Currency

• When moving to Cape Town, you will want to find out how your currency exchanges with the South African rand. Go to your local bank and see what the current rate is, and how much they charge for exchanging currency. Shop around a bit. It is not recommended to exchange at the airport, as commission is high.
  
  

Buying a home

• If buying a home, try to get a feel for the neighborhood you might invest in. Ask locals what the area is like at night. Check with the police about crime rates, and whether or not the area is safe to live in.
  
  Many properties are sold in Sectional Titles. This means you own not only the house you buy, but also the land it is on as well--something you do not often get in large cities.
  
  

Afrikaans

• Although not a necessity, it may be worth your while to learn Afrikaans, especially if you are a businessperson who is thinking about employing Cape Town natives. Everyone speaks English, but about half the population also speak Afrikaans. If you are from the Netherlands, Afrikaans is not hard to pick up, as it is based on an old form of Dutch. Those speaking English will find the language trickier to learn, but there are classes available.
  
  

Shopping

• The V&A Waterfront has clothing, department stores and supermarkets. The Cape Quarter has restaurants, antique stores, health and lifestyle stores and more supermarkets. Like most big towns, Cape Town has farmers markets during the weekend. The produce might be a bit more expensive than the produce in supermarkets, but it's a great way to meet shop owners and locals.
  
  

Jobs

• If you are looking for employment, check the job sections of Cape Town newspapers such as Cape Argus, Cape Times, Cape Business News and the Independent. Gumtree, the popular ad website, updates their job listings daily.