Essentials
- City
- Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
- Population
- Approx. 5.6 million (Greater Johannesburg area)
- Internet Speed
- Average 50-100 Mbps on Fiber; 5G widely available via Rain or Vodacom
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 19.10 ZAR, 1 EUR ≈ 20.70 ZAR
- Tap Water
- Drinkable (Johannesburg Water is ranked among the best in the world, though some residents prefer filters)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type M and Type N sockets. Note: Load shedding (planned blackouts) occurs; backup power is essential.
- SIM Card
- MTN, Vodacom, Telkom. 10GB Data approx. R300 ($16)
- Banking for Expats
- FNB, Standard Bank, Nedbank. Discovery Bank for digital-first experience.
- Accommodation
- Serviced apartments in Sandton or Rosebank; Airbnb is very popular and high quality.
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and Apple/Google Pay accepted almost everywhere except informal markets.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Property24 (for 6-month+ leases), and The Capital Hotels & Apartments
- Budget Accommodation
- Curiosity Backpackers in Maboneng (approx. R450/night for private room)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Sandton (shopping and safety) or Melrose Arch (pedestrian friendly)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Rosebank (walkable, malls, Gautrain access) or Parkhurst (vibrant cafe culture and safe streets)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Workshop17 (Rosebank & Sandton) - Day pass approx. R270; Monthly Hot Desk R2,500
- Best Cafe for Work
- Motherkind (Rosebank) or Father Coffee (Kramerville) - Fast Wi-Fi and generator backup
- Networking Events
- Heavy Chef (Entrepreneurship events) and Silicon Cape (Tech meetups)
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Johannesburg Chapter and Johannesburg Expats Facebook Group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and Bolt (Use Uber Black or Bolt Premium for higher safety standards)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Not recommended for commuting due to safety/traffic; recreational cycling at Emmerentia Dam
- Best Beach Nearby
- No local beach; nearest is Durban (approx. 6-hour drive or 1-hour flight)
- Top Regional Airline
- Airlink, Lift, and Safair
- Top International Airline
- South African Airways (SAA), Emirates, and Qatar Airways
- Highway Access
- Well-connected via the M1, N1, and N3 highways
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Park Station (Metrorail) and Gautrain Sandton/Rosebank Stations (High-speed rail)
- Public Transport Passes
- Gautrain Gold Card (Contactless payment also accepted at gates)
- Regional Travel
- Gautrain to Pretoria (35 mins, approx. R200); flights to Cape Town (2 hours, R1,200+)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Netcare Milpark Hospital or Morningside Mediclinic (Private healthcare is world-class)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Experience (Parkhurst) and The Wellness Centre (Sandhurst)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Virgin Active Collective (Rosebank) and Viva Gym (Budget friendly, approx. R350/mo)
- Laundry Services
- Pressed in Time (various locations, approx. R40 per kg for wash/dry/fold)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats and Mr D Food
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Braai (Barbecue) and Chakalaka with Pap or a 'Kota' street sandwich
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Lexi’s Healthy Eatery (Sandton) and Free Food (Birnam)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Paul’s Homemade Ice Cream (Parkhurst) and Patachou Patisserie (Rivonia)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Oriental Plaza (Fordsburg) and Checkers/Pick n Pay supermarkets
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Takealot.com (The Amazon of South Africa) and Bash
- Grocery Delivery
- Checkers Sixty60 (Delivery within 60 minutes)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- 4th Avenue in Parkhurst and Keyes Art Mile in Rosebank
- Local Brewery
- Mad Giant (1Fox Precinct) and Hell's Kitchen (Melville)
- Wine Bars
- Mr Pants Wine Bar (Blairgowrie) and Proud Mary (Rosebank)
- Street Food Stalls
- Market on Main (Maboneng) and Prison Break Market (Midrand)
- Popular International Cuisine
- The Marabi Club (Jazz and fusion) and Marble (High-end meat/fire cooking)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill
- Museums & Art Venues
- Wits Art Museum (WAM) and Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG)
- Historical Sites
- Soweto (Vilakazi Street - only street to house two Nobel Peace Prize winners)
- Religious Sites
- Nizamiye Mosque (Midrand) and St. Mary's Cathedral
- Annual Events
- Joy of Jazz (September) and Arts Alive Festival
- Cultural Districts
- Maboneng Precinct and Victoria Yards
- Theater Venues
- Market Theatre (Newtown) and Joburg Theatre (Braamfontein)
- Local Markets
- Rosebank Sunday Market and Bryanston Organic Market
- Music Scene
- Bassline (Newtown) and live jazz at various venues in Melville
- Street Art
- Graffiti tours in Maboneng and Newtown
- Cooking Classes
- The Cooking School at Thyme (Sandton) and Taste-Buds Cook Club
- Art Galleries
- Circa Gallery (Everard Read) and Goodman Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Rand Club (City Center) and Northwards Mansion
- Local Heritage
- The Golden Rhino of Mapungubwe at the University of Pretoria (nearby)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden and Melville Koppies
- National Parks Nearby
- Pilanesberg National Park (3 hours drive) and Lion & Safari Park (45 mins)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Wilds Nature Reserve and Delta Park
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Top of Africa (Carlton Centre - check for opening status) and Northcliff Ridge Ecopark
- Birdwatching Locations
- Montecasino Bird Gardens and Marievale Bird Sanctuary
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Various braai areas in Rietvlei Nature Reserve
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Aramex (Pick n Pay drop boxes) and PostNet
- Tech Repair Services
- Incredible Connection and WeFix (Mall locations)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Rivonia Recreation Club
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française (Richmond) for French; Wits Language School for local languages
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Johannesburg City Library and The Rosebank Library
- Community Centers
- Marks Park Sports Club and various Virgin Active 'Life' locations
- Gaming Lounges
- Nexus Hub (Randburg)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Montecasino (Fourways) and Emperors Palace (Kempton Park)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. R18,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = R720,000 / $38,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. R12,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = R480,000 / $25,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. R22,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = R1,320,000 / $70,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. R15,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = R900,000 / $47,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. R25,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = R2,000,000 / $105,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. R18,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = R1,440,000 / $75,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 27%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 20%
- Tax System
- Residence-based (worldwide income for residents)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (for income over R1,817,000)
- VAT
- 15%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, comprehensive rules based on percentage ownership
- Property Tax
- Yes, Rates and Taxes paid monthly to the City of Johannesburg based on property valuation
- Property Transaction Tax
- Transfer Duty (Sliding scale; properties under R1.1M are exempt)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- New remote work visa announced 2024; potential tax exemptions for short-term stays under 6 months