Places · South Africa

Living in Wilderness

South Africa · mediterranean

🌍

Wilderness is a village of roughly 6,000 people with both the sea and mountains close by in South Africa. The climate is mediterranean. It has a lively, popular feel though personal safety is worth weighing carefully. A typical month of living costs around $1,350. Healthcare is reasonable, and the internet is generally reliable. People come here for surfing, hiking, quiet days.

This is one of the places where living off-grid genuinely works, in law and in space. Starlink and satellite internet cannot be used in this country.

Wilderness at a glance: cost, climate, safety

👥
People
~6,000
💵
Cost / mo
~$1,400
🌡️
Climate
mediterranean
🛡️
Safety
2/5
🏥
Healthcare
3/5
📶
Internet
3/5
🚶
Walkable
2/5
🍽️
Food
4/5
🌫️
Air
2/5Poor
🚰
Water
2/5Bottled water advised

Who tends to love living in Wilderness

All parameters

🛡️ Safety2/5
🏥 Healthcare3/5
🏛️ Public healthcare3/5
💳 Private healthcare4/5
📶 Internet3/5
🚶 Walkable2/5
🚌 Transit2/5
🍽️ Food4/5
📚 LibraryNone within 6 km
🥗 Veg options4/5
🌫️ Air2/5 · 25 µg/m³
🚰 Water2/5 · Bottled water advised
📈 PopularityGrowing
🏠 Rent, 5 yrs+35%
👶 For kids2/5
🛂 Immigration3/5
🏛️ Stability4/5
💸 Tax friendly2/5
🧑‍💻 Business3/5
🕵️ Privacy3/5
🏦 State digital currencyIn development
🗣️ Free expressionReasonable
₿ Bitcoin3/5
🌈 LGBTQ+4/5
🦂 Dangerous animals3/5
🌱 Fertile soil4/5
🔌 Living off-grid5/5
📸 Tourism4/5
👥 Crowding1/5
✈️ Airport2/5
🛰️ StarlinkNo
⚕️ AbortionLegal

💉 Childhood vaccines: Recommended, never required

Admission policy asks for proof of immunisation, and the same policy says no child may be turned away without it.

If you skip them: Nothing. A school cannot refuse a child for it.

Exemptions: Not needed.

Source: Georgetown AMP EID, survey of national legislation, 2024

📈 Popularity & prices: Growing

Accommodation prices have moved about +35% in the last 5 years.

Estimates, for orientation only.

🔭 Where this place is heading

Today’s data. Tap a year to see where it is heading.

What to know before moving to Wilderness

⚠️ The downsides of living in Wilderness

Health, air (WHO PM2.5), water & crime figures are rough country-level estimates, verify for your case.

Where is Wilderness?

₿ Spend Bitcoin around Wilderness

Open the Bitcoin merchant maps for this area, cafés, shops and ATMs that accept Bitcoin.

₿ …

Merchants: BTC Map, from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Events and meetups: Club Orange.

Questions, answered

How much does it cost to live in Wilderness, South Africa?

A typical month in Wilderness costs around $1,350, covering rent and everyday expenses for one person. It is an estimate meant for comparing places, not for budgeting exactly.

Is Wilderness, South Africa safe?

Arcadia rates personal safety in Wilderness at 2 out of 5, which is limited.

What is the internet like in Wilderness?

Internet in Wilderness is rated 3 out of 5 for remote work, which is reasonable. Starlink is not available in this country.

What is the weather like in Wilderness?

Wilderness has a mediterranean climate. It is on the coast. Mountains are close by.

Is healthcare good in Wilderness?

Healthcare in Wilderness is rated 3 out of 5 overall, which is reasonable. Public healthcare is 3/5 and private healthcare 4/5.

How easy is it to move to South Africa?

Arcadia rates the ease of getting residency in South Africa at 3 out of 5, which is reasonable. The place page lists the visa routes that apply and which depend on your passport.

Is Wilderness actually right for you?

Wilderness is one of 3,500+ places we compare. Answer a few honest questions and we will tell you the handful that truly fit your life, ranked and explained.

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