Cost of living in Luanda

Luanda, Angola’s capital city, may surprise expats not only with its natural beauty and pristine seafront promenade, but also with its expensive cost of living. The city is experiencing an oil boom, and due to a lack of infrastructure to support the rapid growth, there is a shortage of good-quality housing.

The 2022 Mercer Cost of Living Survey ranks Luanda as the 64th most expensive city for expats to live in out of the 227 cities surveyed. This is an improvement on previous rankings, and several African cities, such as Bangui in the Central African Republic and Libreville in Gabon, now rank much higher.

Cost of accommodation in Luanda

Accommodation costs in Luanda are sky high owing to a low supply of secure, quality housing in the city. Fortunately, expats moving to Luanda on a company transfer can negotiate to have their housing costs covered by their employer.

Cost of food and eating out in Luanda

Food at Luanda’s bigger supermarkets, such as Candando and Shoprite, is steep as most items are imported. Meat products are also eye-wateringly expensive, while the quality of the items is sometimes sub-par. That said, fresh produce, which is available from roadside stalls, is relatively cheap.

Expats earning in foreign currencies will enjoy exploring Luanda’s vibrant culinary scene. Otherwise, eating out will not be a regular hobby as prices can be steep.

Cost of transport in Luanda

Angola lacks quality and safe public transport, so expats moving to Luanda will need a personal vehicle to get around. Although, cars in Angola can be extremely costly. Luckily, some companies provide expat employees with a vehicle, fuel allowance and a driver. Thanks to the condition of roads in Luanda and the culture of reckless driving, drivers are a necessity and are fairly affordable.

Cost of schooling in Luanda

The standard of public education in Angola is unfortunately inadequate, leaving expat parents no choice but to enrol their children in the exorbitantly priced international schools. Additional costs expats will have to budget for include books, excursions, and uniforms.