Cape Verde is the fourth African country with the highest cost of living
Cape Verde is the fourth African country with the highest cost of living at the beginning of 2026, according to Numbeo, the world's largest cost of living database and a collaborative global source of quality of life data. The top 10 African countries is led by the Seychelles archipelago, followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo in second place and Senegal in third.
Numbeo's Cost of Living Index compares daily expenses in cities around the world (excluding rent), with the latest data shaping a list of the ten African countries where consumers will face the highest living costs in 2026.
In the case of Cape Verde, Numbeo argues that the cost of living index (46.3) reflects the financial challenges of island economies and that food prices are particularly high due to dependence on imports, although rent remains relatively low.
"Tourism contributes to moderate prices in restaurants, but the lower purchasing power means that residents feel the impact of the increase in daily expenses more acutely," says the same source.
The 10 African countries with the highest cost of living
In addition to Cape Verde in 4th place, the list of the 10 African countries with the highest cost of living at the start of 2026 also includes Ivory Coast (5th), Angola (6th), Ethiopia (7th), Cameroon (8th), Mauritius (9th) and South Africa (10th).
Numbeo reports that the cost of living across Africa varies significantly, influenced by factors such as import dependency, currency strength, urbanization and consumer demand.
In this sense, what is considered to be the world's largest cost of living database, explains that while some countries have relatively affordable costs, others stand out for their high day-to-day costs, especially for food, restaurants, transportation and public services.
The cost of living in Africa varies significantly.
