Cities with the cheapest rent in Africa
Where housing stops eating the budget in Africa: catalog cities ranked by monthly rent for a one-person place, with the full cost of living and safety alongside so cheap rent doesn't hide an expensive or rough city.
Methodology: Only cities with a 50+ safety score qualify; ranked by curated monthly rent for one person, lowest first, from the Jonzy city catalog.
1. Lalibela, Ethiopia
Rent $250/mo · $610/mo all-in · Safety 75/100
Rent from $250/mo and about $610/mo all-in, with 75/100 safety.
2. Cape Coast, Ghana
Rent $280/mo · $650/mo all-in · Safety 78/100
Rent from $280/mo and about $650/mo all-in, with 78/100 safety.
3. Saint-Louis, Senegal
Rent $280/mo · $640/mo all-in · Safety 78/100
Rent from $280/mo and about $640/mo all-in, with 78/100 safety.
4. Jinja, Uganda
Rent $320/mo · $720/mo all-in · Safety 78/100
Rent from $320/mo and about $720/mo all-in, with 78/100 safety.
5. Musanze, Rwanda
Rent $320/mo · $720/mo all-in · Safety 84/100
Rent from $320/mo and about $720/mo all-in, with 84/100 safety.
6. Alexandria, Egypt
Rent $350/mo · $720/mo all-in · Safety 75/100
Rent from $350/mo and about $720/mo all-in, with 75/100 safety.
7. Dahab, Egypt
Rent $350/mo · $800/mo all-in · Safety 78/100
Rent from $350/mo and about $800/mo all-in, with 78/100 safety.
8. Fez, Morocco
Rent $350/mo · $770/mo all-in · Safety 72/100
Rent from $350/mo and about $770/mo all-in, with 72/100 safety.
9. Marrakech, Morocco
Rent $350/mo · $730/mo all-in · Safety 72/100
Rent from $350/mo and about $730/mo all-in, with 72/100 safety.
10. Sousse, Tunisia
Rent $350/mo · $750/mo all-in · Safety 80/100
Rent from $350/mo and about $750/mo all-in, with 80/100 safety.
11. Arusha, Tanzania
Rent $380/mo · $840/mo all-in · Safety 78/100
Rent from $380/mo and about $840/mo all-in, with 78/100 safety.
12. Banjul, Gambia
Rent $400/mo · $940/mo all-in · Safety 68/100
Rent from $400/mo and about $940/mo all-in, with 68/100 safety.
Frequently asked questions
Cities with the cheapest rent in Africa — which city is #1?
Lalibela, Ethiopia tops this list. Rent from $250/mo and about $610/mo all-in, with 75/100 safety. Cape Coast and Saint-Louis round out the top three.
How is this ranking calculated?
Only cities with a 50+ safety score qualify; ranked by curated monthly rent for one person, lowest first, from the Jonzy city catalog. 46 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.