This South African city just ranked as the worst in the world for expats
The InterNations Expat Insider for 2022 has ranked Johannesburg as the worst city in the world for expats to settle in.
The annual ranking is based on a survey run by InterNations, polling expats on their views of various destinations across five topical indices: Quality of Life, Ease of Settling In, Working Abroad, Personal Finance, and Expat Essentials.
For 2022, a total of 11,970 expats participated in the survey, representing 177 nationalities and living in 181 countries or territories.
For a country to be listed in any of the indices and in the overall ranking, a sample size of at least 50 survey participants per destination is required. In 2022, 52 destinations were ranked, with South Africa sitting at 46th overall.
Safety and security are the biggest worries for expats living in South Africa, InterNations said, with a strained job market and bleak career prospects adding to the negatives. The country also lands in the bottom three for political stability (51st), with 43% of expats rating this factor negatively, compared to just 15% globally.
However, South Africa has some wins with an affordable housing market and good leisure and social activities – despite bureaucracy getting in the way of the former, and a generally unfriendly position on foreigners hampering the latter.
In the cities ranking, two South African cities were included in the ranking of 50: Cape Town, which ranked 32nd on the overall list, and Johannesburg, which ranked stone last at 50th.
Johannesburg
“Johannesburg is the world’s worst city for expats and is outperformed by Cape Town in all respects,” InterNations said, adding that it performed poorly across all indices.
The city ranked as the worst city worldwide in the Quality of Life Index (50th), with expats reporting extreme unhappiness with the affordability (25% unhappy vs. 15% globally) and availability (39% vs. 17% globally) of public transportation.
Close to three in five (59%) do not find it easy and safe to get around by foot and/or bicycle (vs 13% globally) — 32% even describe it as extremely unsafe – eight times the global average (4%).
“The city ranks last worldwide for both this factor and personal safety in general: 62% do not feel safe in Johannesburg, compared to 9% globally,” InterNations said.
In the Working Abroad Index, Johannesburg ranks 49th, only ahead of Istanbul (50th).
Expats rated the local job market (38% unhappy vs 27% globally) and their personal career opportunities (29% vs 22% globally) negatively, and about a quarter (24%) say that moving there has not improved their career prospects (vs 18% globally).
“Since expats in Johannesburg also tend to be dissatisfied with their job security, the state of the economy, and their work-life balance, it is no surprise that 24% are unhappy with their job in general,” the group said.
Interestingly, while only a slightly above average share of expats feel they are not paid fairly for their job (22% vs 20% globally), results in the Personal Finance Index (47th) look much worse.
Expats are unsatisfied with their personal finances (41% unhappy vs 21% globally), and 44% say that their disposable household income is not enough to lead a comfortable life (vs. 28% globally). Johannesburg ranks last worldwide (50th) for both factors.
The one bright side, InterNations said, is that at least housing is affordable, according to 46% of expats (vs 39% globally), which is one reason why Johannesburg still lands in 36th place in the Expat Essentials Index.
“On the other hand, expats rate the availability of administrative/government services online negatively (41% unhappy vs 21% globally), and 34% struggle to open a local bank account (vs 21% globally).”
Cape Town
Cape Town’s performance in the ranking is, by comparison, far better – though the city is still not ranked particularly highly overall.
InterNations’ headline takeaway from Cape Town is that it’s a great place to make friends, but not for building a career.
“Cape Town even makes it into the top 10 of the Ease of Settling In Index, ranking ninth,” it said.
Expats describe the local residents as generally friendly (74% happy vs 66% globally) and find it easy to make friends with them (50% vs 42% globally).
“In fact, expats in Cape Town are happiest with their social life, with the city ranking first: 64% rate this factor positively (vs 56% globally), and 42% are even completely satisfied (vs 23% globally),” InterNations said.
Cape Town also ranks favourably in the Leisure Options subcategory – but like Joburg, falls when looking at quality of life, travel and transit and safety and security.
“(Expats) are unhappy with the availability of public transportation (47th), and 39% do not find it easy or safe to get around on foot and/or bicycle (vs 13% globally). What is more, 38% are worried about their personal safety in general, which is more than four times the global average (9%),” the group said.
Cape Town ranks 44th in the Working Abroad Index, even landing in second-to-last place worldwide in both the Career Prospects (49th) and the Salary & Job Security (49th) Subcategories.
Close to half the expats (46%) are unhappy with the local job market (vs 27% globally), and 20% say that moving to Cape Town has not improved their career prospects (vs 18% globally). Additionally, they worry about their job security (33% unhappy vs 20% globally) and rate the state of the economy negatively (51% vs 17% globally).
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