Salary still opens the conversation. It rarely closes it. We are seeing a greater number of expats consider opportunities in Africa these days. Why? The reasons range from increased costs of living in traditional hubs like Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore to lifestyle factors.
For senior expat talent, Africa now competes on things a pay slip cannot show. These include climate, space, time with family and the real cost of schooling and healthcare. The latest expat surveys suggest that several traditional destinations are losing ground on exactly these points.
This matters for boards hiring in Africa. The case for a move is no longer only about the job. It is about the life that comes with it.
What the latest expat surveys show
The clearest signal comes from InterNations’ annual Expat Insider survey. Its 2026 edition polled nearly 7,800 expats across 31 countries. South Africa placed 13th, according to Forbes’ coverage of the results.
The same survey placed the United Kingdom, Germany and Canada in its bottom ten. Those are long-standing destinations for senior international talent.
The pattern held in 2025. That year’s survey covered 46 destinations and more than 10,000 expats. Kenya ranked 16th and South Africa 35th. The UK came 41st, Germany 42nd and Canada 40th, Relocate Magazine reported. UK respondents rated medical expenses and housing costs especially poorly.
These are self-reported surveys of people already abroad. They measure satisfaction, not migration flows. Still, they show where expats feel daily life works.
Climate and outdoor living
Weather is easy to dismiss as a soft factor. Expats do not dismiss it.
In the 2024 Expat Insider survey, Kenya ranked 14th of 53 destinations. Climate was among its strongest scores, alongside ease of settling in and friendliness. Nation Africa linked Nairobi’s appeal to mild weather and green space close to the city.
Southern Africa shows a similar pull at the top end of the market. Henley & Partners’ Africa Wealth Report 2025 puts the Western Cape’s millionaire count at 17,300. Gauteng, the commercial heartland, has 14,000. The report credits “semigration” by affluent families seeking a better quality of life.
Work-life balance and a different working day
Many senior leaders now weigh time as heavily as money. A shorter commute, a garden and weekends outdoors carry real value.
Governments have noticed. South Africa introduced a remote work visa on 20 May 2024, according to immigration advisers Fragomen. It allows foreign nationals employed abroad to live in the country for up to three years. That widens the pool of internationally mobile professionals already living in African cities.
Pressure in established hubs adds to the pull. In 2025, the UAE ranked second for quality of life among expats. Yet it placed only 17th for happiness and 38th for satisfaction with disposable income, Relocate Magazine reported.
Work-life balance is personal, and no single index captures it well for Africa. Boards should test it in conversation rather than assume it.
Schooling and healthcare: the honest picture
Family costs often decide a move. Here the picture is mixed and needs care.
According to the International Schools Database, Nairobi had Africa’s highest median international school fee in 2025. The figure was about USD 7,116 a year, Kenyans.co.ke reported. Johannesburg followed at about USD 5,657, and Cape Town at about USD 3,979. Leading schools charge well above these medians. Medians can be misleading though. A family’s real cost depends on curriculum, age group and the school chosen.
Healthcare follows the same logic. Private care in major hubs such as Nairobi, Johannesburg and Cape Town can be strong. Quality and access drop sharply outside them. Comprehensive international cover remains essential.
The trade-offs that remain
Lifestyle gains come with real trade-offs. Ignoring them damages placements.
Mercer’s 2024 Quality of Living ranking placed Port Louis, Mauritius, highest in Africa at 88th. Cape Town came 105th and Johannesburg 115th. European cities still lead that index.
Safety is a frequent concern. Kenya ranked near the bottom for safety and security in the 2024 Expat Insider survey. The Gulf also remains strongly competitive. The UAE ranked fourth in 2026 and Saudi Arabia 12th.
Africa is also not one market. Nairobi, Kigali, Cape Town and Casablanca offer very different lives. West, East, Southern and North Africa each need their own case.
What this means for boards and founders
Lifestyle can now help win senior talent. Boards should use it with discipline.
- Lead with the life, not only the role. Give candidates specific facts on schools, healthcare, housing and commute.
- Plan for the family early. Spouse careers and children’s schooling can derail a move that works on paper.
- Be candid about trade-offs. Security, healthcare outside hubs and travel links should be discussed openly.
- Look beyond the usual pool. Leaders in high-cost markets may be more open to Africa than assumed.
In our experience, the strongest relocations are those where the family has seen the city first. We also see candidates ask about schools before they ask about bonus structures. Independent referencing and early family conversations reduce the risk of an early exit.
The takeaway
Africa’s pull on expat talent is real but selective. It is strongest in specific cities and for specific families.
Boards that understand this can compete for leaders who once looked only at Europe, North America or the Gulf. To discuss senior hiring or relocation in your market, get in touch with our team.
