabic | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu |
| Driving side | Right | Left |
| Calling code | +967 | +27 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | — | 10111 |