As US president Donald Trump opens up a line for South Africans to go live in America, Americans living in South Africa are living in bliss, calling it the "soft life" in comparison to their lives in the US.

For American-born musician Big Sbuda, living in South Africa represents a new beginning, full of dreams realised and opportunities embraced.

"I’m walking through pillars like I’m a Roman emperor," he says while walking through his luxury home in Dainfern, Johannesburg. "For the amount that I’m paying here, it cost me like three times as much in the States,” he quipped, emphasising the financial advantages that come with living in South Africa.

It is not only the allure of South Africa's vibrant culture, stunning landscapes and warm hospitality but also that the cost of living is far lower if you compare it to the US and when you come with dollars.

After falling in love with the land during a safari vacation, Sbuda decided to lay down roots in Mzansi in 2023, shedding his American name to pursue a music career centred around the local Amapiano genre.

In a candid TikTok video, the artist provided a glimpse into his opulent home in Dainfern, a plush suburb of Johannesburg, revealing the stark contrasts of his life before and after moving to South Africa.

“As a Black American living in South Africa, having a home like this was just a dream in America, coming from Saint Louis, Illinois," he remarked, with a touch of pride.

The lifestyle that many aspire to in the United States becomes attainable for him in a country where the dollar stretches much further.

Having retired medically in the US, he found himself living what he describes as the "soft life" in South Africa.

"I’m walking through pillars like I’m a Roman emperor. For the amount that I’m paying here, it cost me like three times as much in the States,” he quipped, emphasising the financial advantages that come with living abroad.

But the appeal of South Africa goes beyond affordability.

Sbuda highlighted the socio-political landscape as a significant factor in his decision to settle there.

He appreciates a newfound sense of safety and ease in navigating public spaces.

“I get to walk the streets without being harassed in a white neighbourhood because my police (in South Africa) are black, and they just want a little bit of cold drink money, and I got,” he joked, shedding light on the complexities of race in the two countries.

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'I can only dream of this life in the US': Big Sbuda embraces South African soft life