The cost of living has increased significantly in recent years, as evidenced by the 10 most expensive cities to live in Africa. You might be surprised that Africa has several cities which can be beyond the means of an average person to live. In fact, the cost of living in some African cities outstrips even the 10 most expensive cities in North America. This is an astounding fact considering that most of the countries in North America are developed, with a high standard of living, while African countries are either underdeveloped or developing, which in turn should equate to a low cost of living.
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Even in the cities featured on this list, many of the citizens live in extreme poverty, which is partly exacerbated by the increased cost of living. There is an explanation behind this. A war in Angola damaged its entire infrastructure while also substantially leading to an increase in the oil prices, which were kept in place later on, hence driving up the prices.
It is oil which has also seen the cost of living rise in the country of Chad, while the profits from the sale of said oil have not been distributed to the population of the country, thus resulting in a large lower class population living in poverty (Chad is also one of the dumbest countries on Earth based on several education-related criteria). Furthermore, since the cost of living is seen from an expatriate’s point of view and since such expatriates live a life which is different from the locals, perception can be skewed in order to make the cities appear more expensive than they actually are.
This is proven by the research conducted by Mercer Consulting, which they claim to be the most comprehensive study on the topic. They have considered a basket of services as well as goods which are generally consumed by expatriates and based on the price of the basket, have devised a list of the most expensive cities in the world, encompassing over 200 cities. We have filtered the list and hence, have come up with the 10 most expensive African cities to live in.
10. Abidjan, Cote D’ Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
While Abidjan can be a bit expensive to travel to, the food available there is moderately expensive while it is actually the cost of renting or buying a house which can significantly strap you of cash.
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9. Djibouti, Djibouti
Named after the country, the city of Djibouti is inhabited by many foreigners, due to many foreign embassies being located there in addition to headquarters of various companies, organizations and non-profit organizations which can be found in the city. Furthermore, many tourists throng the streets of the city, all of which allows the locals to charge higher rates, hence increasing the cost of living as well.
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8. Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
In the largest city in the Republic of Congo, Brazzaville, many organizations’ offices are located, such as the World Health Organization’s headquarters for Africa. The city is costlier to live than many of the more developed cities in the world such as London.
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7. Abuja, Nigeria
It is no coincidence that most of the 10 most expensive cities to live in Africa are the capitals of their respective countries. It is a purpose built city, and caters to the rich and wealthy, which is why it has a reputation for being one of the most expensive cities in the world.
6. Libreville, Gabon
The capital of Gabon, Libreville has enjoyed vast profits from its massive oil reserves which in turned have finance a life of luxury for its wealthy citizens, while the rest have been condemned to poverty. The high standard of living enjoyed by the rich has in turn led to an overall high cost of living in the city.
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5. Conakry, Guinea
The capital of Guinea, a 3 bedroom house can cost over $4,000 per month, which most of the citizens cannot afford. In addition, the food prices are pretty high as well, hence making it hard for the poor citizens to survive in the city.
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4. Lagos, Nigeria
You might think that this Nigerian city, especially being provincial, would be a cheap city to move to or relax in. However, the oil boom of the 1970s managed to ensure that despite extreme poverty being prevalent in the city, the cost of living remained astronomically high.
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3. Kinshasa, Republic of Congo
While the infrastructure in Kinshasa has improved recently, the benefit has mostly been availed by the wealthy citizens while the poor citizens, making up the majority, have had to contend with the increase in the cost of living mainly due to inflation.
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2. N’Djamena, Chad
If you are thinking about just visiting, N’Djamena, we hope you have a hefty wallet as the round trip alone can cost nearly $2,500. Simply buying a newspaper can cost $7, which simply sums up the exorbitant cost of living in the city.
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1. Luanda, Angola
Luanda may have been blessed with oil reserves which have greatly increased the wealth of the city, but the high rate of taxes have made it the most expensive city to live in Africa, and the world as well. New tariffs were imposed on imported goods that have significantly raised the already high prices of goods in the city.
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