Cape Town
South Africa · Africa
Cape Town pairs jaw-dropping scenery (Table Mountain, surf beaches and Cape Winelands) with a mature remote-work scene, abundant cafes and coworking, and a favorable cost of living. The Mother City offers Western-quality infrastructure at roughly half European prices, plus a vibrant food, art and outdoor lifestyle. The main trade-offs are high crime requiring street-smart habits and occasional power/water disruptions.
Wealth migration
Inflowing+3.7kCape Town is South Africa's wealth magnet: domestic 'semigration' and luxury-home demand swell the Western Cape even as the country's overall outflow stabilizes.
Tax regime
Residence-based worldwide tax, 45% top rate; no special expat regime
Residents taxed on worldwide income; foreign employment income exempt only up to R1.25m; CGT incl. on emigration exit charge
Golden / investor visa
Financially Independent Permit (FIP)
from $675,000
Proof of net worth ~ZAR 12m grants immediate permanent residence with full work/business rights; no CBI/'golden visa' exists in SA
Official source →Why the wealthy are moving, 2025-26
- Domestic 'semigration': affluent families relocate from Gauteng to the Western Cape for quality of life and safety; Western Cape now holds 17,300 millionaires vs Johannesburg/Pretoria's ~14,000 and is set to overtake Joburg in total wealth by 2030
- Luxury-property boom underpinning Cape Town's pull: prime prices hit ~USD 5,800/sqm vs ~USD 1,800/sqm in Sandton; Cape Winelands HNWI count up 42% over the decade and Whale Coast prices up ~75%
- South Africa overall still a net HNWI exporter but stabilizing: ~250 dollar-millionaires left in 2024, the lowest net outflow since Covid, with some returnees from the UK
- International HNWI interest in Cape Town as a 'best city to live' lifestyle and second-home hub, creating a shortage of luxury homes in Atlantic Seaboard/City Bowl
- UAE (0% tax + golden visa) remains the main rival destination pulling South African wealth abroad, alongside the UK, Australia and Mauritius
More of Cape Town
Monthly cost breakdown
$1,450solo nomad · mid-rangeClimate
MediterraneanPros
- Stunning nature: mountain, beaches and winelands at your doorstep
- Strong value: Western infrastructure at roughly half European cost
- English is widely spoken with a big established nomad community
- Excellent food, coffee and coworking scene
Cons
- High crime rate requires constant situational awareness
- Occasional load-shedding (power cuts) and water restrictions
- Spread-out city with limited public transit, a car or rideshare is often needed
Where nomads stay
Safe, walkable seafront with a famous promenade and great cafes
Trendy City Bowl area around Kloof Street, near hiking trails and nightlife
Stylish, secure cobbled enclave near the CBD, very nomad-friendly
Central, near the V&A Waterfront and stadium, good connectivity
Coworking
- Workshop17
- Cube Workspace
- Inner City Ideas Cartel
- The Bureaux
Annual events
- Cape Town International Jazz FestivalMar
- Cape Town Cycle TourMar
- Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset ConcertsDec
