Cost of living in the UK for South Africans
Exploring the UK: The go-to guide for South Africans planning a move. Discover costs, salary insights, and Wise's simple solutions for seamless money management
Moving to the UK from South Africa: Complete Guide
Moving from South Africa to the UK is an exciting idea to have - from big cities packed with history to wonderful natural parks, it’s a country with a lot to offer.
It’s also a popular destination for people to move to, whether that be for work, study, or living an expat life.
Although moving to another country isn’t a super easy process, however, with clear information, tips, and advice, you can make the move less stressful, and more enjoyable - you’ll be enjoying a cup of tea in no time!
This guide covers all you need to know about moving from South Africa to the UK.
We will also introduce you to Wise, a money service provider specialising in international money transfers.
Moving to the UK from South Africa (quick facts)
| Currency | Great British Pounds (GBP) |
| Population | 67.8 million³ |
| Capital | London |
| Language | English |
| Weather | Temperate climate - often cold, wet winters and warmer but often wet summers. Colder areas of the UK include the North, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. |
| Number of expats | Around 10 million⁴ |
| Biggest cities | London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool |
| Average yearly salary | Full-time employees earned an average of £33,000 for the tax year ending on 5 April 2022⁵ |
Send money with Wise to South Africa from the UK using the mid-market rate
As a bank alternative for international money transfers, when sending money to South Africa from the UK or other countries with Wise, you can reduce international transfer costs².
Wise provides a quick, easy, and affordable platform to send, receive, and hold money internationally¹.
Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate for all transfers, meaning you’ll likely be getting better rates than you may using more traditional international transfer methods, and you’ll know upfront how much each transaction will cost you².
Using Wise, you can hold, send, and receive money in 40+ currencies. Plus, if you are living in the UK, you can order a Wise card¹³ to spend locally.
UK visa types and requirements for South Africans
Different visas are required for people moving from South Africa to the UK, depending on the reason for your move.
The UK Government website⁶ has useful pages that provide information about the type of visa you need to visit the UK, depending on your reason for the visit. This is a great source of information that pertains to individual experiences. All visa applications for the UK can be done online through this website.
However, you may need to go to the TLScontact Visa Application Centre for South Africa, which is in Cape Town⁷.
In this guide, we’ll be focusing on the two visas that are the most commonly applied for when moving from South Africa to the UK: the student visa and the Skilled Worker visa.
Visa Information for moving to the UK to study
With a student visa, you can typically stay in the UK for up to 5 years if you’re studying at degree level. However, if you're studying below degree level, the visa may only guarantee you a stay of up to 2 years⁸.
If you are moving to the UK to study full time you will need to⁸:
- Have been offered a place to study on a course, by a licensed sponsor
- Have enough money to support yourself whilst you’re in the UK and pay for the course you’re studying
- Be able to read, write, speak, and understand English language
- Have evidence of consent from your parents if you’re younger than 18 years old
| Classification | Charges⁸ |
|---|---|
| Student Visa application fee - main applicant and dependants | £363 GBP |
| Healthcare surcharge per year | £470 GBP |
Visa Information for moving to the UK to work
There are lots of different types of UK work visa. However, the most common is a “Skilled Worker” visa - this is a visa you can get if you are classed as a “Skilled Worker”.
Being a “Skilled Worker” means that you have to have a job that⁹:
- Requires a university level education (e.g doctor)
- Is a managerial position
- Is a skilled trader position (e.g carpenter).
To quality for this type of work visa, you will need to have⁹:
- A job offer with a role that sits under the list of eligible job roles
- A job offer from a UK employer that’s approved by the Home Office
- Have a certificate of sponsorship from that employer, plus information about the job you have been offered
- A minimum, confirmed salary (this differs depending on the amount of work you will do)
- Proof that you can read, write, speak, and understand English
- Proof that you can support yourself when you arrive to the UK - this will typically need to show that you have at least £1,270 available
This type of work visa allows you to be in the UK for up to 5 years. You may then extend this visa.
| Classification | Charges⁹ |
|---|---|
| “Skilled Worker” Visa up to 3 years | £625 per person |
| “Skilled Worker” Visa more than 3 years | £1,235 per person |
| Healthcare surcharge | Usually £624 per year |
If you have a job role on the “UK Job Shortage List” you may see reduced fees⁹.
Finding a job in the UK
Finding a job in the UK can be difficult and take time. Although a lot of companies in the UK might prefer to hire locals, when it comes to skilled jobs, there are a lot of opportunities for foreigners.
However, it’s required (even for the visas, as you know now!) to speak English to a good standard. So before you even start your job hunt, make sure you’ve got a good grasp of the English language.
When it comes to job hunting, there are lots of places to look for jobs in the UK. However, the safest and most well-known sites for looking for jobs in the UK are:
- Indeed
- TotalJobs
- Expatica
- Glassdoor
You may also want to reach out to recruitment agencies in the UK. Just make sure you do your research and ensure that they’re reputable!
Cost of living in the UK vs South Africa
The cost of living in South Africa and the UK varies greatly, depending on where you will choose to live. For example, accommodation in cities such as London and Manchester are much more expensive than in rural towns, villages, and smaller cities.
