Ranked on what $1,000,000 of income keeps over 10 years, with what Johannesburg charges on the way out.
In short, current to September 2026
Source: the Patrician.ch board, an original ranking of 100 residence addresses across 48 countries and territories. Tax rates, thresholds and routes are sourced. Cost, safety, schools, sun and beauty are Patrician.ch editorial indices. Figures current to September 2026. Updated . Cite as: Patrician.ch, Moving from Johannesburg 2026: where a high earner keeps most, patrician.ch/answers/moving-from-johannesburg/, September 2026.
Ordered by what a single filer keeps over 10 years after income tax, on Patrician.ch's 2026 model, with the flight time from Johannesburg. The engine reorders this on your own income, liquidity event, passports and household.
The same ranking, kept to addresses a direct flight of 5 hours or less from Johannesburg.
Model note. Effective rates use indicative 2026 headline brackets and any special regime for arriving foreigners. Social contributions, deductions and treaty relief are not included. Flight times are great-circle estimates. The exit charge from Johannesburg is modeled separately and is not netted into the figures above.
On $1,000,000 of income, Gustavia keeps the most over 10 years, $10M, followed by Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Within 5 hours of Johannesburg, Grand Baie keeps the most. The ranking changes with the passports held, the household and a liquidity event, all of which the engine takes as inputs.
Deemed disposal.
Ceasing South African residence treats your worldwide assets as sold the day before, except South African property, and taxes 40% of the gain at up to 45%, about 18% of the gain.
No deferral.
36 of the 100 addresses on the board levy no personal capital gains tax, among them Abu Dhabi, Anguilla, Bora Bora, Christophe Harbour, Dubai, Geneva.
The engine takes what you earn and what you hold, then orders every address on the board against it.
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The general case, ranked: Where should high earners live in 2026 · Best country to live in if you are rich · Best countries for high earners after tax · Europe · United States
Tax figures use a simplified marginal model with indicative 2026 brackets for a non-US single filer, ignore social contributions, most deductions, wealth taxes, and treaties, and are not advice. Residence rules change often. Verify before acting.