South African cities such as Johannesburg are growing in popularity for Americans looking to crossover into the continent. Cape Town, however, remains the home of digital nomads.
Image: Sherissa R/Pexels
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.
However, not all responses to the influx of Americans are cheerful.
While some, like user @thandiwembombo4, greeted Sbuda as a long-lost brother returning to his roots—“Welcome home!”—others expressed concerns about rising living costs and gentrification linked to foreign investments. User @leee_tshabalala encapsulated this worry, stating, “A wave of Americans moving here is gentrification. Your dollars mean we can't afford housing, which is already expensive.”
Such discussions echo a broader narrative about the modern experience of foreign investors in South Africa.
Lance Cohen, CEO of Lance Real Estate, shared insights on the changing dynamics of home ownership and living abroad.
For instance, while $1 million might secure a modest 15 square metres in Monaco or 77 square metres in Miami, it could afford one 220 square metres in Cape Town, underscoring the attractiveness of South Africa as a haven for remote workers and 'digital nomads'.
Digital nomads have certainly made Cape Town their new headquarters, and are enjoying life in the coastal town.
Locals have however been up in arms blaming them for the unavailability of decently priced rentals in areas close to the sea and CBD. There, apartments up for rent fly off the digital property pages before you can even click on them, and prices have skyrocketed because of shortages, many blaming short-term letting to foreigners and digital nomads, as one of the major problems.
Amidst changing perspectives and complex socio-economic issues, the story of Big Sbuda serves as a microcosm of a larger trend.
As the pandemic transformed traditional modes of work, many individuals — hearts spirited by the hope of living their best lives in a beautiful, dynamic environment — are finding sanctuary in South Africa’s attractively diversified lifestyle.