Cape Town has once again reaffirmed its global appeal as a world-class destination for international travellers and business professionals. The city has been ranked among the top 30 international cities for long-term remote workers in the latest Savills Executive Nomad Index.
The Index evaluates cities based on internet speed, air connectivity, climate stability, prime residential market prices, and overall quality of life, combining these factors to create a comprehensive ranking.
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According to Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of Pam Golding Properties and Savills’ exclusive residential real estate partner in Africa, today’s mobile job market has given rise to a new and influential class of remote professionals: the executive nomad.
“While embracing location-independent work, executive nomads prioritise quality of lifestyle, luxury accommodation, and robust infrastructure - including reliable digital connectivity - all within secure and aesthetically appealing environments,” he explains.
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Cape Town’s attractiveness as both a lifestyle and business hub has been further boosted by the launch of South Africa’s Digital Nomad Visa programme in May 2024, alongside a thriving prime rental housing market.
Arno De Wit, rentals manager for Pam Golding Properties in the Cape metro and Boland and Overberg regions, says: “We’ve certainly seen an uptick in foreign nationals operating on tourist visas while working remotely. Executive nomads tend to rent, with ample space and proximity to amenities being priorities. In Cape Town’s City Bowl and Atlantic Seaboard, demand ranges from R50,000 to R200,000 per month for two- or three-bedroom apartments or houses in secure locations close to restaurants, cafés, beaches, shops, and the popular Sea Point Promenade.”
This demand is not limited to the city. “In Stellenbosch, Somerset West and the sought-after Val de Vie winelands estate in Paarl, we’ve seen interest from a similar tenant profile, mostly in the R50,000 to R100,000 per month range,” he adds.
Globally, destinations in the Savills Index share common advantages: they either offer a digital nomad visa or fall within economic blocs that allow free movement of people, coupled with favourable climates, strong lifestyle appeal, and established prime residential markets.
“The landscape for executive nomads is changing,” says Kelcie Sellers, associate director of Savills World Research. “Markets are creating new strategies to attract digital and executive nomads. Two new entrants to our index, Canada and New Zealand, don’t offer explicit digital nomad visas but have adapted long-term visitor visas to allow fully remote employment for the duration of an individual’s stay.”
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At the very top end of Cape Town’s market, Clifton has become a benchmark example of an “alpha address.” Yael Geffen, CEO of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty, explains: “Tucked between the slopes of Lion’s Head and the Atlantic Ocean, Clifton offers uninterrupted sea views, white-sand beaches, and sunset panoramas that rival the Mediterranean - with very little opportunity for further expansion.”
With property prices often exceeding R100,000 per square metre, Clifton property has outperformed the JSE Top 40 Index over many 10- to 15-year periods, retaining Dollar-based value growth despite broader economic volatility. Limited supply, strict zoning, and rising demand from digital nomads have further fuelled its appeal to both local elites and international investors.
Cape Town’s inclusion in the Savills Index underscores its growing status as a city that balances natural beauty, lifestyle appeal, and the infrastructure demanded by an increasingly mobile global workforce.
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