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Looking for Portuguese Expats in South Africa?

  • Connect with fellow Portuguese in South Africa

  • Get information in our South Africa guide

  • Join exciting events and activities

  • Exchange tips about expat life in South Africa

  • Sandro Pedace

    With InterNations, you'll meet interesting expats wherever you go - both online and offline.

InterNations – Connecting Portuguese living in South Africa

Are you looking for fellow Portuguese in South Africa? Do you need advice and tips from your Portuguese countrymen? Or would you like to go for a trip with other Portuguese expats to discover attractions like the Highveld's Gauteng City Region together?

Whether you are already living as an expat in South Africa or still residing at home in Portugal to prepare your relocation abroad, InterNations South Africa provides you with all you need: Founded in 2007, our trusted community has quickly established itself as the international networking platform for expats and global minds worldwide. Among our members there is also a number of Portuguese expats in South Africa, hailing from all across Portugal - from Faro, over Porto to Lisbon.

Portuguese Living in South Africa: Your Questions, Answered

If you’re a new or soon-to-be expat in South Africa, you probably aren’t quite sure yet what it will be like. That’s why we gathered the answers to some key questions you may have about life in South Africa. If you want to ask more specific questions — or even share your own tips — join InterNations! You’ll be part of a community of new and experienced expats who love to help each other out.

What are the most common nationalities in South Africa? As an expat in South Africa, you'll meet people from many different cultures (especially if you're an InterNations member!) The top nationalities in the InterNations Communities in South Africa currently are:

  • British
  • Zimbabweans
  • Germans
  • Germans

Which cities are most popular among expats in South Africa? Some cities attract more expats than others. These are the cities with the largest expat communities in South Africa:

  • Cape Town
  • Durban
  • Johannesburg

How much rent do expats pay in South Africa? Your personal situation plays a role here. Single expats spend on average 750 USD on their accommodation per month, while expat families spend around 1.245 USD . And of course, rents can also vary greatly depending on the location and city within South Africa.

To give you an idea of what to expect, here are some rent averages for the most popular cities in South Africa.

Average rent in Cape Town

  • Single expats: 755 USD
  • Expat families: 1.565 USD

Average rent in Durban

  • Single expats: 475 USD
  • Expat families: 815 USD

Average rent in Johannesburg

  • Single expats: 475 USD
  • Expat families: 945 USD

How safe is South Africa? You may be wondering about safety. In general people perceive their personal safety situation in South Africa as very unsafe. People rate the risk of falling victim to petty crime (such as pickpocketing or minor theft) as very high. They consider the chance of being the victim of violent crime (including mugging) very high. And, they rate confidence in the police force and related local authorities as very low.

How safe is South Africa for women? Female expats rated the safety situation in South Africa as rather unsafe. This is based on the feedback of expat women living in South Africa (rather than actual crime statistics). So obviously this can be highly subjective and depends on factors such as where people live.

Meet other Portuguese at our events in South Africa

Attend our monthly events and activities for Portuguese expatriates to get to know like-minded expatriates in real life.

Mar 19, 2024, 6:00 PM
5 attendees
Calling all trivia buffs and brainiacs! Get your thinking caps on and join us for a thrilling Quiz Night that'll put your knowledge to the ultimate test! Gather your squad every Tuesday for a night o
Mar 20, 2024, 7:00 PM
10 attendees
We all need some magic in our lives!! Come and see the Cape Town magicians -- I saw their last show a few days ago and am still trying to figure out some tricks :)) book their next show to help me fig
Mar 24, 2024, 11:00 AM
31 attendees
Meet InterNations Members at a bushveld atmosphere German & Vegetarian Restaurant with live music/ bands playing on Sundays. As it's a day of rest, there will be no entrance fee. So come and join u
Come join us for a fabulous Night at this iconic tapas bar and restaurant. Overlooking the city skyline Come out and enjoy their popular tapas menu while you soak up the warming sun and the sultry s

Want to meet other Portuguese at our events?

  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Johannesburg
  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Johannesburg
  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Pretoria
  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Cape Town
  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Pretoria
  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Cape Town
  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Cape Town
  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Johannesburg
  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Johannesburg
  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Pretoria

Meet other Portuguese in South Africa

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Find other Portuguese to share your hobbies with

Receive Information and Tips about South Africa from Portuguese Expats

Obviously, embarking on expat life in South Africa is not only about packing boxes and getting some paperwork done. The regular exchange with your Portuguese compatriots is also an important aspect of the expat experience and can help you get accustomed to the South African culture and people. InterNations helps you meet and interact with other Portuguese in South Africa, living in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and many other places across the country. Just take a look at our group ofPortuguese in Johannesburg orPortuguese in Cape Town.

So, if you should ever feel like speaking your mother tongue, finding out where to shop for Portuguese food, or chatting about your favorite team’s latest match, join the Portuguese InterNations Community:

  • Browse our high-quality expat network to find like-minded expatriates from Portugal in South Africa.
  • Receive and share advice in our South Africa Expat Forums – e.g. how to find a nanny speaking your kids’ native tongue or where to shop for cozido à Portuguesa in Cape Town...
  • Browse the InterNations Places database for South Africa to find institutions like the nearest Portuguese embassy and many others.

From the Highveld's Gauteng City Region to the Garden Route, a scenic stretch along the south-east coast, we’ll get you in touch with helpful and friendly Portuguese expats in South Africa.

Take Part in Various Expat Activities to Meet Fellow Portuguese in South Africa

Additionally, you are cordially invited to participate in our regular expat events and activities taking place in South Africa. Our events cover various interests and range from a small expat dinner to enjoy the traditional South African bobotie, to big expat get-togethers with hundreds of guests in Cape Town's top locations. You may also join one of our expat excursions for a weekend trip together with a group of fellow Portuguese in Pretoria to visit the Cape of Good Hope, the wilderness trails of Kruger National park, and other impressive landmarks across South Africa.

This way, our events and activities are a very nice occasion to meet fellow expats from Portugal and around the world in a casual atmosphere. Interested? Sign up for membership and you’ll soon be welcomed with a warm Olá from our Portuguese living in South Africa!

  • Sandro Pedace

    With InterNations, you'll meet interesting expats wherever you go - both online and offline.

  • Stephanie Gainsbourg

    InterNations provided me with an "entrance" to the expat circles of Pretoria, so to speak, and helped me get to know other French expatriates.

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