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Shame man, poor people with square feet ...
I don't know what's worse, me making that mistake or time it took for someone to call me out on it.
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How do software developers afford Cape Town rental
- Thread starter zaozzie
- Start date
I don't know what's worse, me making that mistake or time it took for someone to call me out on it.
CT is not to be taken too lightly
I fully agree with you on all points!!!
I have been here for a while and I can tell you CT is not all roses at all! Do not be fooled by IT companies and their promises here as they are not that awesome. You go for an interview and they talk about SOLID principles and all sorts of technical stuff which they don't even implement! I have been around and what passes for 'software' is rather shocking in CT anyway!
Rentals/Property:
How about this: Woodstock, R9000 for 1 small bedroom place with decent security..oh and hardly any place for the wife's clothing!! That is right we have to give away clothing because as there isn't enough space! We cannot invite anyone around because Capetonians don't like "small places" and are rather snobbish and too class-conscious. The estate agents and landlords are generally rich people who have multiple apartments and rip people off as they know there are plenty of willing suckers to come here to see their piece of the 'mountain'.
If you want a cheap rental, then be prepared to spend the amount you saved on petrol as the traffic is getting worse than Joburg and public transport is still only for tourists and the poor (no hope in sight for buses in Durbanville or even southern suburbs). In the end you either pay in petrol/time or rental but don't expect anything cheap in CT - be warned!!
Buying property in CT must be done very carefully and hopefully with "Mom and Dad's" money as the average salary in CT does not match the property market! Good luck to those who paid for overpriced property
Salaries:
If you are not in IT, engineering or some high-demand skill be prepared for 15k a month even if you have a masters deg - and it will be swallowed by rental anyway
People say that since we live in a beautiful place we don't have to be paid much as we have the outdoors for 'free'. Lets look at this closer, shall we? If you live close to the mountain your rentals will be extreme and you won't have money to do anything but 'free' stuff. If you want to do MTB, as everyone in CT says they do then you are rich indeed to afford their 'carbon fibre' dream machines of about 80k+. Then people say: "You can go for a picnic on Lion's Head". Ok, how am I going to hike up the bloody mountain with a basket and my wife in tow?? Here is another one: "You can go for a walk on the beach" - when there is no South Easter and please don't tell me about swimming which is as cold as Capetonians themselves.
Social:
Be prepared for a cold social scene because if you don't have an aforementioned MTB, nor a hipster, you are NOT going to make friends for quite a while. The only decent people are those are in Durbanville/Bellville area, the rest are too self-centered and not bothered to socialise with the 'peasants'.
My advice for anyone thinking of coming to CT: THINK TWICE!! Only come here if they offer you R50k+! Do not be bullsh&%ed by the marketing of "best city in SA" or tourist brochures. How many times will you be able to enjoy the 'mountain' or winelands besides on weekends? I made the mistake of coming here as I earned less in the EC but I got out so much more: I was able to go overseas every year, buy a property overseas and pay off my car in record time.
Since moving to CT it has been a massive dissapointment and I urge people to think very carefully about CT and not just think emotionally.
I fully agree with you on all points!!!
I have been here for a while and I can tell you CT is not all roses at all! Do not be fooled by IT companies and their promises here as they are not that awesome. You go for an interview and they talk about SOLID principles and all sorts of technical stuff which they don't even implement! I have been around and what passes for 'software' is rather shocking in CT anyway!
Rentals/Property:
How about this: Woodstock, R9000 for 1 small bedroom place with decent security..oh and hardly any place for the wife's clothing!! That is right we have to give away clothing because as there isn't enough space! We cannot invite anyone around because Capetonians don't like "small places" and are rather snobbish and too class-conscious. The estate agents and landlords are generally rich people who have multiple apartments and rip people off as they know there are plenty of willing suckers to come here to see their piece of the 'mountain'.
