Moving to the UK from South Africa: Complete Guide
Learn everything you need to know about moving to the UK from South Africa, including visa types, cost of living, how to find a job, and associated processes.
Cost of living in the UK for South Africans
Planning a move to the UK for work, studies, or just simply exploring your options? Moving anywhere is daunting even if you speak the same language. But with almost 229,0001 South Africans already living in the UK the move may be a lot smoother than you think. London in particular has been an extremely popular choice for South Africans due to its diverse population, lucrative employment opportunities, world-class educational institutes, and overall vibe.
This guide helps you uncover all that entails moving to the UK, be it renting and transport costs or understanding how their health system works. We help you manage and exchange money at the mid-market rate¹⁶ from the UK to South Africa using Wise – a great bank alternative for international money transfers!
How expensive is the UK in comparison to South Africa
Well, if you were under the impression that a move to the UK would save you money, let us tell you now - it may do the opposite . The average cost of living in the UK is approximately 79.3% higher than in South Africa, with renting in the UK being 97.5% higher than in SA2.
The currency in the UK
The pound (GBP) is the official currency of the country and is sometimes also called the sterling. It is one of the strongest currencies in the world, and this online currency converter can help you find the exact value of your ZAR in comparison with the pound.
A very tricky aspect of navigating this is the exchange rate. Many banks and foreign exchange services give you the impression that they offer the best rate. However, if this rate varies too much between different organisations, and there’s loads of fine print, it means hidden costs. So, how do you protect yourself from this?
Send money from the UK to South Africa using the mid-market exchange rate
As a bank alternative, Wise can help South African expats living in the UK save money¹⁶ when making international payments to South Africa.
The mid-market exchange rate is the rate that banks use to transfer money between them.
While some UK banks support international payments, they usually add a markup on top of the mid-market exchange rate for this transaction that customers end up paying.
Wise uses the mid-market rate for international payments. We only apply a small transparent fee to make an international payment¹⁶.
This means that with Wise, South African expats could save money¹⁶ when making overseas transactions from the UK.
Cost of living in the UK vs. South Africa
London, the UK’s capital city, is one of the most expensive places to live in and ranks 17th on Mercer’s list3. The cost of living in the UK varies from city to city and you can save significantly by simply choosing to not live in say central London. Let’s break down significant costs like rent, transportation, groceries, and healthcare, as well as take a look at average salaries to help you understand the average monthly cost of living in the UK in different cities.
Rental costs in the UK
Rent prices in the UK have skyrocketed in the UK over the past 2 years. As a single person, you should expect to shell out an average of £1300-£1400 per month in London or around £900-£1200 in the rest of the UK4.
The following table breaks down rents in major cities in the UK.
Average monthly rents in London
| Rental for | Average monthly rent in London5 |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment (in the city centre) | £2,266.96 (R51,800.14) |
| 1-bedroom apartment (outside the city centre) | £1,605.10 (R36,676.70) |
| 3-bedroom apartment (in the city centre) | £4,142.22 (R94,650.08) |
| 3-bedroom apartment (outside the city centre) | £2,616.36 (R59,784.10) |
Average monthly rents in Birmingham
| Rental for | Average monthly rent in Birmingham6 |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment (in the city centre) | £916.52 (R20,942.59) |
| 1-bedroom apartment (outside the city centre) | £738.24 (R16,868.73) |
| 3-bedroom apartment (in the city centre) | £1,781.25 (R40,701.69) |
| 3-bedroom apartment (outside the city centre) | £1,153.85 (R26,365.47) |
Average monthly rents in Edinburgh
| Rental for | Average monthly rent in Edinburgh7 |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment (in the city centre) | £1,182.69 (R27,024.61) |
| 1-bedroom apartment (outside the city centre) | £845.45 (R19,318.70) |
| 3-bedroom apartment (in the city centre) | £2,235.71 (R51,086.23) |
| 3-bedroom apartment (outside the city centre) | £1,386.15 (R31,673.72) |
Cost of groceries in the UK
The UK is home to a range of grocery stores, and you can choose between affordable (Aldi, Lidl), mid-range (Sainsbury, Tesco), and expensive (M&S, Waitrose). Listed below are the average prices of everyday items in different cities.
Average grocery cost in London
| Basic groceries | Average cost in London5 |
|---|---|
| Bread | £1.54 (R35.25) |
| Milk | £1.33 (R30.37) |
| Eggs | £3.45 (R78.73) |
| Cheese | £7.70 (R175.94) |
| Chicken fillets (1kg) | £7.63 £ (R174.24) |
| Bottle of wine (mid-range) | £9.00 (R205.65) |
Average grocery cost in Birmingham
| Basic groceries | Average cost in Birmingham6 |
|---|---|
| Bread | £1.09 (R24.93) |
| Milk | £1.06 (R24.31) |
| Eggs | £2.31 (R52.72) |
| Cheese | £5.99 (R136.96) |
| Chicken fillets (1kg) | £5.64 (R128.93) |
| Bottle of wine (mid-range) | £7.00 (R159.95) |
Average grocery cost in Edinburgh
| Basic groceries | Average cost in Edinburgh7 |
|---|---|
| Bread | £1.31 (R30.00) |
| Milk | £1.13 (R25.77) |
| Eggs | £2.30 (R52.48) |
| Cheese | £8.18 (R186.89) |
| Chicken fillets (1kg) | £6.26 (R142.94) |
| Bottle of wine (mid-range) | £7.50 (R171.38) |
Transport costs in the UK
Travelling by car in the UK is often very slow due to traffic. But the UK has excellent modes of public transports including buses, trams, trains, and the tube which help commuters get to their destinations quickly.
