South Africa
Profiled in Cape Town · Southern Africa
Mountains tumble into two oceans here, and a laid-back city of beaches, vineyards and world-class food sits right in the thick of it.
Cost of living
What a month costs
A strong dollar stretches a long way, especially on dining and rent.
The scores
How it rates for a moving family
See and do
Top 10 in Cape Town
- Table MountainRide the rotating cableway or hike up the flat-topped icon.
- Robben IslandFerry out to the prison where Nelson Mandela was held.
- Kirstenbosch National Botanical GardenFynbos gardens with a treetop canopy walkway.
- Cape of Good HopeDramatic cliffs and lighthouse at the peninsula's tip.
- Boulders BeachAfrican penguin colony you can watch from boardwalks near Simon's Town.
- V&A WaterfrontWorking harbour turned dining, shopping and aquarium hub.
- Bo-KaapCandy-coloured houses in the historic Cape Malay quarter.
- Lion's HeadShort spiralling hike rewarded with a 360-degree sunset.
- Chapman's Peak DriveCliff-hugging coastal road between Hout Bay and Noordhoek.
- Groot ConstantiaThe country's oldest wine estate, with tastings and manor house.
Where to go
Weekend escapes
- StellenboschOak-lined university town at the heart of the winelands.
- FranschhoekFrench Huguenot valley you can tour by hop-on wine tram.
- HermanusCliff paths for land-based whale watching in season.
- CederbergWild rock formations, rooibos farms and huge dark skies.
- PaternosterWhitewashed West Coast fishing village built for slow seafood lunches.
Coffee
Best cafes
- Truth Coffee RoastingSteampunk temple to coffee on Buitenkant Street.
- Origin Coffee RoastingDe Waterkant pioneer of the city's specialty roast scene.
- Deluxe CoffeeworksTiny, buzzy roaster tucked off Church Street.
- Rosetta RoasteryBright, batch-brew focused cafe with serious beans.
- Bootlegger Coffee CompanyReliable homegrown chain with flat whites all over town.
Restaurants
Where to eat
- La ColombeConstantia tasting menu that lands on best-in-Africa lists.
- The Pot Luck ClubSharing plates high above the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock.
- Gold RestaurantPan-African feast with drumming and puppetry in Green Point.
- Kloof Street HouseBohemian Victorian villa with a lantern-lit garden.
- The CodfatherCamps Bay seafood and sushi picked straight off the ice.
- Chef's WarehouseLiam Tomlin's no-menu tapas for two on Bree Street.
- BelthazarWaterfront steakhouse pouring hundreds of wines by the glass.
Morning
Best breakfast
- Clarke's Bar & Dining RoomBree Street institution for big American-style breakfasts.
- Jason BakeryCroissants and doughnuts worth the weekend queue.
- The KitchenKaren Dudley's Woodstock deli famous for its love sandwiches.
- Skinny Legs & AllAiry loft cafe with generous morning plates.
- Lola'sLong Street veteran doing hearty veggie breakfasts.
- Manna EpicureWhitewashed Kloof Street spot for eggs and homemade bread.
- Loading BayDe Waterkant brunch with strong coffee and clean plates.
- Knead BakerySeaside bakery-cafe for eggs and just-baked loaves.
- Melissa'sLong-running deli-cafe great for a relaxed breakfast spread.
Residency
Newcomers usually arrive on a critical skills, general work or retirement visa, and there is now a remote-work visa for salaried digital nomads. Permanent residence can follow after several years or through direct qualifying routes.
Tax
Once you become a tax resident, South Africa taxes your worldwide income on a sliding scale up to 45 percent. Residency turns on physical presence or where you are ordinarily resident, and some foreign employment income can be exempt up to a threshold.
Thinking about moving here for real? See the verified South Africa residency and citizenship routes →
Curious what you would actually pay? See the South Africa tax profile: income, corporate, VAT and exit rules →
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