If you want a cheap rental, then be prepared to spend the amount you saved on petrol as the traffic is getting worse than Joburg and public transport is still only for tourists and the poor (no hope in sight for buses in Durbanville or even southern suburbs). In the end you either pay in petrol/time or rental but don't expect anything cheap in CT - be warned!!
Buying property in CT must be done very carefully and hopefully with "Mom and Dad's" money as the average salary in CT does not match the property market! Good luck to those who paid for overpriced property
Salaries:
If you are not in IT, engineering or some high-demand skill be prepared for 15k a month even if you have a masters deg - and it will be swallowed by rental anyway
People say that since we live in a beautiful place we don't have to be paid much as we have the outdoors for 'free'. Lets look at this closer, shall we? If you live close to the mountain your rentals will be extreme and you won't have money to do anything but 'free' stuff. If you want to do MTB, as everyone in CT says they do then you are rich indeed to afford their 'carbon fibre' dream machines of about 80k+. Then people say: "You can go for a picnic on Lion's Head". Ok, how am I going to hike up the bloody mountain with a basket and my wife in tow?? Here is another one: "You can go for a walk on the beach" - when there is no South Easter and please don't tell me about swimming which is as cold as Capetonians themselves.
Social:
Be prepared for a cold social scene because if you don't have an aforementioned MTB, nor a hipster, you are NOT going to make friends for quite a while. The only decent people are those are in Durbanville/Bellville area, the rest are too self-centered and not bothered to socialise with the 'peasants'.
My advice for anyone thinking of coming to CT: THINK TWICE!! Only come here if they offer you R50k+! Do not be bullsh&%ed by the marketing of "best city in SA" or tourist brochures. How many times will you be able to enjoy the 'mountain' or winelands besides on weekends? I made the mistake of coming here as I earned less in the EC but I got out so much more: I was able to go overseas every year, buy a property overseas and pay off my car in record time.
Since moving to CT it has been a massive dissapointment and I urge people to think very carefully about CT and not just think emotionally.
prod
Executive Member
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- Nov 11, 2009
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- 6,132
Easy, done it plenty of times. Maybe stop being lazy?
Mountain biking I assume?
Who knows what he's on about
Brawler
Honorary Master
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- May 23, 2006
- Messages
- 11,472
Mountain Bike.
@gollum_ct - You make some valid points (property prices close to town, traffic if you don't live in town) but the rest I disagree with.
skimread
Honorary Master
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You have to admit Cape Townians are notorious for being cliquey compared to the rest of the country
House/Apartment prices & rentals being high.. Yes.. But this is arguably subjective. In Gauteng you can get cheap places but have to drive.. Or moderate priced with close enough distance and drive less. Cpt in he moderate priced segment it's ok I think last time I checked.
Salaries.. Well I only know eng/it and you don't go to Cpt to climb(if you don't start well, give up and move north as you won't catch up being based in Cpt.. It's very unlikely). You go there when you have hit the level you wanted and the next stage of career is upward & career change and even then you taking a hit because options are limited. Been looking at the market lately and with large corporates you do quite well, might struggle to move from there but yah..I don't think people suffer as much as years ago but then cost of living majorly rental is partly a problem if you look in the wrong place.
MTB.. Full carbon.. Living like the jones? Even here in Gauteng that's extreme and here people flash cash a lot so yah.
I dunno.. Been away for 4 years going 5. Chances of me returning before a decade are close to 0% because my perception of scale is altered too much and much like when I was there.. I can't stand Cpt time. I like large corps albeit every so often I switch to sme and regret it then head back.. rinse and repeat. So yah.. I think Cpt is awesome for the upper segment of working market if you happy with where you are and in a holding pattern. If you want to get somewhere and not the owner of a start up(looking for cheap labor) then Cpt not the place to be.
Salaries.. Well I only know eng/it and you don't go to Cpt to climb(if you don't start well, give up and move north as you won't catch up being based in Cpt.. It's very unlikely). You go there when you have hit the level you wanted and the next stage of career is upward & career change and even then you taking a hit because options are limited. Been looking at the market lately and with large corporates you do quite well, might struggle to move from there but yah..I don't think people suffer as much as years ago but then cost of living majorly rental is partly a problem if you look in the wrong place.
