There's more to consider than the cultural diversity, natural landscape and the lifestyle...

Three years ago I packed my bags, waved “Ngizonibona soon” (I’ll see you soon) to my parents and headed off to Cape Town for work. I was excited and eager to explore this magnificent city that I had heard so much about. Mind you, I wasn’t at all worried about accommodation because I had secured a place to stay with the knowledge that after 3 weeks I would head back home.

Fast forward to 2016 and here I still am, in a full time job and living under what you’d call my “adoptive parents” roof – my biological parents are all the way in KwaZulu Natal.

Why you may ask?

Because like many Capetonians and new settlers to the city will tell you, finding a suitable place to stay in the Western Cape is a real struggle. Add on the fact that the city centre is the business hub, and you have millions of people left with no choice but to settle for a less than ideal apartment/house because the competition for central accommodation is so high and property prices even higher.

That’s the reality that many people are faced with when they migrate to the Cape for jobs and other lifestyle adjustments. An article published in Property24 suggests that there has been a notable upsurge in the number of people from cities like Johannesburg choosing to migrate to Cape Town. Area Specialist, Vivienne Gottlieb says that in the past year alone, she has seen about 25% of her sellers migrating to the Western Cape.  

But why wouldn’t you move to the Cape when it offers such a culturally diverse setting, with access to an incredible natural landscape and a magnificent lifestyle? I for one am always in awe of Table Mountain and am always looking forward to trying out a different coffee spot. A great lifestyle is only one of the reasons that many have chosen to relocate. Property24 also cites that people are drawn to the Western Cape’s reliable municipal service delivery, steadily increasing employment opportunities and a safer place to stay.

People are generally aware that property prices are relatively higher in the Western Cape compared to other provinces, but many are hit with a hard reality when they realise just how much more of a difference there is in property prices in the province. I’m Exhibit A. While apartment hunting a couple of months ago, I came to a very quick realisation that if I wanted to move out of my adoptive parent’s house, I’d have to give up any and all luxuries that I had become accustomed to because a typical, unfurnished one-bedroom flat rents for anything between R8 000- R14 000, depending on the neighbourhood. Yes! That’s a single bedroom with maybe a stove and kettle… If you’re lucky.

The Cape’s exorbitant property prices have become more notable after market forecast predictions showed that compared to other provinces that measured a single digit growth in house prices, the Western Cape showed a 12% growth in property prices year-on-year, over a period of 10 years.

After that fact I can imagine a few of you unpacking your boxes and scheduling an early morning meeting with your former employer to ask for your job back. But as you know, if you really want something you find ways to make it work.

Here are a few tips that I wish someone had told me before I followed the reverse Great Trek:

•When your prospective job requires that you pack your bags and relocate a few hundred kilometres from your city, you better ensure you conduct a thorough investigation, à la Sherlock Holmes on a secret mission. Find out the location of your place of work, how far it will be from your home, how far you’re willing to travel and traffic details (which by the way are horrendous in the Cape).

•Research the average compensation of peers in your respective field, and take into consideration factors such as benefits, incentives and advancement opportunities.

•Put a solid plan in place and if you can, chat to a few locals already living in the city.

•Remember that there is more to moving to a new city than a new job. Be willing to meet new people and put yourself out there. It can be pretty dreadful not to have anyone to city-hop with.

If you'd rather avoid the costs of relocating, remember that Careers24 posts vacancies in and around the country. So whether you're in Durban, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein or anywhere else, there's a job for you. 

Portia Mthembu is a writer at Careers24. She started her career in print media, writing about health and fitness, before specialising in career advice at Who’s Who SA and Careers24. Portia is currently completing her studies.  On her days off, she enjoys exploring new eateries and can almost never say no to a good cup of coffee. Say hello@portia_mthembu.