Expat Living in Angola
The life of an expat can be a challenging one but is nothing a thorough investigation can’t resolve. For the luck of those interested in experiencing both a new way of living on top of outstanding financial opportunities, Mundo has prepared a quick guide on the matter. All the information you’ll need along with some useful tips on how to live the fullest while being an expat in Angola, just below these lines!
There are many myths attached to Africa, especially when discussing the fact of “living in Africa” as if the continent’s history of underdevelopment automatically limits the ability of certain countries to be perfectly normal places to live. However, it only takes a couple of conversations with expats in some of these countries to realize how benefits outweigh risks when moving to the continent following a set of recommendations and precautions.
When assessing the overall environment of its capital, Angola offers expats a wide array of opportunities to develop a more than happy and plentiful life. For starters, the climate is just remarkable, as it has those typical tropical temperatures that millions of tourists search for every year. On top of that, miles of outstanding beaches and coasts will provide each foreign with a feeling of comfort that is extremely difficult to conquer in other parts of the world.
While it’s important to notice that this country has undergone through harsh political turmoils, including a long-lasting civil war, these circumstances have gradually lowered and even disappeared in most major cities. This includes Luanda, the third African capital and one of the largest and most thriving markets on the continent.
Moving to Angola
When picking Angola as your next home, there aren’t many difficulties as to feel forced to hire a specialized moving company. In most cases, you and your family can perfectly organize all the details as local authorities often provide the means to a successful transition. However, if you are looking for large-scale transportation of all kinds of things, like furniture and so on, maybe contacting a licensed agency can be the right call.
For the moving process to be as smooth as possible, and after hearing the experiences from some of our clients, the adequate amount of time to plan the whole thing should be no less than three months. This will allow you to settle all procedures related to your stay in Angola, whether you are aiming at a working Visa, a work permit or even vaccination updates.
Moreover, planning that much time ahead will grant you the possibility to cancel all services in your current home, as well as to gather as much information as possible about which are the best neighborhoods, schools, and hospitals.
Lifestyle in Angola: Luanda’s cosmopolitan sense
It is known that citizens of Angola are amongst the friendliest ones in the whole African continent. Angolans are funny and easygoing, and even when the cultural shock might be difficult at first, there’s nothing that finding an appropriate group of locals can’t resolve.
We recommend making an effort to include oneself in Angola’s culture, customs, and practices. Introducing yourself into one’s new country can often feel rewarding, as the adoption process will be smoother and you’ll be able to experience a whole new array of things you’d miss if excluded from it.
Another important element to consider, and feel happy about, is the Angolan culinary industry. Its capital has gained popularity for offering citizens, locals, and foreigners with remarkable food courses that are just unforgettable. The country’s ties with Portuguese and Brazilian cultures have created a unique cuisine scene that allows for dozens of restaurants to be amongst the greatest.
Looking for partying opportunities? Angola also has you covered. This country’s cities, especially Luanda, are known for offering expats with remarkable dancing clubs, bars, and music shows that account for an overall outstanding nightlife. On top of it, Luanda has a sense of fashion that is miles ahead of its neighboring countries.
And how could we forget about the amazing beaches? Expats currently living in Angola are clear when saying to us how impressive these tropical areas are for them, as they have never seen such beauty before. Luckily, getting to them is not exactly a complex task, as with technology you will only need a GPS to arrive and start enjoying these natural landscapes. Not only beautiful coastlines but rainforests, deserts and savannas are available for when you intend to plan a runaway from the city and feel as if you are in a dream-like world.
Safety and Health
If you pick Luanda as your next residency, as we at Mundo recommend when moving to Angola, you’ll have little to no trouble finding appropriate hospitals with state-of-the-art equipment. As the capital of this beautiful country, Luanda has the largest amount of healthcare facilities available per square mile, and many of them, either public or private, work during the 24 hours of the day.
Moreover, many of these facilities have amongst their staff a great number of international experts, as expats have told us how they have no problem finding English-speaking doctors when asking for medical treatment. However, for this kind of assistance to be attainable, we strongly recommend the hiring of health insurance that is able to cover all costs associated with great healthcare services. These insurances more than often would even cover transportation logistics to nearby countries in the case of complicated procedures.
