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Johannesburg’s ideal climate is a key feature what attracts many expats, but what do you need to know before moving there? On this page we will discuss the top essentials of moving to Johannesburg. From moving costs, finding a home and requesting free removal quotes.
Johannesburg is the most populous city in South Africa and known for being a multilingual city with English being the third most spoken language. The city is know as the economic engine room as well as the financial centre in Africa. Although the beautiful natural beauty there are many downsides to life in Johannesburg hidden in the shadows of it’s wealth. Crime and poverty is a big issue within the city and you should make sure you get to know the area you are moving to before moving there.
Entering Johannesburg is not an issue as UK citizens can stay in the city for 90 days without a visa. But what about if you want to stay longer? The common permits include
You will need the following when applying for your permit:
Johannesburg is not close, therefore stress is likely to be involved in the process of moving there. At Sirelo we want your move to be as carefree as possible, we will find you accurate quotes for your move through our partners who specialise in removals to Johannesburg. Simply fill in our free removal quote form to receive up to 5 quotes, this only takes a few minutes and can save you up to 40% on your move.
Your move will vary on a number of factors. (1) Household size. (2) Transport type. (3) Insurance. (4) Additional services. (5) Time of the year. Moving to Johannesburg will take around 4-7 weeks. Below is an estimate of how much a move to Johannesburg will cost by sea transportation:
| Household size | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 bed | £2,400 – £4,100 |
| 2 bed | £3,200 – £5,300 |
| 3 bed | £5,400 – £9,000 |
| 4 bed | £6,000 – £9,800 |
| 5 bed | £8,400 – £13,700 |
As previously mentioned a visa is required if staying in the country for more than 90 days. After this there are a number of things that should be taken into consideration before moving to Johannesburg:
The public healthcare is under resourced so is advised to get out private healthcare before moving to Johannesburg.
Make sure all documents are up to date and photocopied
You will not be able to use your UK bank account constantly, unless you are willing to pay some extreme charges. If you are needing to transfer money abroad before setting up a bank account then visit our page on the experts to transfer money abroad. The most common banks in Johannesburg are as followed:
Ensure you apply for an international driver’s license before leaving the UK, as well as making sure that your current driver’s license is up to date
You will need up to date copies of all doctors’ records that highlight any immunisations, major illnesses or treatments that need to be continued with when moving to Johannesburg
Cancel any subscriptions.
ESKOM is the only provider for your electricity, unlike having multiple to chose from like we are used to in the UK.
Make sure all your addresses are changed / mail is redirected to your new address so you don’t miss out on any important mail.
Living costs are a lot lower in Johannesburg in comparison to the UK. Below is an overview of some relevant costs in Johannesburg and London.
| Cost of living | Price in UK | Price in Johannesburg |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant meal | £15.00 | £5.88 |
| Cappuccino | £2.62 | £2.62 |
| Monthly train pass | £130.00 | £26.45 |
| Basic utilities | £148.72 | £59.93 |
| Internet | £23.98 | £47.43 |
| Apartment 1 bed rent | £1,673.91 | £374.21 |
| Monthly salary | £2,165.25 | £1,280.99 |
The poverty is a big issue in Johannesburg, it is not uncommon to see a fancy car and not far from it a person starving and in poverty. You should not give in to the guilt and is common for expats to be targeted by beggars. If you are wanting to make a difference it is more helpful to donate to reputable charities rather than individuals on the streets.
It is quite simple to find an apartment in Johannesburg, through various estate agents, newspapers and online websites. The costs of renting apartments is a lot cheaper in comparison to the UK and the standard of quality for what you pay can be very high. It is not uncommon to have swimming pools and large gardens with your apartments due to the gorgeous climates.
There is no restriction on non residents owning a house in Johannesburg, so many expats will end up buying apartments if planning on staying a couple of years. Foreign citizens can also borrow up to 50% of the houses value.
This is a serious factor to consider before moving to Johannesburg, as previously mentioned the poverty and crime as a result is a huge concern. The Sandton area with the following neighbourhoods are popular amongst expats and include:
These areas are more expensive than others but this is due to the large presence of expats. Other popular expats locations for individuals more on a budget include Fourways, Midrand, and Randburg.
When moving to Johannesburg be aware that the home security is a concern. This is down to the large-scale social inequality which can create opportunity for burglary and sometimes violent crimes.
It is advised to try and get a job before moving to Johannesburg as can be very challenging. The key resource to have in this situation are a network of people. Networking with members of already established expat groups in Johannesburg could be very beneficial to new arrivals in the city and a useful way to help become employed.
Websites such as Bizcommunity.com and Indeed.co.za are common well-respected online job recruitment sites for locals and expats. It is important to look at the location of your new work. Some areas are less safe than others and considering possible ways to commute into your new work place is a key priority that should be checked. The congestion and traffic, as will be mentioned later on, is quite extreme in Johannesburg and commuting time could take a long time.
Other popular ways to find jobs is through newspapers listings such as, the Sunday Times and the Mail and Guardian, these list job opportunities on Sundays and Thursdays respectively.
The public transport in Johannesburg was very poor prior to the world cup in 2010 and although it has improved it is not great in comparison to what we are used to in the UK. Both busses and metro busses are limited. The massive urban sprawl of the city and its huge population doesn’t making transportation easy at all.
The most common means of public transport is taxi’s and due to the higher crime rates it’s not always advisable to take them. Due to this is it is quite common for expats to simply buy or bring their car over when moving to Johannesburg. Similarly to the UK they also drive on the left, the main adjustments you will need to get used to is the extreme congestion’s.
If you are planning on taking your car it is important that you apply for an international driving license to make sure your presence on the roads are legal.
Johannesburg can be a dangerous place, even by South African standards, the neighbourhood you are in affects the severity of danger. Although many citizens maybe willing to threaten individuals with knifes and guns it is usually only used if provoked. You will not be in dangerous situations constantly but it is important to be aware in case a situation should arise and be prepared.
The city administration has heightened their efforts of combating crime, in particular in the Central Business District and popular expat locations. Crime rate as a result has decreased but the city still struggles to shake its infamous reputation.
The City of Johannesburg offers a list of safety tips for visitors, expats, and residence that should be checked out before moving to Johannesburg.
Thinking about moving to Johannesburg? Get a free removal quote through Sirelo, this will only take a few minutes and could save you up to 40% on your move. You can receive up to 5 quotes from our companies that specialise in removals to Johannesburg.
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