The cost of living is an important factor to consider when choosing the country to live and work in. No expatriates or foreigners would want to live in a country where they will have to exhaust all their earnings due to a high standard of living.
This makes the African countries remain the best country to choose when one intends to minimize the standard of living. Though the countries have their challenges and may not be comparable to the American and European countries based on technological advancement as most of them are developing countries. They remain unparalleled due to their unique low cost of living and tourist attractions.
Below is the list of 10 African countries with the lowest cost of living:
- Tunisia
Tunisia is a North African country. It is bordered by Algeria and Libya. It has a population of 11 million people. The capital city of Tunisia is Tunis and its people speak Tunisian Arabic, Berber, and French. The official religion in the country is Islam. The country’s currency is the Tunisian Dinar (TND).
The country is the 12th largest economy in Africa with a HDI of 25.43. The cost of living in the country is around $422 dollars with their average workers earning about $283 dollars per month after tax deduction. Reports had it that it is 94 times cheaper to live in Tunisia than in New York as it was ranked 195th best country to live in by Living Cost.org.
2. Algeria
Algeria is also located in North Africa. It is also known as the “People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria”. It is the largest country in Africa and the 10th largest in the world known for its vast production of dates fruits. The country is bordered by Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, and the Mediterranean Sea. The official languages in the country are Arabic and Berber while its official religions are Islam and Christianity. Its currency is the Algerian Dinar.
The country has a population of over 39 million people and a HDI of 30.54. The cost of living is slightly over $430 dollars. It was ranked 16th in oil reserves and it has achieved a 20% poverty reduction over the past 2 decades. The country offers free healthcare to its citizens. It also implements social policies in line with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals.
3. Zambia
Zambia is located in East Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique, Malawi, and Tanzania. It is known for its friendly and stunning environment. Its capital city is Lusaka. The official language in the country is English while the official religion is Christianity. Its currency is Zambian Kwacha.
The country imports most of its products from its neighboring countries. It has an HDI of 35.59 and an average cost of living of $600 dollars to $1200 dollars depending on the size and class of the family.
4. Egypt
Egypt is located in the North-East of Africa. It is bordered by Libya, Sudan, and Israel and has Cairo as its capital. The country is a must-visit for adventure and history lovers as it is richly blessed with natural beauty and historic items ranging from the ancient pyramid to cultural artifacts. Despite its high volume of tourists, the standard of living is cheap and very low.
The official language spoken in the country is Egypt’s colloquial Arabic. The Egyptian Pound is the acceptable currency in the country. With a population of over a hundred million, the HDI of the country is 29.9. The monthly cost of living for an individual is $361 dollars.
5. Kenya
Kenya is located in East Africa. It is bordered by South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Uganda. The capital city of the country is Nairobi. The common languages spoken by citizens of the country are English and Swahili. The Kenyan Shilling is the acceptable currency in the country. A larger percentage of the citizens are Christians.
Kenya has a population of over 50 million with an HDI of 39.26. The average cost of living ranges from $700 dollars to $2500 dollars per month. Kenya is considered as being 45% cheaper than the USA, while its largest city is 50% cheaper than London.
6. Tanzania
Tanzania is another African country with a low cost of living. It is also located in East Africa and its capital city is Dodoma. It is bordered by countries like Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda. It is home to some of Africa’s most beautiful game reserves and highlands. The citizens of Tanzania speak Swahili and English as their official languages with most of them being Christians.
With over 60 million population, the country’s average cost of living is $743 dollars which is less expensive than the world average. It has an HDI of 35.07. The acceptable value for trading in the country is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS).
7. Nigeria
Nigeria is located in West Africa and it is often referred to as the giant of Africa. The country’s capital city is Abuja. Its neighboring countries are the Republic of Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. It is Africa’s largest economy and the second wealthiest in the continent despite the impoverished state of most of its citizens. The official language in the country is English and its official religions are Islam and Christianity.
The country has over 200 million population with an HDI of 31.75. Its currency is the Nigerian Naira while the average cost of living is about a thousand dollars.
8. Rwanda
Rwanda is also referred to as the Singapore of Africa. It is located in East Central Africa. It is the fastest-growing economy in Africa and second in the world at an 8.7% growth rate. Its capital city is Kigali. The general language spoken in the country is Kinyarwanda and most of its citizens are Christians. Rwanda is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi.
The country has an HDI of 34.01 with a population that is over 13 million. The average cost of living is about $664 dollars. The country’s currency is Rwandan Franc.
9. Uganda
Uganda is a central African country. It is nicknamed the pearl of Africa. It got the nickname from the bodies of water surrounding its borders. It has countries like Kenya, Congo, and Rwanda as its neighbors. The capital city of Uganda is Kampala. Like most African countries, the citizens of Uganda are majorly Christians. The current official language in Uganda is Kiswahili.
Over 40 million people are living in the country and the HDI of the country is 31.72. The accepted currency in the country is the Ugandan shillings. The average cost of living is $475 dollars.
10. Morocco
Morocco is officially known as the kingdom of Morocco. It is located in the North-Western part of Africa, bordered by Algeria, Western Sahara, The Atlantic Ocean, and The Mediterranean Sea. Its capital city is Rabat. Most of its citizens practice Islam. The widely acclaimed languages in the country are Standard Arabic and Standard Moroccan Berber.
With an HDI of 34.59, the average cost of living is $367 dollars. The country has a population of over 35 million. The only medium of exchange accepted in the country in terms of currency is the Moroccan Dirham.