Accra has emerged as the seventh most expensive city to live in Africa, according to Numbeo, a leading data and research platform.
Accra, which is the capital of Ghana registered an index score of 32 out of 100.
Numbeo’s index evaluates cities based on several variables including the rent index, grocery index, restaurant index, cost of living plus rent index, and local purchasing power.
Economic challenges have heavily influenced living costs across the continent, with South Africa notably having four cities among the top 10 most expensive in Africa. Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town occupy the top three spots, while Durban is ranked fifth.
Lagos, the largest city in Africa, was ranked fourth, followed by Casablanca, Morocco in sixth place.
A combination of currency fluctuations, inflation, subsidy removals on essential commodities such as fuel, and increased taxes has driven the cost of living higher in many African cities.
Consequently, the prices of basic commodities, including food and utilities, have surged.
Despite some cities experiencing significant economic growth, income inequality remains a pervasive issue across the continent. The widening gap between the rich and the poor is making it increasingly difficult for a substantial portion of the population to manage the rising cost of living.
Business Insider