South African cost of living great for expats

[Shamus30]

Expats in or going to SA will find it relatively cheap. Out of 276 global cities:
Johannesburg is ranked 239 with a cost of index of 65 (New York=100)
Cape Town is ranked 250 with a cost of index of 59
Full list and artice can be found at
International Cost of Living Comparison - Global Trends by Steven Coleman Xpatulator.com

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by Shamus30

Expats in or going to SA will find it relatively cheap. Out of 276 global cities:
Johannesburg is ranked 239 with a cost of index of 65 (New York=100)
Cape Town is ranked 250 with a cost of index of 59
Full list and artice can be found at
International Cost of Living Comparison - Global Trends by Steven Coleman Xpatulator.com

Ha ha
I like that
Zimbabwe has the cheapest cost of living according to that list

[Daxk]

We've been doing this excercise for a few months now on another Forum.
if you do an online grocery shop at pick n pay.co.za and then the same goods at tesco.co.uk, use housebrands , an average weekly shop is about £11 difference.

If you then use the Macdonalds scale on a middle manager level, and factor in that SA's Bank rates are three times higher than the Euro or Sterling then, if you are earning Foreign Currency(£, € $) then SA is cheaper, if you are earning ZAR then it is not.

[HereForNow]

Originally Posted by Daxk

We've been doing this excercise for a few months now on another Forum.
if you do an online grocery shop at pick n pay.co.za and then the same goods at tesco.co.uk, use housebrands , an average weekly shop is about £11 difference.

If you then use the Macdonalds scale on a middle manager level, and factor in that SA's Bank rates are three times higher than the Euro or Sterling then, if you are earning Foreign Currency(£, € $) then SA is cheaper, if you are earning ZAR then it is not.

I find food is about a third of the price, electricity a fifth, and telecomms about the same but atrocious quality of service.

The problem with earning Rands in Cape Town is compounded by the you-are-a-servant mentality to anyone in the service industry (like myself). They expect you to accept earning peanuts, which of course, I do not. My South African spouse had been run out of the country with two attempts on her life, which is how we met in the UK. She lost everything, her business, her staff, all her possessions, just because a gangster client did not feel like paying for what was an excellent service. I never believed that story until I got this attitude myself. When we came over together, we had to pay off her debts, accrued having fled the country and lain low for years without winding up the business. I must say, most of my clients respect me. I just wish they all did.

[Halo]

LOL, when the electricity works...
Insurance is MEGA as theft/robbery is so high...
Health insurance is super-high if you want half decent treatment.....

Perspective people..... and once in, you are stuck.

[HereForNow]

Originally Posted by Halo

LOL, when the electricity works...
Insurance is MEGA as theft/robbery is so high...
Health insurance is super-high if you want half decent treatment.....

Perspective people..... and once in, you are stuck.

So Halo, what's it like in Australia? What are the main differences?

[Halo]

OZ is good....(the UK is better) - Look, its just another 1st world country with low crime that is devoid of tribalism in its infancy. Its not rocket science..... (you just have to pick the one that ticks your boxes)

[Martinw]

Money is not going to help you much WHEN YOU ARE DEAD.

[smartymarty]

LOL! Britain not Great at the minute..excuse the pun

[Daxk]

lets see now, where would be a better place to be unemployed?
Would you rather:
Draw Unemployment benefits in the UK/Ireland/USA or SA?
Correct me if I'm wrong but are'nt there Housing Benefits? Fuel Benefits in the UK?
Public Transport in the UK vs SA?
A Govt Hospital in the UK vs SA?
A Govt School in the UK vs SA?
When you apply for a job in the UK what will the criteria be?
Experience or Skin Colour?
Apart from Infrastructure associated with 2010, if this recession is expected to last at least 5 years, what jobs will be available after 2010?
Just remember that SA has undertaken loans to pay for the infrastructure, what is SA's Current unemployment vs UK/Ireland/USA as a % of Population, and please use the Broader definition.