Which country offers the most savings for South African expats?

Malaysia currently leads — roughly 24% 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 24% 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.

City-level costs inside Malaysia vary a lot. Compare cities with Pro →

Top 10 by lifestyle-adjusted score

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

Malaysia

58.2

Portugal

54.2

Thailand

52.9

Malta

51.3

Cyprus

49.9

United Arab Emirates

49.8

Indonesia

48.7

South Korea

48.6

Estonia

48.4

Spain

48.4

#	Country	Score	CoL vs South Africa	Rent vs South Africa	HC	Safety
1	MalaysiaVisa	58.2	−24%	−13%	78	74	vs South Africa →
2	PortugalVisa	54.2	+43%	+98%	88	90	vs South Africa →
3	ThailandVisa	52.9	−21%	−4%	76	70	vs South Africa →
4	MaltaVisa	51.3	+50%	+119%	82	84	vs South Africa →
5	CyprusVisa	49.9	+52%	+77%	78	82	vs South Africa →
6	United Arab EmiratesVisa	49.8	+67%	+296%	82	88	vs South Africa →
7	IndonesiaVisa	48.7	−24%	−29%	58	64	vs South Africa →
8	South KoreaVisa	48.6	+52%	+92%	90	84	vs South Africa →
9	EstoniaVisa	48.4	+67%	+46%	78	84	vs South Africa →
10	SpainVisa	48.4	+52%	+88%	92	80	vs South Africa →
11	CroatiaVisa	48.3	+26%	+21%	74	82	vs South Africa →
12	IcelandVisa	48.0	+169%	+254%	88	96	vs South Africa →
13	HungaryVisa	47.6	+24%	+13%	72	78	vs South Africa →
14	RomaniaVisa	47.2	+7%	−4%	66	70	vs South Africa →
15	GreeceVisa	46.4	+43%	+8%	78	78	vs South Africa →
16	GeorgiaVisa	46.1	−5%	+0%	60	60	vs South Africa →
17	Afghanistan	46.0	−100%	−100%	60	60	vs South Africa →
18	Cuba	46.0	−100%	−100%	60	60	vs South Africa →
19	Iran	46.0	−100%	−100%	60	60	vs South Africa →
20	JapanVisa	46.0	+57%	+92%	92	95	vs South Africa →
21	North Korea	46.0	−100%	−100%	60	60	vs South Africa →
22	South Sudan	46.0	−100%	−100%	60	60	vs South Africa →
23	Syria	46.0	−100%	−100%	60	60	vs South Africa →
24	Yemen	46.0	−100%	−100%	60	60	vs South Africa →
25	LatviaVisa	45.4	+38%	+13%	70	78	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