Cheapest cities to live in Africa
The most affordable relocation cities in Africa, ranked by real all-in monthly cost for one person — rent, food, transport, healthcare, utilities and everyday extras, not just a rent index.
Methodology: Ranked by total monthly cost of living for one person (rent + food + transport + healthcare + utilities + misc), lowest first, from the Jonzy city catalog.
1. Lalibela, Ethiopia
$610/mo all-in · Safety 75/100 · Internet 65/100
About $610/mo all-in with rent from $250/mo — one of the lowest full budgets in this set.
2. Saint-Louis, Senegal
$640/mo all-in · Safety 78/100 · Internet 70/100
About $640/mo all-in with rent from $280/mo — one of the lowest full budgets in this set.
3. Cape Coast, Ghana
$650/mo all-in · Safety 78/100 · Internet 70/100
About $650/mo all-in with rent from $280/mo — one of the lowest full budgets in this set.
4. Alexandria, Egypt
$720/mo all-in · Safety 75/100 · Internet 70/100
About $720/mo all-in with rent from $350/mo — one of the lowest full budgets in this set.
5. Jinja, Uganda
$720/mo all-in · Safety 78/100 · Internet 75/100
About $720/mo all-in with rent from $320/mo — one of the lowest full budgets in this set.
6. Musanze, Rwanda
$720/mo all-in · Safety 84/100 · Internet 78/100
About $720/mo all-in with rent from $320/mo — one of the lowest full budgets in this set.
7. Marrakech, Morocco
$730/mo all-in · Safety 72/100 · Internet 58/100
About $730/mo all-in with rent from $350/mo — one of the lowest full budgets in this set.
8. Sousse, Tunisia
$750/mo all-in · Safety 80/100 · Internet 75/100
About $750/mo all-in with rent from $350/mo — one of the lowest full budgets in this set.
9. Fez, Morocco
$770/mo all-in · Safety 72/100 · Internet 75/100
About $770/mo all-in with rent from $350/mo — one of the lowest full budgets in this set.
10. Dahab, Egypt
$800/mo all-in · Safety 78/100 · Internet 64/100
About $800/mo all-in with rent from $350/mo — one of the lowest full budgets in this set.
11. Arusha, Tanzania
$840/mo all-in · Safety 78/100 · Internet 75/100
About $840/mo all-in with rent from $380/mo — one of the lowest full budgets in this set.
12. Mombasa, Kenya
$840/mo all-in · Safety 65/100 · Internet 78/100
About $840/mo all-in with rent from $400/mo — one of the lowest full budgets in this set.
Frequently asked questions
Cheapest cities to live in Africa — which city is #1?
Lalibela, Ethiopia tops this list. About $610/mo all-in with rent from $250/mo — one of the lowest full budgets in this set. Saint-Louis and Cape Coast round out the top three.
How is this ranking calculated?
Ranked by total monthly cost of living for one person (rent + food + transport + healthcare + utilities + misc), lowest first, from the Jonzy city catalog. 47 catalog cities in Africa qualified for this list; the top 12 are shown. Scores are catalog averages, not personalised — Jonzy re-ranks every city for your own income, passport and lifestyle when you sign in.
How much does it cost to live in the top city in Africa?
Lalibela runs about $610/month all-in for one person — rent, food, transport, healthcare, utilities and everyday extras. See the Lalibela city guide for the full cost breakdown, visa options and FAQ.