The start of 2025 brings a familiar concern for residents and citizens of several African cities: the growing cost of living. According to Numbeo's updated data, Harare, Zimbabwe, has taken the top spot as the city with the highest cost of living in Africa, followed closely by Johannesburg, South Africa, and Accra, Ghana.

The list of top 10 African cities with the highest cost of living in 2025 also includes Casablanca and Rabat in Morocco, Cape Town and Pretoria in South Africa, Nairobi in Kenya, Lagos in Nigeria, and Marrakech in Morocco. This trend is expected to persist, given that no significant changes have occurred in the last year.

The high cost of living has far-reaching social and economic implications, affecting the lives of millions and the course of development in these cities. It reduces households' purchasing power, making it difficult for many to pay for essentials like food and transportation, and leaving little money for savings or discretionary spending.

The gap between earnings and costs grows for those with low and intermediate incomes, lowering their quality of life and driving families into financial instability. Additionally, businesses, especially small and medium-sized firms (SMEs), are impacted by high living expenses, forcing them to pay more for utilities, office space, and employee benefits, which hinders their expansion and lowers their profitability.

The high cost of living often mirrors wider inflationary tendencies, which can destabilize local economies. Persistent inflation undermines consumer confidence and diminishes expenditure, slowing economic development and worsening citizens' misery.

Notably, Lagos, Nigeria, has entered the top 10 list, ranking number 9, while Douala, Addis Ababa, and Durban have dropped off the list. Nairobi and Accra have maintained their positions on the list.

The full list of top 10 African cities with the highest cost of living in 2025 is as follows:

Rank 1: Harare, Zimbabwe - Cost of living index: 36.6, Global rank: 210th

Rank 2: Johannesburg, South Africa - Cost of living index: 33.2, Global rank: 232nd

Rank 3: Accra, Ghana - Cost of living index: 31.8, Global rank: 243rd

Rank 4: Casablanca, Morocco - Cost of living index: 31.4, Global rank: 245th

Rank 5: Cape Town, South Africa - Cost of living index: 31.3, Global rank: 248th

Rank 6: Pretoria, South Africa - Cost of living index: 31.3, Global rank: 249th

Rank 7: Nairobi, Kenya - Cost of living index: 30.7, Global rank: 251st

Rank 8: Lagos, Nigeria - Cost of living index: 30.5, Global rank: 254th

Rank 9: Rabat, Morocco - Cost of living index: 29.9, Global rank: 256th

Rank 10: Marrakech, Morocco - Cost of living index: 29.4, Global rank: 258th

This report highlights the need for policymakers and stakeholders to address the growing cost of living in these cities, which can have a significant impact on the overall economic development and quality of life for citizens.