Accommodation in Johannesburg
Johannesburg is a big city and making the right decision regarding you living arrangement is crucial. The two main commercial areas for expats are the city centre, where mining, commerce and government are centred, and Sandton, where many industries, including financial services and media, are located.
Remember that public transport is not a viable option so getting from home to office entails driving yourself on Johannesburg’s congested roads. It is not uncommon for locals to spend up to 3 hours per day in rush hour traffic – hence expats choosing a residential area are well advised to find somewhere close to their place of work and/or the children’s school.
Many expats choose to live in townhouses within secure, cluster developments. Depending on area, you can expect to pay from R1 to 5 million for one of these. Initially, you may want to rent furnished accommodation and can expect to pay from R5,000 to R15,000 per month for a 3-bedroom apartment or house.
City Centre
Very few expats choose to live in the city centre, although there are some good areas worth considering. Newtown and Braamfontein are at the centre of the city’s urban regeneration and are close to a wealth of cultural attractions. Avoid the inner-city urban jungle of Hillbrow and Berea though, as these areas are not safe. To the east of the city centre Yeoville and Melville are home to hipsters and edgy urban dwellers, while Observatory is pleasant and leafy, offering large houses with good views over the city.
Northern Suburbs
Just to the north of the city centre are the historic suburbs of Parktown and Westcliff, home to some of the city’s best addresses and three of its best schools: King Edwards, Parktown High and St John’s College. Further north are the popular residential areas of Rosebank, Norwood and Melrose. Amidst these are Saxonwold and Houghton where some of Johannesburg’s most expensive and palatial properties are located, including Nelson Mandela’s residence.
Northwestern suburbs
Some of the city’s most attractive residential pockets can be found in and around Greenside, Parktown North and Parkhurst. There is plenty of greenery here, and an explosion of boutique stores, restaurants and chic little cafés.
Sandton and beyond
The far northern suburbs are headlined by Sandton, which is one of the most popular areas for expat relocations. Properties aren’t cheap, but they tend to be secure and close to the lifestyle amenities and business headquarters located around Sandton City. Nearby Hyde Park and Sandown are luxurious suburbs home to expansive mansions. Further north of the burgeoning Sandton metropol, and offering better value, are Fourways, Randburg and Midrand – the latter equidistant to Pretoria. These areas are largely composed of vast clusters of faux-Tuscan style housing.
Remember that public transport is not a viable option so getting from home to office entails driving yourself on Johannesburg’s congested roads. It is not uncommon for locals to spend up to 3 hours per day in rush hour traffic – hence expats choosing a residential area are well advised to find somewhere close to their place of work and/or the children’s school.
Many expats choose to live in townhouses within secure, cluster developments. Depending on area, you can expect to pay from R1 to 5 million for one of these. Initially, you may want to rent furnished accommodation and can expect to pay from R5,000 to R15,000 per month for a 3-bedroom apartment or house.
City Centre
Very few expats choose to live in the city centre, although there are some good areas worth considering. Newtown and Braamfontein are at the centre of the city’s urban regeneration and are close to a wealth of cultural attractions. Avoid the inner-city urban jungle of Hillbrow and Berea though, as these areas are not safe. To the east of the city centre Yeoville and Melville are home to hipsters and edgy urban dwellers, while Observatory is pleasant and leafy, offering large houses with good views over the city.
Northern Suburbs
Just to the north of the city centre are the historic suburbs of Parktown and Westcliff, home to some of the city’s best addresses and three of its best schools: King Edwards, Parktown High and St John’s College. Further north are the popular residential areas of Rosebank, Norwood and Melrose. Amidst these are Saxonwold and Houghton where some of Johannesburg’s most expensive and palatial properties are located, including Nelson Mandela’s residence.
Northwestern suburbs
Some of the city’s most attractive residential pockets can be found in and around Greenside, Parktown North and Parkhurst. There is plenty of greenery here, and an explosion of boutique stores, restaurants and chic little cafés.
Sandton and beyond
The far northern suburbs are headlined by Sandton, which is one of the most popular areas for expat relocations. Properties aren’t cheap, but they tend to be secure and close to the lifestyle amenities and business headquarters located around Sandton City. Nearby Hyde Park and Sandown are luxurious suburbs home to expansive mansions. Further north of the burgeoning Sandton metropol, and offering better value, are Fourways, Randburg and Midrand – the latter equidistant to Pretoria. These areas are largely composed of vast clusters of faux-Tuscan style housing.
