Top 12 Best Cities to Live in Africa

According to the United Nations, Africa is home to 54 sovereign African countries and two disputed areas, namely Somaliland and Western Sahara.

Considering a few factors (such as quality of life, education system, gender equality, diverse society, and low unemployment rate) some cities in Africa are better for living. There’s an increasing number of reverse immigration from the United States and European countries to Africa.


Most Americans who immigrate to Africa are black people, still suffering from racism in America against black people in 2021. While the Europeans who immigrated to Africa are white people who like to retire in African cities that have good weather, delicious food, and more affordable than their own hometowns.

If you’re going to move to Africa for living, working, or studying, keep reading. Since this post, we’ll introduce the top 12 most livable cities in Africa.


1- Port Louis, Mauritius


Port Louis is the capital of the island country, Mauritius. This city is a very popular destination both among the tourists who are looking for a tropical paradise in the Indian Ocean, and the businessmen/women who want to establish or extend their business in Africa.


Port Louis has a good education system which is copied after Britain since it is a former British colony. The economy is stable, and a diverse community of Indians, Africans, and Europeans make Port Louis the most livable city in Africa.

2- Victoria, Seychelles

Just a two hours flight to the north of Port Louis sits the capital of another African island country, called Seychelles. With 26,000 residents, Victoria is home to 25% of the Seychelles’ population. This city is a compact charming place to live where you have all the amenities of an urban area while not having to tolerate large crowds and the madness of megacities.

If you are thinking of relocating to an African city with high quality of life, all amenities of large cities, and a laid back atmosphere at the same time, Victoria in Seychelles is the right choice.


3- Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town is a beautiful coastal city in the Southern part of South Africa. This city became very famous during the 2010 FIFA World Cup that was taking place in South Africa and has been thriving ever since. Cape Town is a beautiful city with a booming economy and great universities. There are beautiful beaches and fantastic wineries all over the city and a rich culture to explore.

If you want to move to Africa with your family and are looking for a city where you can grow as a professional in your career and still allow your children to pursue their future with no limit, you should definitely choose Cape Town.


4- Gaborone, Botswana

Just a few decades ago, Botswana and its capital, Gaborone were famous for poverty and government corruption. But now, the country is one of the most stable countries in Africa with a democratic government and a stable booming economy. Gaborone is a role model for other African capitals. Living in this city gives you access to all the city bells and whistles while you’re only minutes away from an unforgettable Safari trip in Botswana. What’s better than living in a stable democratic country that’s very safe for you and your family, and being able to communicate with lions and elephants on weekends?!

If you have been offered a job at an international company in Botswana and are still hesitant, start packing up right away as you’re about to make your best decision in life.


5- Kigali, Rwanda

Kigali has been recognized as the cleanest city in Africa for three years in a row so far and it seems to keep its title as the cleanest African city (and one of the cleanest cities in the world). This title needs amazing management and motivated people. Kigali is booming as a city with modern facilities and people are putting their best effort to keep their city clean and shiny. You can easily roam around Kigali and not finding one piece of garbage.


But the perks of this beautiful city don’t end there. Kigali (and Rwanda in general) is on its way to becoming a tourism hot spot because of its recent history and the shift that it had from a city of murdering and genocide to a stable clean one that is smartly trying for a better future. Visitors can enjoy both the nightlife, restaurants and bars in Kigali, as well as spectacular nature around the city. All of this makes Kigali one of the most livable cities in Africa.

6- Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Dar es Salaam is Tanzania’s largest city. This city used to be a fishing village, but it has become a major commercial port on the Indian Ocean coast and now the remaining of the original village are added to the National Museum of Tanzania. Dar es Salaam is now an impressive player in Africa’s economy and a tourist hot spot for people who like to book one of Dar es Salaam’s all-inclusive beach-side resort and relax in a fun environment.

If you’re moving to Dar es Salaam or just want to visit, don’t overthink it and do it now. From friendly people, delicious cuisine, and fun nightlife, to a stable booming economy and good education system, this city has everything one could ask for from a city.


7- Windhoek, Namibia

Windhoek is a beautiful city in the center of Namibia. This city is filled with memorials and museums related to its recent history of independence in 1990 from South Africa. The city has sunny pleasant weather and all amenities of a modern city. The education system in Windhoek is one of the best among African cities, and the landscapes around the city are worth seeing.


