South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. Its nine provinces are bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres of coastline that stretches along the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini; and it encloses Lesotho.
Wikipedia excerpt
Out of 100 on default weights.
Data Sources
4/6 live · 1 estimated · Data updated: Feb 2026Quick Decision Summary
Verdict
Consider alternatives
Score 11/100 · #93 globally
Biggest Strength
Affordability
Score: 83/100
Key Risk
infrastructure
Score: 31/100
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Why South Africa Matches You
Based on your default priorities, South Africa emerges as a highly competitive option. It is pushed to the top of your list primarily by its highly favorable Affordability, Lifestyle, and Safety.
What you might give up:You should be aware of significant tradeoffs in Infrastructure, Career, and Education. This assumes a standard global baseline, but personal tolerance may vary.
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Baseline Score
11
Rank
#93
Your Match Score
17
Key Statistics
$6,267
GDP per Capita
PPP: $15,456
64.0M
Population
66.1 years
Life Expectancy
32.3%
Unemployment
43.7/100K
Homicide Rate
Volatile
Political Stability
Index: -0.67
76%
Internet Access
Broadband: 3.4/100
Strong
Purchasing Power
PPP ratio: 2.47x
Score Overview
Strengths
83 Affordability
61 lifestyle
Watch Out
31 infrastructure
34 career
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Data vintage: 2024Affordability
Derived from normalized relative GDP, PPP ratio, and real-estate proxy anchors.
Safety
Derived from homicide rate, political stability, and life expectancy.
Healthcare
UHC coverage, physician density, and life expectancy.
Career Opportunity
Driven by economic velocity and local workforce participation rates.
Why South Africa Excels
- • Unbelievable natural beauty and wildlife
- • Incredible food and wine for the price
- • Favorable timezone for EU remote workers
- • Native English speaking
The Trade-offs
- • High crime rates requiring privatized security
- • Rolling blackouts (loadshedding) though recently improved
- • Severe societal inequality
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Financial Reality
Budget calculator, cost breakdown, tax overview & more
Your money goes roughly 394% further in South Africa compared to the US — significant purchasing power advantage.
Monthly Reality
Est. monthly costs based on your lifestyle in South Africa.
Cost Breakdown
Avg: 59/100 — ModerateHigher values = more affordable. Indices normalized 0-100 for South Africa. Source: Numbeo cost-of-living surveys, 2025-2026.
Monthly Budget Calculator
Estimates are approximations based on cost indices and PPP data. Actual costs vary by city, lifestyle, and personal choices.
Lifestyle Cost Planner
InteractiveHow much would your lifestyle cost in South Africa?
Remote worker, shared or studio apartment, eating out often
- Coworking membership included
- Mix of eating out & cooking
- Basic health insurance
Purchasing Power Calculator
InteractiveWhat does your money actually buy in South Africa?
Based on typical spending basket compared to US equivalent prices
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Healthcare, safety, culture, climate, transport & daily living
Quality of Life
Healthcare, safety, culture, climate, transport & daily living
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South Africa
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Match Score
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QoL
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data & Methodology
Live Sourcing: Data is actively fetched and cached daily from official institutional APIs. This ensures metrics like Cost of Living and Climate reflect objective trends, not outdated anecdotes.
Normalization (0-100): Disparate metrics (like GDP, Temperature, and PM2.5 levels) are harmonized to a standard 0 to 100 benchmark. We normalize directionally so that a score closer to 100 always indicates a "better" outcome according to standard quality-of-life frameworks.
User-Weighted Determinism: The final ranking dynamically shifts using the math of weighted averages based on the priorities you assign via the Find page.
Limitations: Local variations within South Africa can be severe. This report serves as a macro-level prioritization indicator, not financial or immigration advice.