Cape Town has once again reaffirmed its global appeal as a world-class destination for international travellers and business professionals, ranking among the top 30 international cities for long-term remote workers in the latest Savills Executive Nomad Index.
Each city in the Index was ranked for internet speed, air connectivity, stability in climate, prime residential market prices and overall quality of life, combining the totals to create an overall ranking.
Says Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of Pam Golding Properties, which is Savills exclusive residential real estate partner in Africa: “In an increasingly mobile global employment market, the executive nomad has emerged as a distinct and influential class of remote-working professional.
“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.
“Cape Town’s appeal as both a lifestyle and business destination has been strengthened by the launch of South Africa’s Digital Nomad Visa programme in May 2024, alongside a thriving prime rental housing market.”
Says Arno De Wit, Pam Golding Properties rentals manager in the Cape metro and Boland and Overberg regions: “We’ve certainly seen an uptick in foreign nationals operating on tourist visas, 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 areas, the demand ranges from R50 000 to R200 000 per month for two or three-bedroom apartments or houses in secure locations in proximity to restaurants, cafes, beaches and shops and the popular Sea Point Promenade, which stretches 7km from Mouille Point to Bantry Bay.
“In Stellenbosch, Somerset West and sought-after Val de Vie winelands lifestyle estate in Paarl, we’ve seen demand from a similar tenant demographic, mainly in the R50 000 to R100 000 per month price band.”
Destinations included in the Savills Index have a digital nomad visa programme or equivalent, or in the case of the US and European countries, are already part of a large economic bloc that allows free movement of people for living or work. They offer favourable climates year-round, a high quality of life and have established prime residential markets.
New entrants to the Savills index for 2025 include Tokyo (11 th ), Auckland (9 th ), Crete (15 th ), Vancouver (18 th ) and Berlin (28 th ).
Kelcie Sellers, associate director, Savills World Research, comments, “The landscape for executive nomads is changing. Markets are creating new strategies to attract digital and executive nomads. Two new countries to our index, Canada and New Zealand, do not offer explicit digital nomad visas but instead have long-term visitor visas that have been revised to allow for fully remote employment for the duration of an individual’s stay.”
For further information visit www.pamgolding.co.za
