Data group Numbeo have published their Cost of Living indices for 2020, listing the cheapest and most expensive cities to live in across the globe.
The index compares the cost of living relative to the following reference cities: New York City which have an index score of 100 (100%).
The index looks at the relative costs across several categories, including rent, the cost of food, transport and entertainment.
The index also takes the local purchasing power into account.
Numbeo’s index assessed 440 cities in 2020, up from 433 in 2019.
“Cities in Africa are all in the bottom half of the list, with the most expensive ranked city being Pretoria in South Africa on the spot no. 252,” Numbeo said.
South African cities were found to be the most expensive cities in Africa, with Pretoria topping the list.
Johannesburg was ranked second most expensive city in Africa (256th). Cape Town ranked third on the Numbeo ranking (262nd) while Durban was ranked fourth on the list (295th).
The indices is based on user-submitted data, and only feature cities where a statistically representative number of submissions are available.
1. Pretoria, South Africa (46.95)
Pretoria is the administrative capital of South Africa.
The city is the traditional centre of government and commerce. Many banks, businesses, large corporations, shops, shopping centres, and other businesses are situated in the city centre so it’s no surprise that the city is the most expensive in Africa.
2. Johannesburg, South Africa (Score: 45.60)
Johannesburg informally known as Jozi or Joburg, is the largest city in South Africa and the wealthiest city in Africa. It is the provincial capital and largest city of Gauteng, which is the wealthiest province in South Africa.
The city has the second highest cost of living of any city in Africa.
3. Cape Town, South Africa (Score: 44.74)
Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa. Commonly known as the Mother City, it is the largest city of the Western Cape province. It forms part of the City of Cape Town.
The city is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, reflecting its role as a major destination for immigrants and expatriates to South Africa.
In 2019, Cape Town was named the best city on earth by Telegraph Travel Awards.
4. Windhoek, Namibia (Score: 43.93)
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia.
The city is the social, economic, political, and cultural centre of the country. Nearly every Namibian national enterprise, governmental body, educational and cultural institution is headquartered there.
5. Nairobi, Kenya (Score: 42.08)
Popularly referred to as the Green City in the sun, Nairobi is the capital and the largest city of Kenya.
Home to thousands of Kenyan businesses and over 100 major international companies and organizations, Nairobi is an established hub for business and culture.
6. Durban, South Africa (Score:40.04)
Durban is the third most populous city in South Africa—after Johannesburg and Cape Town —and the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal.
It has the highest number of dollar millionaires added per year of any South African city with the number having increased 200 percent between 2000 and 2014.
7. Casablanca, Morocco (Score: 37.86)
Casablanca is the largest city in Morocco. It is also the largest city in the Maghreb region and the eighth-largest in the Arab world.
The city is considered the economic and business center of Morocco, although the national political capital is Rabat.
The city has the highest cost of living of any city in North Africa and the seventh highest in Africa.
8. Tangier, Morocco (Score: 36.87)
Tangier is a city in northwestern Morocco. it is the largest city Tangier. The city is Morocco’s second most important industrial centre after Casablanca.
9. Rabat, Morocco (Score: 36.68)
Rabat is the capital city of Morocco and the country’s seventh largest city with a population of over 1.2 million.
10. Lagos, Nigeria (Score: 36.56)
Lagos is a city in the Nigerian state of the same name. The city is one of the fastest growing cities in the world and one of the most populous urban areas. The city also houses one of the largest and busiest seaports on the continent.
The city of Lagos is a major economic focal point in Nigeria, generating around 10% of the country’s GDP.
Most commercial and financial business is carried out in the central business district situated on the island. This is also where most of the country’s commercial banks, financial institutions and major corporations are headquartered. Lagos is developing a 24-hour economy and is also the 10th the most expensive city in Africa.
Lagos city also has the highest cost of living of any city in western Africa.
11. Agadir, Morocco (Score:33.72)
Agadir is a major city in Morocco. Agadir is located on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean near the foot of the Atlas Mountains.
The city’s economy relies mainly on tourism and fisheries.
12. Algiers, Algeria (Score:32.15)
Algiers is the capital and largest city of Algeria.
The city is an important economic, commercial and financial center, with in particular a stock exchange with a capitalisation of 60 million euros.
Algiers has the 5th highest cost of living of any city in North Africa, as well as the 388th highest worldwide, as of January 2020.
13. Cairo, Egypt (Score:30.94)
Cairo is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world. Its metropolitan area, with a population of over 20 million, is the largest in Africa, the Arab world, and the Middle East, and among the largest in the world.
The majority of the nation’s commerce is generated in Cairo, or passes through the city.
The city has the 6th highest cost of living of any city in North Africa, as of January 2020.
14. Alexandria, Egypt (Score: 28.60)
Alexandria is the second-largest city in Egypt and a major economic center. With a population of over 5,200,000, Alexandria is the largest city on the Mediterranean, the sixth-largest city in the Arab world and the ninth-largest in Africa.
15. Tunis, Tunisia (Score: 28.32)
Tunis is the capital and largest city of Tunisia. The greater metropolitan area of Tunis, often referred to as “Grand Tunis”, has over 2,700,000 inhabitants, making it the third-largest city in the Maghreb region (after Casablanca and Algiers) and the sixteenth-largest in the Arab world.
The city is the heartland of the Tunisian economy and is the industrial and economic hub of the country.
