Other Services and Amenities
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Suncoast Casino & Entertainment World
- Community Centers
- The BAT Centre (Arts/Youth focus)
- Gaming Lounges
- Nexus Gaming Hub
- Parcel Delivery Service
- The Courier Guy or PostNet
- Tech Repair Services
- iStore Umhlanga or Computer World (Hillcrest)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Durban Table Tennis Club (Stamford Hill)
- Language Classes
- UKZN (University of KwaZulu-Natal) for Zulu language short courses
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Durban Central Library or UKZN Howard College Library
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 18,000 ZAR per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 720,000 ZAR)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 14,000 ZAR per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 560,000 ZAR)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 22,000 ZAR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 1,320,000 ZAR in Umhlanga)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 15,500 ZAR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 930,000 ZAR)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 20,000 ZAR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 1,600,000 ZAR)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 14,500 ZAR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 1,160,000 ZAR)
- Corporate Tax
- 27%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 20%
- Tax System
- Residency-based (Worldwide income for residents)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (Income over 1,817,000 ZAR)
- VAT
- 15%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, comprehensive anti-avoidance legislation exists
- Property Tax
- Yes, Municipal Rates based on property valuation
- Property Transaction Tax
- Transfer Duty: Sliding scale (0% up to 1.1M ZAR, up to 13% for items over 11M ZAR)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- New Remote Work Visa (announced 2024/2025) allows foreigners to work for overseas companies tax-exempt if staying less than 6 months
Essentials
- City
- Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Population
- 3,100,000
- Internet Speed
- 35-60 Mbps (Fiber is common in suburbs like Umhlanga and Berea)
- Currency & Banking
- South African Rand (ZAR); 1 USD ≈ 19.05 ZAR
- Tap Water
- Safe to drink in urban areas, though many locals prefer filters
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type M (preferred) and Type N. Note: Loadshedding (power outages) occurs frequently; check 'EskomSePush' app
- SIM Card
- Vodacom or MTN (approx. 200 ZAR for 5GB). Available at King Shaka International Airport
- Banking for Expats
- FNB and Standard Bank offer 'Non-Resident' accounts; Revolut works for spending
- Accommodation
- Luxury apartments in Umhlanga Ridge or Victorian houses in Morningside
- Cashless Friendly
- Highly cashless; cards and tap-to-pay accepted almost everywhere including small cafes
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Property24 (Short stays approx. 12,000 - 18,000 ZAR/month)
- Budget Accommodation
- Curiocity Durban (approx. 450 ZAR/night for private room)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Umhlanga Rocks (Safe, walkable promenade, high-end dining)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Berea/Morningside (Artsy, central, better prices) or Umhlanga (Reliable power/fiber)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Workshop17 (Florida Road and Umhlanga); approx. 2,500 ZAR/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Lineage Coffee (Hillcrest or Umhlanga) - excellent WiFi and power points
- Networking Events
- Silicon Durbs (Tech/Entrepreneurship meetups)
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Durban or the 'Durban Digital Nomads' Facebook group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and Bolt (Uber is generally safer and better maintained)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Beachfront Bicycle Hire (approx. 60 ZAR/hour) along the Golden Mile
- Best Beach Nearby
- Umhlanga Main Beach or Bronze Beach
- Top Regional Airline
- Airlink or Safair
- Top International Airline
- Emirates or Qatar Airways (via King Shaka International)
- Highway Access
- N2 (North/South coastal) and N3 (Inland to Johannesburg)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Durban Station (Note: use with caution; prefer private transport)
- Public Transport Passes
- Muvo Card for the People Mover bus system (approx. 15 ZAR per trip)
- Regional Travel
- Intercape or Greyhound buses for long-distance; flights to Cape Town are ~2 hours
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Netcare Umhlanga Hospital or St. Augustine’s Hospital
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Flow Yoga and Thai Massage (Morningside); approx. 180 ZAR per class
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Virgin Active (Classic clubs in Umhlanga and Moses Mabhida Stadium)
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry Room (Florida Road); approx. 35 ZAR per kg for wash and dry
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Mr D Food and UberEats
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Bunny Chow (Half loaf of bread filled with curry) at Hollywoodbets or Gounden's
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Falafel Fundi (Florida Road) or Oh My Soul (Umhlanga)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Wicked Donuts or The扛 Creamery (Umhlanga)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Victoria Street Market (Spices) and Moore Road Checkers
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Takealot.com (The South African Amazon equivalent)
- Grocery Delivery
- Checkers Sixty60 (Delivery within 60 minutes)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Florida Road (Morningside) for bars; Umhlanga Village for upscale lounges
- Local Brewery
- That Brewing Co. (Station Drive Precinct)
- Wine Bars
- 9th Avenue Waterside (Victoria Embankment)
- Street Food Stalls
- The Golden Mile beachfront vendors (Corn on the cob and fruit)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Mali's Indian Restaurant (Authentic South Indian) or L'Aperitivo (Italian)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Moses Mabhida Stadium (SkyCar) and uShaka Marine World
- Museums & Art Venues
- KZNSA Gallery (Glenwood) and Durban Art Gallery
- Historical Sites
- KwaMuhle Museum (Apartheid history) and Gandhi’s House (Phoenix Settlement)
- Religious Sites
- Juma Masjid Mosque (largest in Southern Hemisphere) and Hare Krishna Temple (Chatsworth)
- Annual Events
- The Durban July (Horse racing/fashion) and Durban International Film Festival
- Cultural Districts
- Station Drive Precinct (Creative hub)
- Theater Venues
- The Playhouse Company or Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre
- Local Markets
- I Heart Market (Northlands) or Shongweni Farmers Market (Saturdays)
- Music Scene
- The Chairman (Sophisticated jazz/soul lounge)
- Street Art
- Rivertown Precinct mural walk
- Cooking Classes
- Gecko Culinary Adventures (Musgrave)
- Art Galleries
- African Art Centre (Florida Road)
- Historic Buildings
- Durban City Hall (Neo-Baroque style)
- Local Heritage
- Zulu kingdom heritage; the Bat Centre often hosts traditional performances
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Krantzkloof Nature Reserve (Hiking and waterfalls)
- National Parks Nearby
- Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park (Big 5 safari, 2.5 hours away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Durban Promenade (8km flat paved path along the ocean)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve or the top of Moses Mabhida
- Birdwatching Locations
- Umgeni River Bird Park
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Ansteys Beach (specific designated braai/fire areas)