Business
Lagos ranks 2nd in cheapest cities to live in Africa in 2024
The cost of living is a critical factor for expats when choosing a city to relocate to, affecting their quality of life and financial stability.
In 2024, the annual Cost of Living City Ranking has once again highlighted the varying economic landscapes across Africa.
While some cities have maintained their positions, others have seen significant shifts due to a myriad of economic factors.
At the lower end of the spectrum, the cities of Islamabad, Lagos, and Abuja are among the least expensive for expats.
This trend is largely driven by currency depreciations, which have made the cost of living significantly lower for international assignees.
Global overview
Recent years have seen numerous global economic influencers impacting the cost of living in major cities. These include inflation, exchange-rate fluctuations, and geopolitical volatility.
- Such factors have directly affected the pay and savings of internationally mobile employees, adding to expenses in housing, utilities, local taxes, and education.
- In contrast, the cities that top the ranking for high living costs, such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and Zurich, face challenges like expensive housing markets, high transportation costs, and increased costs of goods and services.
Methodology
Nairametrics utilities Mercer’s ranking, which lists 226 cities worldwide serves as a crucial tool for global mobility operations and international assignees, providing insights into the living expenses in cities across the globe.
The ranking offers a clear picture of economic trends and helps in making informed decisions about global mobility.
- Among African cities, Bangui stands out, rising 12 places to rank 14th globally. Djibouti and N’Djamena follow closely, ranked 18th and 21st, respectively.
- On the other end, the least expensive African cities include Blantyre, Lagos, and Abuja, ranked 221st, 225th, and 226th, respectively.
As the economic landscape continues to evolve, these rankings provide a valuable perspective on the cost of living in various cities, aiding expats and organisations in navigating the complexities of global mobility.
- Johannesburg, South Africa
The global rank for the cost of living: 206
Johannesburg combines economic opportunities with a relatively low cost of living, particularly in housing and basic services, making it a top choice for expats in South Africa. Johannesburg dropped to 206 as compared to its 205th place in 2023.
- Cape Town, South Africa
Global rank for cost of living: 209
Cape Town, while being a major tourist destination, offers reasonable living costs for expats, especially in housing and utilities. Unlike Johannesburg, Cape Town climbed up to 209 from 208 in 2023.
- Tunis, Tunisia
Global rank for cost of living: 210
Tunis offers a blend of cultural richness and affordability, with low costs of housing, food, and transportation for expats. The city moved up nine places to rank 210th in 2024 as compared to last year.
- Lusaka, Zambia
Global rank for cost of living: 213
Lusaka is known for its low living costs, particularly in housing and transportation, making it an appealing city for expats seeking affordability. Lusaka, Zambia dropped 16 places from last year’s ranking to 213th in 2024.
- Gaborone, Botswana
Global rank for cost of living: 215
Gaborone presents a cost-effective living environment for expats, with affordable housing and lower costs for daily essentials. Gaborone moved up in the cost-of-living ranking by 1 place since 2023.
- Windhoek, Namibia
Global rank for cost of living: 218
Windhoek’s affordability is driven by moderate housing costs and relatively low prices for goods and services, making it an attractive destination for cost-conscious expats. The city climbed up 4 places compared to last year.
- Durban, South Africa
Global rank for cost of living: 219
Durban offers a lower cost of living compared to other South African cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town, especially in terms of housing and groceries. Durban was ranked 220 on the global list for cost of living in 2023.
- Blantyre, Malawi
Global rank for cost of living: 221
Blantyre is known for its low cost of living, especially in terms of housing and everyday expenses, making it a viable option for expats looking to live comfortably on a budget. The city dropped 23 places to rank among the cheapest cities in the world for expats.
- Lagos, Nigeria
Global rank for cost of living: 225
Despite being one of Nigeria’s bustling metropolises, Lagos ranks as one of the cheapest cities due to the lower costs of basic goods and services driven by currency depreciation. Lagos dropped 178 places as a result of the currency depreciation.
