The Western Cape, Named South Africa's Top Commuter Province for Hybrid Workers in 2026 -

The Western Cape, followed by Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu Natal are the best places for hybrid workers to live, according to the IWG Commuter Town Index

International Workplace Group (IWG), the world’s largest platform for work with brands including Spaces and Regus, has named The Western Cape as [South Africa’s] best commuter province for hybrid workers to live in 2026, as part of its inaugural Commuter Town Index – standing out just ahead of popular provinces such as Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu Natal. The index measures how well towns in these provinces support modern hybrid workers, based on factors such as proximity to local amenities and access to flexible workspaces.

With hybrid working an increasingly permanent feature of modern employment, where people choose to live is increasingly shaped by the ability to work closer to home without compromising on professionalism or connectivity. Long commutes are increasingly being rejected in favour of flexible working models that support wellbeing, productivity and work-life balance.

Against this backdrop, IWG’s new Commuter Town Index examines how towns across South Africa are responding to this shift, identifying locations that best combine easily accessible transport networks, local amenities and professional workspace options with a high quality of life.

The Western Cape takes the top spot

The Western Cape took the top spot, rated 6th best city in the world for digital nomads, offering a 3-year visa, high-speed fibre, and a thriving co-working scene. The towns offer an unspoiled coastal lifestyle, attracting residents who want to escape the city while remaining within commuting distance. They are recognised for their relative affordability compared to Atlantic Seaboard properties.

Top Commuter Suburbs in South Africa:

Gardens & Green Point: Close to the CBD with many cafes and fibre connectivity.
Sea Point & De Waterkant: Excellent for coastal living with easy access to urban amenities.
Constantia & Newlands: Ideal for families seeking leafy, quiet, upscale neighbourhoods with top-tier schools.
Woodstock: Known for trendy loft apartments and creative energy.
The Cape Winelands (Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek)

Best for Lifestyle: Offers a quieter pace of life, scenic vineyard views, and top-notch security. Stellenbosch remains a top choice for academics and professionals, offering a high-quality environment and excellent schools.

Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu Natal are strong runners-up:

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has emerged as a top hybrid province in South Africa due to a combination of lifestyle migration (“semigration”), improved connectivity, and a more affordable cost of living than Gauteng and the Western Cape. It is particularly attractive to remote workers and professionals seeking a better quality of life without sacrificing career opportunities.
Gauteng – As the economic hub, it has the highest concentration of formal employment and hybrid-friendly office spaces, particularly in Sandton and Rosebank. It is a prime location for those needing to be near corporate headquarters.

Continued Growth Expected

Recognising the surge in interest for top-quality flexible workspaces closer to where people want to live, IWG has 15 sites across Western and Eastern Cape, 10 locations in Kwa-Zulu Natal and 46 centres throughout Johannesburg and Pretoria.

International Workplace Group’s rapid expansion has led to around 1,000 locations added in the last year and achieving highest ever revenue – with more new locations signed and opened in 2025 than in the first 15 years of its operations. IWG’s network now comprises more than one million rooms in 121 countries.

This report comes as new research from IWG highlights just how valuable more flexible ways of working have become to workers’ decisions about where to live and work. Only 4% of people globally are willing to commute more than an hour to work daily, while 88% say the ability to work close to home in a professional space is important when choosing where to live.

Younger workers are leading this shift, with 75% of Millennials and 72% of Gen Z willing to live further from city centres if flexible workspaces or good transport links are available. This trend reflects the growing prioritisation of a work-life balance and affordability, with proximity to flexible workspaces often outweighing the traditional appeal of central locations. As a result, both developers and workspace operators are increasingly focusing on suburban hubs and well-connected commuter towns to attract this mobile and digitally enabled workforce.

Hybrid working is also having a measurable impact on wellbeing. Globally, more than half (51%) of workers say their health and well-being have improved since working in a hybrid way, and 43% being able to spend more time with their friends and family. Reflecting these priorities, 9 in 10 (90%) people around the world say they would consider moving to a different town or city to improve their quality of life.

Mark Dixon, Founder and CEO of IWG, said:

“Technology and the embrace of AI is rapidly reshaping how we work and where we live, turning commuter towns, or so-called dormitory towns, into vibrant hubs for working and living.

The idea that every morning, office workers wake early, jump into polluting cars or overcrowded trains, and travel many miles to their place of work will very soon be a crazy thing people only did in the past,” says Dixon. “Hybrid working improves our lives. And it makes us significantly better off, too.”

About International Workplace Group PLC 

International Workplace Group is the global leader in hybrid work solutions and workspace brands. We create personal, financial, and strategic value for businesses of every size. From some of the most exciting companies and well-known organisations on the planet, to individuals and the next generation of industry leaders. All of them harness the power of International Workplace Group’s hybrid working platform to increase their productivity, efficiency, agility, and market proximity.

International Workplace Group’s unrivalled network coverage includes approximately 4,000 locations across more than 120 countries, and 83% of Fortune 500 companies are amongst our growing customer base.

Through our brands including Regus, Spaces, HQ and Signature, we help millions of people and their businesses to work more productively. We do so by providing the world’s leading hybrid work platform with professional, inspiring and collaborative workspaces and digital services all available via the International Workplace Group’s app.

For more information

Visit www.iwgplc.com and for more information on partnering with International Workplace Group, see: https://www.iwgplc.com/develop-a-location