The cost of renting an apartment in Lagos has skyrocketed in 2026. New figures showing that monthly rents in the city now surpass those in Accra and slowly trying to beat prices in Cape Town.
According to data compiled by Statisense using figures from Numbeo and XE, Lagos now ranks among the most expensive cities in Africa for renting apartments.
For a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre, the average monthly rent in Lagos stands at $618.11 (N859,375). This is about 13.7% higher than Accra, where a similar apartment costs around $543.64 (N754,479) per month. 
While in Cape Town, the average rent for a one-bedroom city-centre apartment is $1,000.29 (N1,384,328), making it 61.8% more expensive than Lagos.
The price difference in these three cities is more noticeable when you look at the price of three-bedroom apartments.
In Lagos, the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment is estimated at $2,003.89 (N2,774,443) per month. This is 61.1% higher than Accra, where the same type of apartment costs around $1,244 (N1,729,226).
Surprisingly, Lagos also surpasses Cape Town in this category. A three-bedroom apartment in Cape Town’s city centre costs approximately $1,659.89 (N2,304,822) monthly, meaning Lagos rents are about 20.7% higher.
This makes Lagos the most expensive among the three cities for larger apartments in central areas.
ALSO READ: 10 Expensive African Cities to Rent an Apartment in 2026
Why is Rent More Expensive in Lagos?
Often described as the land of opportunities, Lagos attracts thousands of people every year who move to the city in search of jobs, and a better life.
From entrepreneurs and creatives to young professionals and students, many people see Lagos as the place where things can finally “click”.
Because of this, high demand for housing in certain areas, population growth, and increasing construction costs also continue to push rent prices.
As a result of this, many people are being priced out of prime locations and are forced to look toward suburban areas for more affordable housing options.
The figures shows how Lagos’ housing market is becoming one of the most competitive on the continent, with rental costs steadily closing the gap with some of Africa’s most expensive cities.
Other African Cities Where Rent Is Expensive
Lagos, Accra and Cape Town aren’t the only African cities where rent can stretch your budget. Across the continent, several major urban centres are also known for their relatively high housing costs.
Some of them include:
- Abidjan
- Addis Ababa
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Casablanca
- Rabat
- Kigali
- Windhoek
In many of these cities, rents are being pushed up due to population growth, and limited housing supply in central areas. As more people move into major cities for work and business opportunities, demand for housing continues to grow, and prices often follow.
For residents, this means finding affordable housing in city centres is becoming increasingly difficult, not just in Lagos but across several of Africa’s fastest-growing cities.
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