Regarding interpersonal safety, you might have heard that Angola isn’t exactly the safest country in the world. There are a considerable amount of thieves targeting wealthy foreigners, something that happens in most developing countries. However, the good news is that as Angola has become a financial hub for investors, there are plenty of private security companies that excel at protecting clients even in the harshest of circumstances.
Cost of Living
Food |
|||
|
AOA |
USD |
|
Basic
lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district |
6,474
Kz |
($10) |
|
Combo
meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) |
4,366
Kz |
($7) |
|
500
gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast |
1,799
Kz |
($2.82) |
|
1
liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk |
939
Kz |
($1.47) |
|
12
eggs, large |
1,640
Kz |
($2.58) |
|
1
kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes |
956
Kz |
($1.50) |
|
500
gr (16 oz.) of local cheese |
3,954
Kz |
($6) |
|
1
kg (2 lb.) of apples |
2,206
Kz |
($3.46) |
|
1
kg (2 lb.) of potatoes |
865
Kz |
($1.36) |
|
0.5
l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket |
318
Kz |
($0.50) |
|
1
bottle of red table wine, good quality |
8,111
Kz |
($13) |
|
2
liters of coca-cola |
949
Kz |
($1.49) |
|
Bread
for 2 people for 1 day |
426
Kz |
($0.67) |
|
Housing |
|||
|
AOA |
USD |
|
Monthly
rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area |
1,464,330
Kz |
($2,299) |
|
Monthly
rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area |
446,993
Kz |
($702) |
|
Utilities
1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat |
82,978
Kz |
($130) |
|
Monthly
rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area |
386,795
Kz |
($607) |
|
Monthly
rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area |
215,936
Kz |
($339) |
|
Utilities
1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft)
studio |
62,495
Kz |
($98) |
|
Internet
8 mbps (1 month) |
34,978
Kz |
($55) |
|
40”
flat screen tv |
269,430
Kz |
($423) |
|
Microwave
800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) |
57,054
Kz |
($90) |
|
Laundry
detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) |
6,396
Kz |
($10) |
|
Hourly
rate for cleaning help |
3,589
Kz |
($5.64) |
|
Clothes |
|||
|
AOA |
USD |
|
1
pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) |
31,269
Kz |
($49) |
|
1
summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) |
39,611
Kz |
($62) |
|
1
pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) |
43,512
Kz |
($68) |
|
1
pair of men’s leather business shoes |
91,072
Kz |
($143) |
|
Transportation |
|||
|
AOA |
USD |
|
Volkswagen
golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new |
16,106,600
Kz |
($25,291) |
|
1
liter (1/4 gallon) of gas |
163
Kz |
($0.26) |
|
Monthly
ticket public transport |
37,817
Kz |
($59) |
|
Personal
Care |
|||
|
AOA |
USD |
|
Cold
medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) |
4,743
Kz |
($7) |
|
1
box of antibiotics (12 doses) |
11,478
Kz |
($18) |
|
Short
visit to private doctor (15 minutes) |
18,846
Kz |
($30) |
|
1
box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) |
3,764
Kz |
($5.91) |
|
Deodorant,
roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) |
2,424
Kz |
($3.81) |
|
Hair
shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) |
3,085
Kz |
($4.84) |
|
4
rolls of toilet paper |
711
Kz |
($1.12) |
|
Tube
of toothpaste |
1,429
Kz |
($2.24) |
|
Standard
men's haircut in expat area of the city |
3,917
Kz |
($6) |
|
Entertainment |
|||
|
AOA |
USD |
|
Basic
dinner out for two in neighborhood pub |
16,639
Kz |
($26) |
|
2
tickets to the movies |
4,521
Kz |
($7) |
|
2
tickets to the theater (best available seats) |
24,584
Kz |
($39) |
|
Dinner
for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main
course, wine and dessert |
45,693
Kz |
($72) |
|
1
cocktail drink in downtown club |
3,085
Kz |
($4.84) |
|
Cappuccino
in expat area of the city |
1,622
Kz |
($2.55) |
|
1
beer in a neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) |
1,797
Kz |
($2.82) |
|
Ipad
wi-fi 128gb |
320,925
Kz |
($504) |
|
1
min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) |
48
Kz |
($0.08) |
|
1
month of gym membership in business district |
32,310
Kz |
($51) |
|
1
package of marlboro cigarettes |
1,122
Kz |
($1.76) |
|
$170,000
$2,500,000
$350,000
$1,400,000
$395,000
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