MTB.. Full carbon.. Living like the jones? Even here in Gauteng that's extreme and here people flash cash a lot so yah.
I dunno.. Been away for 4 years going 5. Chances of me returning before a decade are close to 0% because my perception of scale is altered too much and much like when I was there.. I can't stand Cpt time. I like large corps albeit every so often I switch to sme and regret it then head back.. rinse and repeat. So yah.. I think Cpt is awesome for the upper segment of working market if you happy with where you are and in a holding pattern. If you want to get somewhere and not the owner of a start up(looking for cheap labor) then Cpt not the place to be.
Yea mountain bike. And to Prod, been up Lions Head 4x and Table Mountain 2x hiking so I'm lazy?
crackersa
Honorary Master
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- May 31, 2011
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Agree, been here nearly a year and still don't have "friends"
crackersa
Honorary Master
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I didn't call you lazy
One little flat hill in Cape Town. You want mountains, head out to the Magalisberg, or God's Window area. Serious mountains there.
@gollum_ct
It's expensive yes. But life in general is isn't it? Sounds like you're trying to schmooze with people way above your pay grade. You don't need the fancy car, bike etc. be realistic and all will happen.
The only nasty one is the cost of accommodation, that is horrendous. And you are brave living in Woodstock.
The traffic you speak of, I bet you are referring to the last week? Varsity 1st years went back Monday. They are new ;-) and haven't learnt that they can skip lectures. This takes 2 weeks or so, then traffic settles. This happens every year!
Be more positive, and stop comparing yourself to others and you will start having fun.
On the friends point. You probably find you will meet people from places other than Cape Town. Us local folks are cliquey and tend to stick to people we grew up with. We are funny that way. Having said that I seldom see any of those friends of mine,as they still do the "same thing we did every weekend" - braai and coinage. And I'm over that. And my friends now are people that I didn't grow up with!
It's expensive yes. But life in general is isn't it? Sounds like you're trying to schmooze with people way above your pay grade. You don't need the fancy car, bike etc. be realistic and all will happen.
The only nasty one is the cost of accommodation, that is horrendous. And you are brave living in Woodstock.
The traffic you speak of, I bet you are referring to the last week? Varsity 1st years went back Monday. They are new ;-) and haven't learnt that they can skip lectures. This takes 2 weeks or so, then traffic settles. This happens every year!
Be more positive, and stop comparing yourself to others and you will start having fun.
On the friends point. You probably find you will meet people from places other than Cape Town. Us local folks are cliquey and tend to stick to people we grew up with. We are funny that way. Having said that I seldom see any of those friends of mine,as they still do the "same thing we did every weekend" - braai and coinage. And I'm over that. And my friends now are people that I didn't grow up with!
rorz0r
Executive Member
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- Feb 10, 2006
- Messages
- 7,968
Eish Woodstock is dodge, I wouldn't want to come visit there either. People in jhb a lot friendlier than people in CT. When meeting strangers in CT the first question is usually "what school did you go to?" to judge your "class" or something or maybe just who you might have in common (because these will be your friends). "class" being how much money your parents have of course. It's not OK to name a school not in Cape Town.
In jhb people ask "where do you work?" because these will be your friends. It doesn't really matter where you're from or school etc. It matters what job you have and what car you drive.
Everyone I know that's into cycling in jhb have carbon fiber bikes BTW. Also hipsters in CT are really annoying. Hipsters mostly being kids with rich parents that like to pretend they have real jobs of course.
In jhb people ask "where do you work?" because these will be your friends. It doesn't really matter where you're from or school etc. It matters what job you have and what car you drive.
Everyone I know that's into cycling in jhb have carbon fiber bikes BTW. Also hipsters in CT are really annoying. Hipsters mostly being kids with rich parents that like to pretend they have real jobs of course.
Thor
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Lol we go up table mountain twice a week after work :sly: