Accra has been ranked as the 5th most expensive city for rent in Africa, according to Numbeo’s latest report.
The Ghanaian capital has a rent index of 12.0, placing it 230th globally in terms of rental costs. The report highlights that high rental prices can significantly impact household finances, limiting the amount of disposable income available for essential needs such as food, education, healthcare, and transportation.
It also raises the question of the relevance of such urban centers, especially as remote work becomes more prevalent in today’s job market.Lagos holds the top spot as the most expensive city in Africa for rent, with a rent index of 24.3, ranking 122nd in the world.
Other cities in the region with high rent indices include Cape Town (18.0), Addis Ababa (17.8), and Dar es Salaam (14.4), taking the 2nd to 4th spots, respectively.While the importance of urban centers in terms of infrastructure and economic opportunities is undeniable, Numbeo suggests that the cost of living, relative to average income, is a crucial factor to consider when evaluating the affordability of cities.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, cities like Alexandria (Egypt), Cairo, Tripoli (Libya), Algiers (Algeria), and Tunis (Tunisia) boast some of the lowest rental costs in the region.This report serves as a reminder of the growing challenge that high rent prices pose to urban dwellers across Africa, especially in rapidly developing cities like Accra.