However, the average cost of living for a four person family in the UK (in 2023) is between £4,000 and £4,500¹⁰. The average cost for a couple is £2,500 to £3,000¹⁰, and the average cost for a student is around £1,000 to £1,600¹⁰. This includes rent and bills.
Take a look at the table below to show some basic prices associated with living in the UK¹¹.
| Category | Costs¹¹ |
|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | £15 (365.92 ZAR) |
| Meal, mid-range restaurant (2 people) | £60 (1,427 ZAR) |
| Beer (local) | £4.50 (107 ZAR) |
| Bread | £1.05 (25 ZAR) |
| Milk | £1.05 (25 ZAR) |
| Rent in city centre (1 bed) | £926.84 (22,054 ZAR) |
| Rent outside city centre (1 bed) | £718.07 (17,086 ZAR) |
| Public transport (local, monthly pass) | £68 (1,618ZAR) |
| Fuel (1 litre) | £1.56 (37 ZAR) |
How to open a bank account in the UK as a South African?
Setting up a bank account in the UK for South Africans is fairly simple - it has a good, easy to use banking system. However, most banks do require you to be in the UK before they allow you to set up a bank account.
To open a bank account you will need:
- ID (your passport or drivers' licence)
- Proof of address
- Three months of worth of utility bills (only some banks will request this, most just need proof of address)
You can choose the bank that you want to use and either head to their website to set up your account or head into a branch in-person. The process is normally very simple and you can have your account set up quickly.
Maintenance fees and charges
The majority of banks in the UK do not charge fees or have a fee for opening an account, even as an expat. This is due to the fact that most banks will offer a standard current account, meaning they’re typically free from charges or fees.
However, if you are wanting to upgrade your account, most banks do offer premium bank accounts that will come with charges and fees. There are also accounts specifically marketed towards expats by UK banks - these typically charge fees as they’re deemed premium accounts.
Additionally, if you’re opening a credit card account in the UK, these will probably charge you interest on the money spent, and maybe also will charge fees for transactions.
Wise Card
Holding, spending, and receiving money for South Africans in the UK with Wise is easy.
You can set up your account whilst you’re in South Africa and once you get to the UK you can also order a physical Wise Card¹² for a small, one-off fee² to make payments locally.
Or you can choose to use a free digital Wise Card¹³!
You can add this digital card to a mobile wallet and pay in GBP to avoid exchange rate differences or hidden conversion fees².
Make friends and socialise
The UK is generally a friendly place and there are a lot of opportunities to socialise, especially in towns and cities where there’s more going on.
Although it does depend on where you choose to live in the UK, you will be able to find lots of group hobbies, networking and interest groups, and friend meet-ups in various cities and towns.
There are also lots of expat meet-up groups and support groups, which might be a great way to make friends and meet new people in a similar position as you.
Healthcare in the UK
The NHS is the healthcare system in the UK and for British citizens, it’s completely free. This includes all types of healthcare, from GP (doctors) appointments to surgeries in hospitals. However, unless you are exempt due to medical reasons or benefits, prescriptions need to be paid for in the UK.
As a non-citizen, you will have to pay a healthcare surcharge and this will grant you access to the services of the NHS. You will then be able to use the NHS the same as a British citizen.
Is it worth moving to the UK from South Africa?
The UK is a wonderful, diverse country with an exciting and interesting history and culture. It’s also a country packed with opportunity.
Pros and Cons of Moving to the UK from South Africa
You might still be weighing up the decision to move to the UK from South Africa and if you are, we thought it would be useful to give you a weigh up of the pros and cons of moving.
| Pros of moving to the UK | Cons of moving to the UK |
|---|---|
| Higher wages | Higher cost of living |
| NHS healthcare | Bad weather |
| Opportunities for skilled workers | Strict + expensive visa process |
| Ability to remain indefinitely | Competitive job market |
| Diverse (especially in cities) | Long visa process to remain indefinitely |
When it comes to managing money in the UK, it’s worth considering Wise as an alternative for international money transfers to South Africa or even multi-currency accounts for both local and international⁴ payments.
Use this guide to help you start planning your move and good luck! P.s, remember to take an umbrella!
Sources
- Transaction speed claimed depends on funds availability, approval by Wise’s proprietary verification system and systems availability of our partners’ banking system, and may not be available for all transactions.
- Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
- Worldometer - UK population
- International Migration in England and Wales, Census 2021, Gov UK ONS
- Employment and labour market, Census 2021, GOV UK ONS
- https://www.gov.uk/world/coming-to-the-uk-south-africa
- TLS Office South Africa, Cape Town
- GOV UK - Student Visa
- Skilled Worker Visa - How much it costs
- Cost of living in the UK - UpGradAbroad
- Cost of Living in the UK - Numbeo
- Eligibility is subject to verification of customers identity. Wise may request additional documents to verify a customer's identity.
- Please note that certain products or features may not be available in all regions. Please visitwww.wise.com to check for availability and learn more about our offerings.
All sources checked as of 31/08/2023.
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
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.
