Best City To Retire In South Africa

Below Are The Best City To Retire In South Africa

South Africa is a popular place to retire for many Europeans, especially Brits. It is estimated that over 120,000 people from the UK have retired to South Africa, mostly in Johannesburg and Cape Town, but also along the southern coast.

Folks from Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Italy also migrate here in sizable numbers.   People retire here for the moderate year-round weather, outside recreation, low cost of living, and stable government.

South Africa is a parliamentary democracy. While in many ways it is a developed country,  much of its population lives in poverty.

All major urban areas have modern, world-class hotels and tourist facilities. Food and water are generally safe, and a wide variety of consumer goods and pharmaceuticals are readily available. The capital is Pretoria, while the seat of parliament is located in Cape Town.

Johannesburg is the financial capital and largest city in South Africa. Durban is home to Africa’s busiest port and is the number-one domestic tourist destination for South Africans. (Pictured below colonial building in Durban). Updated February 2020.

People from other parts of Africa and South Africa often retire to the coasts around Cape Town. Aside from the beauty of the area and many attractive towns, it is felt that this district is better run than the rest of the country.

Many people feel that the national government is inept and corrupt, and there is much unhappiness about how it is run.

Weather. The Mediterranean climate is generally mild except in the northern and mountainous areas of the country.

Best Places to Live. See the list of the South African cities we have reviewed in the top right-hand column.  Many retirees prefer to live in cities popular with expats such as Cape Town and Johannesburg. Cities have plenty of attractions and living options, although they will generally be more expensive.

The Garden District along the southeast coast offers many nice towns and resorts for a lower-key experience. The cities and towns for which we have reviewed are listed on the right side of this page. 

Durban is a city of 200,000 with great beaches and access to tourist areas. Knysna is a popular place for UK residents to retire. It is located in the Western Cape area and is on the Garden Route.

Stellenbach, located in wine country east of Cape Town, is a wealthy and very cosmopolitan place to retire.

Where is the best place to retire in South Africa?

The most popular destinations for those retiring to South Africa are the bigger cities: Cape Town and Johannesburg. Both cities have sizeable ex-pat retiree populations. These cities are particularly popular with retirees from the UK.

Where is the safest place to retire in South Africa?

The West Coast

The towns of Yzerfontein, Churchhaven, and St. Helena Bay on the sparsely populated west coast are among the safest areas for ex-pats to live in South Africa. These areas are ideal places for expats in search of a peaceful lifestyle.