Which country offers the most savings for South African expats?

Malaysia currently leads — roughly 4% lower cost of living than South Africa, with a healthcare proxy of 78/100.

Do South African citizens need a visa?

Most destinations on this list offer a digital nomad, retirement, or long-stay visa accessible to South African passport holders. Confirm specifics before relocating.

Will I still owe tax in South Africa?

Tax residency rules in South Africa typically depend on physical presence and ties — consult a cross-border adviser before relocating.

Best Countries for South African Expats (2026)

South Africans typically optimise for safety, education, and stronger currencies — Portugal, the UK, and Australia dominate.

Updated March 2026

Key takeaway

Malaysia ranks #1 for South African expats — about 4% cheaper than South Africa on cost of living and 13% cheaper on rent.

Score blends cost arbitrage, a healthcare proxy (78/100), safety (74/100), visa access, and English fluency.

Top 10 by lifestyle-adjusted score

Higher = better cost arbitrage and lifestyle fit for South African expats.

Malaysia

55.7

Portugal

55.0

Estonia

52.5

United Arab Emirates

51.2

Thailand

50.5

Spain

49.7

Hungary

49.7

Cyprus

49.7

Malta

49.4

Romania

48.1

#	Country	Score	CoL vs South Africa	Rent vs South Africa	HC	Safety
1	MalaysiaVisa	55.7	−4%	−13%	78	74	vs South Africa →
2	PortugalVisa	55.0	+37%	+98%	88	90	vs South Africa →
3	EstoniaVisa	52.5	+34%	+46%	78	84	vs South Africa →
4	United Arab EmiratesVisa	51.2	+55%	+296%	82	88	vs South Africa →
5	ThailandVisa	50.5	−2%	−4%	76	70	vs South Africa →
6	SpainVisa	49.7	+42%	+88%	92	80	vs South Africa →
7	HungaryVisa	49.7	+7%	+13%	72	78	vs South Africa →
8	CyprusVisa	49.7	+53%	+77%	78	82	vs South Africa →
9	MaltaVisa	49.4	+65%	+119%	82	84	vs South Africa →
10	RomaniaVisa	48.1	+0%	−4%	66	70	vs South Africa →
11	IcelandVisa	48.0	+119%	+254%	88	96	vs South Africa →
12	CroatiaVisa	47.9	+30%	+21%	74	82	vs South Africa →
13	GreeceVisa	47.4	+35%	+8%	78	78	vs South Africa →
14	LatviaVisa	47.4	+22%	+13%	70	78	vs South Africa →
15	CanadaVisa	47.2	+81%	+223%	84	80	vs South Africa →
16	IndonesiaVisa	47.1	−11%	−29%	58	64	vs South Africa →
17	JapanVisa	46.7	+52%	+92%	92	95	vs South Africa →
18	South KoreaVisa	45.2	+79%	+92%	90	84	vs South Africa →
19	Slovenia	45.1	+37%	+46%	80	88	vs South Africa →
20	SerbiaVisa	44.9	+5%	−13%	60	60	vs South Africa →
21	Bahrain	43.5	+31%	+67%	74	80	vs South Africa →
22	Lithuania	43.3	+29%	+50%	72	80	vs South Africa →
23	ItalyVisa	43.1	+46%	+63%	86	74	vs South Africa →
24	Qatar	42.7	+65%	+296%	84	90	vs South Africa →
25	Kuwait	42.6	+38%	+129%	74	80	vs South Africa →

What we measured

Cost arbitrage — how much cheaper rent and overall cost of living are vs South Africa.
Healthcare proxy (0–100) — blended outcome data, infrastructure, and resident satisfaction.
Safety proxy (0–100) — petty + violent crime + perceived nighttime safety.
Visa access — whether the destination offers a digital-nomad or long-stay visa accessible to South African citizens.
English fluency — day-to-day usability for new arrivals before learning the local language.

Top 10 by lifestyle-adjusted score

What we measured

Other origins