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Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.
All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.
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GrahamstownSouth Africa
City Overview of Grahamstown
Grahamstown (Makhanda) offers a distinct, intellectual lifestyle centered around its prestigious university and vibrant arts scene, making it an ideal pocket for academics and creative professionals seeking a slower, culturally rich pace. Life here feels more like a sophisticated college town than a bustling urban center, providing a sense of community that is often hard to find in larger South African hubs.
While you will benefit from relatively manageable living costs and reliable healthcare access, the lifestyle requires a degree of self-sufficiency. The town’s charm is balanced by a more modest infrastructure; you’ll find that public transport is limited and personal security remains a necessary, active consideration in your daily routine.
Grahamstown (Makhanda) has a Köppen BSk cold semi-arid steppe climate, with warm to hot summers, cool winters, and rainfall that is higher in the warmer months and lower in winter. Long-term climate sources show moderate annual precipitation, relatively high sunshine, and average humidity in the upper-60% range, which is consistent with the current overcast, humid conditions but not representative of the year-round norm.
Summer Average
23°C
Winter Average
11°C
Climate Type
Semi-arid
Rainy Days
132
Sunny Days
300
Humidity
68%
Spring
September - November
16-24°C
Spring is mild to warm, with increasing sunshine and a gradual rise in rainfall toward late spring. Conditions are often pleasant for outdoor activities, though showers become more frequent as summer approaches.
Moderate rainfall
Summer
December - February
22-30°C
Summer is the warmest season, often hot during the day but moderated by evenings. Rainfall peaks in the summer half of the year, especially in February, making thunderstorms and wet spells more common.
High rainfall
Autumn
March - May
14-22°C
Autumn brings comfortably warm days and cooler nights, with rainfall trending downward after the summer peak. It is generally a stable and relatively dry transition season.
Moderate rainfall
Winter
June - August
7-18°C
Winter is cool and comparatively dry, with the coldest conditions typically in July. Frost is possible on colder mornings, but daytime temperatures usually remain mild.
Low rainfall
Loading Weather...
Air Quality
Grahamstown
Advantages
Grahamstown
Four universities nearby
121 schools for families
27 parks and green spaces
Rich cultural heritage sites
Tight-knit community feel
Affordable cost of living
Disadvantages
Grahamstown
Limited job opportunities
Poor infrastructure quality
No coworking spaces
Weak business ecosystem
Limited nightlife options
Safety & Security in Grahamstown
Overall Safety Score
Includes resilience and environmental factors
Moderate
57
/100
South Africa Avg
47
Africa Avg
53
Worldwide Avg
56
Crime & Safety Metrics
Thermometer compares Grahamstown to South Africa averages using different marker styles.Compare:
Grahamstown
South Africa Average
Safety Index
0510
Moderate
Safety from Crime
0510
Moderate
Safe Alone (Day)
0510
Good
Safe Alone (Night)
0510
Low
Safety from Violent Crime
0510
Moderate
Safety from Property Crime
0510
Concerning
Environmental & Natural Hazard Risks
Resilience Score: 77/100
No data for Grahamstown — showing hazard indicators from nearby Port Elizabeth (~111 km).
