Top 10 African countries with the most expensive rent at the start of 2025

While households bear the brunt of expensive housing in many African countries, the ripple effects are typically extensive, having considerable influence on the overall economy.

Business Insider Africa presents the top 10 African countries with the most expensive rent at the start of 2025.
This list is courtesy of data from Numbeo.
Nigeria ranks number 1 on the list.

The option of housing typically takes the form of rent or ownership.

For most people, rent seems to be the more viable option despite the ridiculous averages tagged to the region’s rent.

High rent takes up a significant amount of household income, leaving less for savings, healthcare, education, and other necessities.

One of the main forces behind economic development, consumer spending, is suppressed by this decline in disposable income.

Also, businesses in several industries may see a decline in demand if there is less money in circulation, which would impede economic growth as a whole.

A more in-depth look into the conversation further highlights the fact that income inequality is exacerbated by skyrocketing rents, which then proceeds to disproportionately affect low- and middle-income individuals.

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These populations are frequently compelled to live in informal settlements or subpar circumstances because they are unable to rent standard-quality apartments.

High rents contribute to an overall increase in the cost of living, making countries less attractive to talent and investors.

While this is not typically the case as some of the world’s most expensive countries are still till today growing in population, there have been reports of people migrating from such countries to cheaper countries as the culture of remote work continues to grow.

With that said, here are the African countries with the most expensive rent at the start of 2025, as per data from Numbeo.