South AfricaVisited Dec 2023 · 2 Weeks
The city of gold, large electric fences and an abundance of trees.
Today, the city serves as the economic and financial heart of South Africa, offering a vibrant mix of modern skyscrapers, historical landmarks, and diverse cultural experiences.
If heading to Cape Town, it's worth extending your trip for a couple of days of leisure or working there for a week. Otherwise, wouldn't prioritize it.
Good · #32 of 62
7.7/10
There isn't quite as an impressive array of options compared to Cape Town, but good value accommodation can be found in most of the suburban areas and especially in those close to the main commercial hubs of Rosebank and Sandton.
You should be able to find a great quality apartment for under $1,000 per month with more demand for places coming between the peak months of November to February.
Good · #27 of 62
7.8/10
You'll find a decent number of coworking spaces across the city, with most of them centered around the commercial centers of Rosebank or Sandton. Workshop 17 offers a variety of top-quality options around the Rosebank area and would top my list for exploring.
Great · #25 of 62
8.1/10
Very similar prices to Cape Town, making it an affordable destination if coming from Western Europe. Eating out is relatively affordable and transport around town is easy thanks to inexpensive ride hailing options.
Ok · #45 of 62
5.7/10
My experience of Johannesburg was somewhat tainted by visiting during the Christmas period, when the exodus from the city made it feel like a ghost town.
However, there are some fundamental qualities about the city that remain relevant for any visit. If you are staying (as advised) in the northern suburbs, that is exactly what they are. Rosebank and Sandton are urban centres, but they are primarily large shopping malls with some office spaces.
Would visiting the CBD be more exciting? From everything I read, any excitement you might encounter there could be of the unwelcome kind.
After a 10-week trip to Cape Town and without venturing beyond the Western Cape region, I felt the need to experience another part of South Africa to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the country.
Having only heard (rightly or wrongly) negative things about Durban, I opted for Johannesburg. My prior knowledge of the city was limited to it being a large, crime-ridden metropolis.
$944a month, before rent
Basic living costs, rent not included
Day-to-day spending for a month: two meals out and a coffee every day, three taxis and two nights out a week, a gym and a coworking desk. Add your rent on top.
AffordablePrices as of Oct 2026. Confidence: medium (gym & coworking verified; other prices restated at 2026-10-07 exchange rates). Sources: numbeo.com, workshop17.co.za. Always check locally before planning around them.
December saw a bizarre mix of intense heat, dense cloud cover and the occasional hailstorm. Sometimes all in one day. Compared to Cape Town, there were few clear days and given it's more northern latitude, has a noticeably earlier sunset.
There was a progressive emptying out of the city from the 12th December onwards as people made their way out of the city for Christmas, making it something of a ghost town by the 25th. If you are planning a visit, I would outright avoid this period due to shop closures and a real lack of ambience.
Two weeks was plenty of time and there was nothing remaining on my list after that period. It would be hard to make a compelling argument for why you should stay any longer than one month unless you have specific cause to be there.
| Month | Low °C | High °C | Rain mm | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15 | 29 | 85 | |
| February | 16 | 30 | 112 | wet month |
| March | 13 | 28 | 58 | |
| April | 9 | 22 | 79 | |
| May | 6 | 23 | 5 | peak season |
| June | 4 | 17 | 10 | peak season |
| July | 4 | 18 | 4 | peak season |
| August | 8 | 22 | 13 | peak season |
| September | 9 | 27 | 26 | peak season |
| October | 10 | 28 | 39 | |
| November | 12 | 29 | 93 | wet month |
| December | 16 | 31 | 114 | wet month |
Typical daytime highs and overnight lows, from the last two years of observations (Open-Meteo). Rain icons mark the wettest months.
Digital nomad visa coming soon
In April 2022, South Africa announced plans for a digital nomad visa to attract more foreign visitors and boost its economy following the impacts of COVID-19 travel restrictions. The proposed visa will allow remote workers, freelancers for foreign companies, and business owners to stay in South Africa for an extended period, initially one year with the possibility of renewal.
While foreigners can currently stay for 90 days, the digital nomad visa aims to enable longer stays. It will also include attractive provisions for dependents of visa applicants. However, full details are still forthcoming as the visa is not yet available. Updates will be provided once more information is released by South African authorities.
South Africa is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2); South Africa doesn't operate daylight saving time, so there's no time difference between the summer and winter months.
Like most places in South Africa, it's worth thinking deeply about where you want to base yourself throughout your stay. Unlike Cape Town where the CBD is a viable option for living, all reasonable advice would suggest you avoid it here.
The new commercial centre of the city, Sandton is home to numerous high rise office blocks and a large mall. A safe, modern area, but lacking any distinct character.
Close to the CBD and adjacent to Hillbrow, it felt noticeably less secure than the more suburban neighbourhoods to the north. Some night life options, but no reason to stay there.
A popular suburb, but having visited I would see no reason to stay there, with a lack of any places to work from in the immediate vicinity.
You'll find a decent number of coworking spaces across the city, with most of them centered around the commercial centers of Rosebank or Sandton. Workshop 17 offers a variety of top-quality options around the Rosebank area and would top my list for exploring.
This particular outlet of the popular nationwide chain is based adjacent to the Rosebank Mall, with the ground floor still operating as a (remarkably quiet) fire station.
Hot desking is spread out over the 10th and 11th floors providing panoramic views of the green northern suburbs of the city, with cafes both inside the working space and on the ground floor of the building. 24/7 access is available via the security entrance.
The quality of the fit out is top notch, with large spacious desks and comfortable chairs. Meeting pods are dispersed throughout each floor.
If only there for a short time, they may consider offering you a pro-rata'd monthly rate, which comes in less expensive than multiple day passes. Helpful and friendly team running both the building and the office itself.
16 Baker St, Rosebank, Johannesburg, 2196
Wide selection of speciality coffees, with quality options for brunch and light meals.
Authentic Korean BBQ and dishes. Small capacity inside so book in advance.
Some of the best food I ate in South Africa. Small plates and craft beers, live sport shown also.
Fun bar with cocktails and food options, also showing live sport.
Lively cocktail bar, offering 2-4-1 cocktails before 19:00. Food options also available.
Great sports bar with numerous screens, draught beer and burgers.
The Apartheid Museum, established in 2001, serves as an unparalleled museum, emphasising the narrative of apartheid's emergence, progression, and eventual dissolution acoss South Africa.
Large, hilly, open park bordered by several good neighbourhoods. Running here felt relatively secure during the early morning with several other people out jogging and walking dogs.
The park borders the Emmarentia Dam, an artificial lake featuring canoes and fishing. What felt like one of the most safest areas to run in.
Situated to the North West of the Zoo, the lake and surrounding parks are another good place to run. Less prominent security than at the Botanical Gardens.
In a similar vein to Cape Town, I had a thoroughly positive experience of everyone I met in Johannesburg. South Africans are drawn from across the country mainly for work, while also attracting workers from neighboring African countries and further afield with a sizeable Chinese community.
There were no discernible signs of a remote working community within the city. That being said, there is a reasonable number of expats in the city and people visiting the city for work due to its status as an international hub for commerce.
Partners I recommend. Some of these links give you a discount, and I may receive a referral reward.
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