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.
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