- Abuja, Nigeria
Global Rank for cost of living: 226
Abuja dropped 86 places due to the currency depreciation. Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, offers an affordable cost of living for expats, particularly in housing and utilities, which have seen lower cost increases compared to other major cities.
Business
National Assembly proposes 50% tax relief to help companies increase salaries
The national assembly is considering a bill that will introduce a 50 percent tax relief for companies that increase salaries or offer transportation allowances to low-income workers.
The proposal is contained in an executive bill, titled ‘Nigeria Tax Bill 2024,’ dated October 4.
According to the bill, companies will be allowed an additional 50 percent deduction in their relevant years of assessment for costs incurred during the 2023 and 2024 calendar years.
The bill added that the qualifying expenses range from wage increases, transportation subsidies, or transport allowances granted to workers, whose gross monthly earnings are brought up to N100,000 or less.
However, the provision stipulates that any additional salary increase granted to employees earning above N100,000 monthly will not be eligible for the tax deduction.
“A company shall be entitled to an additional deduction of 50 per cent in the relevant years of assessment in respect of costs incurred in 2023 and 2024 calendar years on the following,” the document reads.
“(a) wage awards, salary increases, transportation allowance or transport subsidy granted to a low-income worker, which bring the gross monthly remuneration of the worker up to an amount not exceeding N100,000.00; provided that any additional award or salary increase to an employee earning above N100,000.00 as monthly salary shall not qualify for the additional deduction under this subsection;
“(b) salaries of any new employee constituting a net increase in the average number of new employees hired in 2023 and 2024 calendar years over and above the average net employment in the 3 preceding years, provided that such new employees are not involuntarily disengaged within a period of 3 years post-employment.”
On October 14, Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms, said the personal income tax of Nigerians earning above N1.5 million will be increased under the new economic stabilisation bill.
Oyedele said people earning less than N1.5 million below would be exempted from the personal income tax (PIT).
On September 23, the federal executive council (FEC) approved the economic stabilisation bills seeking amendment of tax policies.
One of the bills offers tax relief to companies that generate incremental employment while another offers personal income relief to “people in private and public employment from N200,000 to N400,000”.
Business
“OceanGate Oil & Gas Engineering Company, a Nigerian Indigenous company Partners with Global Petroleum Group to Unveil the Largest Oil and Gas Project in Caribbean History – Grenada Set to Become a Major Energy Hub”
Oceangate Oil and Gas Engineering, under the leadership of Group CEO Dr. Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, has secured a historic multi billion dollar deal with Global Petroleum Group to launch one of the Caribbean’s largest oil and gas ventures.
This transformative partnership aims to develop Grenada’s significant hydrocarbon reserves, paving the way for the island nation to emerge as a major energy hub in the Caribbean and beyond.
With a vision to fuel long-term economic growth and sustainable development, this ambitious project promises not only to elevate Grenada’s energy production capabilities but also to foster job creation, infrastructure development, and technology transfer within the local economy.
Set against the backdrop of the Caribbean’s evolving energy landscape, the venture is expected to provide unprecedented economic opportunities, delivering benefits across sectors and positioning Grenada as a key energy supplier in the region.
“We are thrilled to enter this partnership with Global Petroleum Group, which will bring substantial economic benefits and energy resources to Grenada,” said Dr. Achimugu.
“This venture underscores Oceangate’s commitment to investing in sustainable energy solutions that drive economic prosperity while respecting environmental standards.
We believe this project will lay the foundation for future economic collaborations between Africa and the Caribbean.
Business
Governor Umar Bago approves N80k minimum wage for Niger state civil servants
Umar Bago, governor of Niger, has approved N80,000 as the new minimum wage for civil servants in the state.
The governor approved the minimum wage for workers on Friday during a meeting with representatives of organised labour in Minna, the capital of Niger state.
In a statement released on his X, Bago announced that the state government had adopted N80,000 as the new minimum wage.
“In our own magnanimity as a state government, we have decided to adopt the minimum wage of N80,000 (Eighty Thousand Naira),” he said.
“In our own magnanimity as a state government, we have decided to adopt the minimum wage of N80,000 (Eighty Thousand Naira),” he said.
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