What if you were born in South Africa?

If you had grown up in South Africa instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Johannesburg could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles, Cape Town. Photo: Der Berzerker from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in South Africa

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in ZAR and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in South Africa: ZAR 10,200Rs 170,000
Rent (city centre): ZAR 2,950
Transport (public transport): ZAR 694
Food: ZAR 1,470
Saved: ZAR 1,530

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in South Africa: ZAR 23,500Rs 391,000
Rent (suburbs): ZAR 5,980
Transport (public transport): ZAR 1,590
Food: ZAR 3,990
Saved: ZAR 3,520

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in South Africa: ZAR 38,000Rs 635,000
Rent (city centre): ZAR 9,310
Transport (car): ZAR 3,560
Food: ZAR 4,650
Saved: ZAR 10,600

Try it with my own income

A day in Johannesburg

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Johannesburg, a city of cool winters around 10°C and cool summers around 22°C.
Commute
Public transport is limited here, so you share rides or use taxis and buses for a longer commute.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak English.
Lunch
Lunch might be braai (barbecue) and bobotie: spiced minced meat baked with an egg topping.
Evening
You get home with ZAR 3,520 saved each month. You stay alert in some areas at night.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast and the mountains.

South Africa compared with Pakistan

	South Africa	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	1.9× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	66 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	28 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	32.4%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	17°C	26°C
Languages	English, Afrikaans, isiZulu, isiXhosa, and others	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	ZAR	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs South Africa, living in South Africa and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in South Africa?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around ZAR 23,500 a month at the same level in South Africa (about Rs 391,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is South Africa more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 1.9 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in South Africa?

Mainly English, Afrikaans, isiZulu, isiXhosa, and others. English is an official language.

Can I actually move to South Africa?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs South Africa page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.