Africa’s population is estimated at 1.7 billion, with 45.6% living in urban areas, according to February data from Worldometer.
As cities expand and economic activity concentrates in urban centres, demand for housing has intensified across the continent.
This shift toward urban living has increased pressure on rental markets. For many households, rent ranks as the first or second largest monthly expense alongside food.
It shapes migration decisions, limits disposable income, and reflects conditions in local housing supply.
In fast-growing cities, rising rent often signals strong demand, inflationary pressures, or shortages of affordable homes.
This ranking by Nairametrics is based on data from Numbeo, a global cost of living database that compiles user-contributed data from cities worldwide.
The analysis draws from Numbeo’s 2026 Africa Current Rent Index by City report, which compares average rental prices using New York City as the benchmark with an index value of 100.
Under this methodology, a city with a Rent Index of 80 has rental prices about 20% lower than New York City.
The list below highlights the 10 African cities with the highest rental costs in 2026 relative to the global benchmark.
Pretoria in South Africa ranks eighth among the most expensive African cities to rent a home in 2026, with a Rent Index of 13.0. The city has an estimated population of 3 million people, according to Macrotrends.com.
The residential market in Pretoria is made up of roughly 40% apartments and flats, 35% townhouses and cluster homes in security estates, and 25% freehold houses.
- Apartments and sectional-title units dominate, particularly in areas near universities and the CBD, including Hatfield, Sunnyside, and Arcadia, driven by the city’s large student population and government workforce.
- According to theafricanvestor.com, new-build properties account for about 15% to 20% of listings, concentrated in Hazeldean, Silver Lakes, Mooikloof, and the eastern edges of Moreleta Park, where developers can build estate-style products.
- As of early 2026, long-term rental demand in Pretoria remains steady, with rents rising around 4% year-on-year and vacancy rates tight in prime areas.
The main tenants are students, government workers, and young professionals seeking proximity to universities, offices, and business hubs.
Neighborhoods with the strongest demand include Hatfield, Brooklyn, Menlo Park, Lynnwood, and parts of Sunnyside.