| 1-way ticket in London | £2.90 5 (R66.27) |
|---|---|
| Monthly transport pass in London | £180.005 (R4,113.01) |
| 1-way ticket in Birmingham | £2.406 (R54.84) |
| Monthly transport pass in Birmingham | £60.006 (R1,371.00) |
| 1-way ticket in Edinburgh | £2.007 (R45.70) |
| Monthly transport pass in Edinburgh | £60.007 (R1,371.00) |
Study costs in the UK
The UK boasts of some of the best universities in the world and is a desirable option for South Africans looking to pursue higher studies. The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge are ranked 78 and 49 in the world and have a longstanding reputation for excellence. Universities in London are also a great option, with Imperial College London, University College London, King’s College London, and many more offering highly specialized undergraduate and Master’s courses. While there are several scholarships available, the system is privatized.
Undergraduate courses range from between £11,400 - £38,0004 with the average being approximately £22,000. The degrees last either 3 or 4 years.
Postgraduate course fees vary from £9,000 - £30,0004 depending on the university and course. Generally, the better the university, the higher the fees. The Master’s course duration is typically one year.
What is the average salary in the UK?
Salaries in the UK are known to be above average, but your earnings greatly depend on skill and your savings directly on expenditures which depend on where you live. Salaries in London are higher than the rest of the UK but the cost of living in London is also extremely high. The National Living Wage in the UK is £10.42 (238.10 R) per hour for individuals 23 and over10. The tables below list salaries of professional across industries in the 3 major cities in the UK.
Average annual salaries in London
| Designation | Average salary in London11 |
|---|---|
| Attorney | £57,487 (R1,313,581) |
| Physician | £43,069 (R984,129) |
| Project Manager | £40,622 (R928,215) |
| UX Designer | £35,407 (R809,052) |
| Accountant | £32,727 (R747,814) |
| Data Analyst | £30,360 (R693,728) |
| Content Marketer | £29,364 (R670,969) |
| Nurse | £25,630 (R585,647) |
| Teacher | £25,539 (R583,567) |
Average annual salaries in Birmingham
| Designation | Average salary in Birmingham12 |
|---|---|
| Attorney | £39,353 (R899,218) |
| Physician | £40,631 (R928,421) |
| Project Manager | £32,928 (R752,407) |
| UX Designer | £28,876 (R659,818) |
| Accountant | £29,669 (R677,938) |
| Data Analyst | £24,552 (R561.014) |
| Content Marketer | £21,397 (R488,922) |
| Nurse | £23,166 (R529,344) |
| Teacher | £23,356 (R533,686) |
Average annual salaries in Edinburgh
| Designation | Average salary in Edinburgh13 |
|---|---|
| Attorney | £36,267 (R828,703) |
| Physician | £38,600 (R882,012) |
| Project Manager | £35,390 (R808,663) |
| UX Designer | £36,439 (R832,633) |
| Accountant | £27,833 (R635,985) |
| Data Analyst | £27,192 (R621,339) |
| Content Marketer | £27,771 (R634,569) |
| Nurse | £27,602 (R630,707) |
| Teacher | £23,356 (R533,686) |
What about healthcare costs in the UK?
The UK is a largely public health system run by the National Health Services (NHS). Most treatment received within the NHS is free of cost to UK residents. It has been very highly rated for its quality standards. However, due to the rising NHS waitlist post-pandemic there can be delays in care. You can also get private health insurance if you want access to quicker care, however, this is not very common.
Dental services for adults are not completely covered by the NHS, which is something you must be aware off. Listed below are the prices for dental appointments and prescription costs:
| Healthcare service | Average cost to you |
|---|---|
| Dental charges | £23.80 - £282.8014 (R543.8 – R6462) |
| Per Prescription charge | £9.6515(R220.5) |
You can also take a prescription prepayment certificate if you have a lot of prescriptions. This is available for either 3 (£31.25) or 12-months (£111.6) and covers all your prescriptions including dental15.
All in all, the UK is a great place to live but comes at an extra cost. The cost of living in Birmingham is lower than the cost of living in London but still higher than South Africa. But if high quality education and a diverse experience is something you’re seeking it’s the perfect place. With a common language spoken in both the regions adapting to the culture should be easy and for all the rest you have Wise.
Using Wise you can manage international money transfers from the UK to South Africa at the mid-market rate¹⁶. You can get more details on it here. So, what do you say, yay or nay to a British excursion?
Sources:
- SW Londoner: Read about the UK being the second most popular destination for emigrating South Africans.
- Numbeo: Compare the cost of living between South Africa and the United Kingdom.
- Mercer: Gain insights into the global cost of living.
- British Council: Explore the cost of studying in the UK.
- Numbeo - London
- Numbeo - Birmingham
- Numbeo - Edinburgh
- Shanghai Ranking - University of Oxford
- Shanghai Ranking - University of Cambridge
- UK Government - National Minimum Wage Rates
- Teleport - London Salaries
- Teleport - Birmingham Salaries
- Teleport - Edinburgh Salaries
- NHS - Dental Costs
- NHS - Prescription Charges
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This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
