Many who move to South Africa do so to be along the coastline and in the big cities. These include Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, East Rand and Pretoria.

Johannesburg, the largest, has more than three million people calling it home. Numerous suburban areas surround the city.

Cape Town offers a more diverse culture, as the country’s capitol, and boasts a stronger economy.

Living as an expat in any of the larger cities mentioned often means:

- You live in the downtown area in a city apartment or flat.

- If you want to live in a suburban area, you might own a small portion of land surrounding your family home.

- If you want to live in a villa you will typically do so in one of the upmarket communities just outside of the city.