Best cities in Africa to live on $1,000 a month

Every city here in Africa fits a full single-person budget — rent, food, transport, healthcare, utilities and extras — under $1,000/month, ranked by overall quality of life so cheap doesn't mean grim.

Methodology: Only cities with an all-in monthly cost under $1,000 qualify; ranked by average quality of life (safety, internet, healthcare, climate).

  1. 1. Sousse, Tunisia

    $750/mo · QoL 77/100 · Safety 80/100

    $750/mo all-in leaves $250/mo of headroom on a $1,000 budget, with 77/100 average quality of life.

  2. 2. Musanze, Rwanda

    $720/mo · QoL 76/100 · Safety 84/100

    $720/mo all-in leaves $280/mo of headroom on a $1,000 budget, with 76/100 average quality of life.

  3. 3. Arusha, Tanzania

    $840/mo · QoL 75/100 · Safety 78/100

    $840/mo all-in leaves $160/mo of headroom on a $1,000 budget, with 75/100 average quality of life.

  4. 4. Tangier, Morocco

    $910/mo · QoL 74/100 · Safety 78/100

    $910/mo all-in leaves $90/mo of headroom on a $1,000 budget, with 74/100 average quality of life.

  5. 5. Jinja, Uganda

    $720/mo · QoL 74/100 · Safety 78/100

    $720/mo all-in leaves $280/mo of headroom on a $1,000 budget, with 74/100 average quality of life.

  6. 6. Mombasa, Kenya

    $840/mo · QoL 73/100 · Safety 65/100

    $840/mo all-in leaves $160/mo of headroom on a $1,000 budget, with 73/100 average quality of life.

  7. 7. Fez, Morocco

    $770/mo · QoL 73/100 · Safety 72/100

    $770/mo all-in leaves $230/mo of headroom on a $1,000 budget, with 73/100 average quality of life.

  8. 8. Alexandria, Egypt

    $720/mo · QoL 73/100 · Safety 75/100

    $720/mo all-in leaves $280/mo of headroom on a $1,000 budget, with 73/100 average quality of life.

  9. 9. Cape Coast, Ghana

    $650/mo · QoL 72/100 · Safety 78/100

    $650/mo all-in leaves $350/mo of headroom on a $1,000 budget, with 72/100 average quality of life.

  10. 10. Dahab, Egypt

    $800/mo · QoL 71/100 · Safety 78/100

    $800/mo all-in leaves $200/mo of headroom on a $1,000 budget, with 71/100 average quality of life.

  11. 11. Saint-Louis, Senegal

    $640/mo · QoL 71/100 · Safety 78/100

    $640/mo all-in leaves $360/mo of headroom on a $1,000 budget, with 71/100 average quality of life.

  12. 12. Taghazout, Morocco

    $910/mo · QoL 70/100 · Safety 74/100

    $910/mo all-in leaves $90/mo of headroom on a $1,000 budget, with 70/100 average quality of life.

Frequently asked questions

Best cities in Africa to live on $1,000 a month — which city is #1?

Sousse, Tunisia tops this list. $750/mo all-in leaves $250/mo of headroom on a $1,000 budget, with 77/100 average quality of life. Musanze and Arusha round out the top three.

How is this ranking calculated?

Only cities with an all-in monthly cost under $1,000 qualify; ranked by average quality of life (safety, internet, healthcare, climate). 19 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?

Sousse runs about $750/month all-in for one person — rent, food, transport, healthcare, utilities and everyday extras. See the Sousse city guide for the full cost breakdown, visa options and FAQ.