Rising property prices in Cape Town and shifting perceptions of Johannesburg drove 560 household moves from the Western Cape to Gauteng in 2025, according to data from moving company Wise Move reported by BusinessTech.
That volume marked a sharp increase from the 353 households that made the same northward relocation in 2024, representing growth of nearly 60% over a 12-month period. While the reverse route from Gauteng to Cape Town remains popular, traffic in that direction has stagnated rather than continued to climb.
Residential property prices in Cape Town increased by 12% in the year to June, compared with a slower increase of 4.9% in Johannesburg. This widening price gap gives property owners selling up in the Western Cape an immediate financial advantage when buying in Gauteng.
Nearly four in 10 households that relocated from the Western Cape to Gauteng moved into larger homes, according to Wise Move data. The lower property prices allow buyers to secure additional bedrooms, bathrooms, or garages without increasing their overall housing expenditure.
“If you are selling from Cape Town and you’re moving to Gauteng, you are instantly making money off your property, which means you have more to spend in Gauteng,” Chante Venter, co-founder and CEO of Wise Move, told BusinessTech.
Households relocating from the Western Cape are concentrating heavily within Johannesburg’s northern suburbs, alongside Pretoria and newer residential developments. Venter said that the top destination areas include Sandton, Randburg, Bryanston, Lonehill, Sunninghill, Ferndale, and Morningside.
Centurion in Pretoria has also emerged as a primary destination alongside Roodepoort and Midrand. These locations draw buyers due to security provisions, employment prospects, schooling networks, and lifestyle amenities.
“There are also more work opportunities. There is a very good lifestyle,” Venter told BusinessTech, adding that affordability remains the primary driver behind the shift away from the Western Cape.
- What drove the migration shift? Rising property prices in Cape Town pushed homeownership out of reach for many residents, while Johannesburg’s more accessible real estate market and job opportunities attracted returning households.
- How large was the increase? Wise Move recorded 560 moves from the Western Cape to Gauteng in 2025, up from 353 in 2024.
- Where are movers settling? Households are primarily targeting Johannesburg’s northern suburbs, Centurion, Midrand, and Roodepoort.
“In the last month, year-on-year, there has been another massive increase of 40% between the two provinces,” Venter told BusinessTech.