You can work AND play in Cape Town!

There are some places that we naturally classify as ‘holiday’ places and other places we associate with ‘work’. It seems to be a bit of a black and white scenario with very few grey areas where we immediately think of the place as one that will equally well host both your ‘holiday’ and ‘work’ lives…  you feel like that?

Cape Town is often referred to as a ‘holiday’ city, with Johannesburg being known as the career maker. While Joburg (as we refer to it in SA) is certainly larger with many more companies based in and around the city, Cape Town is very under-rated when it comes to lucrative career options.  For example, many of the large financial and publishing houses, and retail giants in SA are based in Cape Town.

People from JHB might argue that the salaries are higher over there and the opportunity to get promoted is better. Having spent lots of time travelling to and from Joburg for business, I can tell you it’s a vibrant city with a fast-paced business centre and lots of opportunity for the ambitious, career-driven individual. In fact, at one point in my life (around mid twenties) I was hell bent on moving there!

However, it’s the balance and quality of life that Cape Town offers, that is the attraction for me personally and, I suspect, many other Capetonians. The fact is that you don’t need to earn as much in Cape Town as you can spend slightly less on security, medical aid and travelling compared to our Joburg brothers and sisters. I would also dare to say that Capetonians are probably much healthier, generally – and for obvious reasons:  Cleaner air, less pollution, less stress, we spend a fair amount of time and energy exercising and relaxing in the sun. Our culture is less about shopping and malls, like the Joburg fashionistas, and more about walking in the mountain, going wine tasting, long lazy wine farm lunches over the weekends or running/hiking in the mountain. In summer, afternoons are spent on the beach or taking a long catch-up walks on the promenade with your friends, enjoying the fresh summer air.

In my view, if you are good at what you do, you will do well and make a good living anywhere. It’s the quality of life you want to lead that should be the deciding factor when choosing the city where you want to be based.

See you on the promenade!