Africa · English + 11 more · updated 2026-10

Moving to South Africa: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $1,300 a month to live in Cape Town, and a family of four about $2,850, including rent. South Africa usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 5 yrs, with citizenship after 5 yrs, and dual citizenship is limited. You can move here without a job offer through the Critical Skills visa, the Remote work visa and the Retired person visa.

Monthly budget

$1,300

Very low cost

Safety

High risk

Stability

Fragile

Family

Limited

Main city: Cape Town
Language: English + 11 more
Permanent residence: 5 yrs
Citizenship: 5 yrs
Dual citizenship: Limited
Digital nomad visa: Yes

What can your passport do in South Africa?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.

Open the interactive index →

Cost of living in South Africa, per month in US$

One person

$1,300

Family of four

$2,850

RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther

1-bed flat, Cape Town centre

$650

Estimate

3-bed family flat

$1,200

Estimate

Price level

US = 100

Income per person

$523

GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score

High risk

Homicides per 100k

43.72

US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability

−0.38

Rule of law

+0.04

Control of corruption

−0.13

Government effectiveness

−0.02

−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Fragile overall (41/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score

Limited

Child outcomes (HCI)

0.425

Health & schooling, 0–1

Under-5 mortality

35.1

per 1,000 births

Life expectancy

66.3 yrs

at birth

Health spending

$537

per person / year

Education spending

of GDP

Visa & residence routes

Job seeker

Critical Skills visaListed occupations; you can apply before finding a job.

Remote work

Remote work visaR1 million a year (about $55,000) in foreign income.

Passive income

Retired person visaAbout $2,000/month in pension or income.

Job offer

General work visaWith a South African employer.

Who gets easier access to South Africa

South Africa is not part of a free-movement area in the index.

Visiting: 86 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 32 can apply for an eVisa and 80 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs

Permanent residence: 5 yrs
Citizenship: 5 yrs
Dual citizenship: Limited

South Africans need permission before taking another nationality.

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: www.dha.gov.za

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in South Africa?

About $1,300 a month for one person and $2,850 for a family of four in Cape Town, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $650 a month and a 3-bedroom around $1,200. Prices are 43% of US levels. South Africa is the 24th cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is South Africa safe to live in?

South Africa scores 10/100 for safety (high risk), ranking 74th of 76. The homicide rate is 43.72 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is South Africa politically stable?

South Africa scores 41/100 for stability (fragile), ranking 63rd of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is South Africa good for families?

South Africa scores 15/100 for family-friendliness (limited), ranking 76th of 76. Life expectancy is 66.3 years and under-5 mortality is 35.1 per 1,000 births.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in South Africa?

Usually 5 yrs of legal residence.

How long until I can become a citizen of South Africa?

Usually 5 yrs of residence. Dual citizenship: limited.

Can I move to South Africa without a job offer?

Yes. Critical Skills visa: Listed occupations; you can apply before finding a job. Remote work visa: R1 million a year (about $55,000) in foreign income. Retired person visa: About $2,000/month in pension or income.