Windhoek, the capital of Namibia is the only place in Africa where some people speak German, and the city is full of German-style buildings, German street names, and German pubs.

If you’re looking for a base in Africa, Windhoek is the right choice since it’s close to South Africa if you need to drop by there for a meeting and offers a lot of fun activities that would keep you busy on weekends.

8- Rabat, Morocco


Morocco’s capital, Rabat is a beautiful coastal city in Eastern Morocco besides the Atlantic ocean. This Muslim city has been influenced by the French culture and architecture which has added to its charm.

It’s unusual to have a capital city set by the seaside, and it’s a lovely feature of Rabat. Hitting the beach is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the downtown area, and the breeze coming off the Atlantic is a great way to cool off in the summer.

If you like to live in a capital city and don’t want to lose the opportunity of a seaside city as well, Rabat is a good option to consider.


9- Constantine, Algeria

Constantine in Algeria is a charming city with a rich history. This city is famous for its mystical bridges, and attractive traditional buildings. The residents in Constantine are warm and welcoming. Walking in the streets of Constantine makes you feel like you’re watching a pleasant historic movie.

If you have children and want them to grow up in a bilingual community with a rich culture and history, Constantine in Africa is a perfect choice.


10- Dakar, Senegal


Dakar is a gorgeous city with active ports and a world-famous rally called “Dakar Rally”. This city is the capital of Senegal and has all of the amenities a modern city would need. Dakar has been influenced by French culture which has left its touch on people’s culture and the buildings around the city.

Dakar (Senegal in general) is a popular retirement destination for Europeans, especially French and Belgian retirees who are looking for good weather year-round, affordability, and a good healthcare system.

Whether you’re looking for a good retirement city in Africa, or want to establish or extend your business to Africa, Dakar is a great option to think about.


11- Nairobi, Kenya

Kenya’s capital, Nairobi is the perfect example of the coexistence of humans and nature. This city is both home to skyscrapers and a large national park in the middle of the city. If you’re a “The Lion King”, then you will love Nairobi since it will remind you of the iconic Disney movie as it was inspired by Kenya’s national parks.

Nairobi is a diverse, happy city with an active nightlife and a booming economy which is a great place to live for nature lovers who don’t want to give up on the perks of living in a modern city.


12- Praia, Cape Verde


Praia is the capital city of the lesser-known beautiful island country of Cape Verde. This city is a winter sun destination for Europeans who are looking for an affordable holiday destination near Europe. Praia has pleasant weather all-year-round and is immune from the savage storms that ruin everything! Besides the tourists, this city is home to a lot of European entrepreneurs who have established a business in Cape Verde to both enjoy life and make money at the same time.

If you like to live in an island paradise with a stable government and economy, but not as expensive as places like Portugal and Spain, Praia is the perfect option to consider.

Published by Delusional Bubble

Your travel guide to the fantastic unknown places around the world

16 thoughts on “Top 12 Best Cities to Live in Africa

  1. I just read some articles saying that in the future, Africa could be a major trade hub like Hong Kong or Singapore. It was cool to know about the reasoning behind it

    1. Exactly. It is on its way since most western countries have already reached their maximum capacity for improvement, but African countries have a lot of potential to grow for the decades to come.
      Thank you for your comment! 🙂

      1. Exactly. It’s interesting research the WEF has done on the subject. My one concern though is that China has been involved in construction of infrastructure that would plunge Africa into debt. My best friend did a report on that when she took an international trade class

            1. Right. China did the exact same thing to Montenegro. It helped improving Montenegrin infrastructure which is the main reason it is becoming a tourist and investors hot spot. But now Montenegro owes a lot of money to China that it can probably never pay off!

            2. Didn’t know that about Montenegro. When I took International Finance, we did have class discussions about China and its role in finance, which also overlapped into trade. It’s really sneaky AF what they do!

  2. Love your posts on Africa. They break the negative stereotypes that pervade so many westerners’ delusional bubbles which are well worth bursting.

    1. That’s actually the main reason that I decided to start this blog, to show the different side of Africa that media hides from people.
      All people in Canada and the U.S. think that Africa is all about poverty, and negativity. Not knowing that it’s exactly like anywhere else. Some cities there are far better than some of our cities in North America! lol
      Thank you very much for your kind comment!

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