Best Countries to Retire in Africa
Africa offers retirees dramatic cost savings and diverse lifestyle options, from South Africa's Mediterranean-climate Western Cape to Morocco's affordable coastal cities and Mauritius's tropical island living. While healthcare and infrastructure vary widely, several African countries provide surprisingly high quality of life for retirees willing to look beyond traditional destinations.
Key facts
- #1: Mauritius top-ranked Africa country in this list, weighted across 7 dimensions.
- $700/mo cheapest in the regional top 10 — Egypt, single-person cost of living.
- 9 countries in Africa scored on the dimensions that matter most for this audience.
- $1,117/mo avg mean monthly cost across all qualifying Africa countries.
9 Countries Ranked
Ranked using persona-optimized weights across 7 dimensions. Scores reflect institutional public-domain datasets.
Mauritius
East Africa
Morocco
North Africa
Tunisia
North Africa
Egypt
North Africa
Ghana
West Africa
Rwanda
East Africa
South Africa
Africa
Kenya
East Africa
Nigeria
West Africa
What does healthcare cost for retirees in Africa?
Healthcare is the deciding factor in most retirement moves, and it is exactly what a ranking score hides. For 3 of the Africa destinations above, WhereNext tracks the expat healthcare reality — the system type, whether retirees can access it, and modeled private-insurance and out-of-pocket costs — not just an index. The insurance figures are base adult rates; retirees pay more, and premiums rise sharply with age and pre-existing conditions, so model your own with the healthcare-cost tool.
Morocco
Two-tier public/private (AMO/RAMED)
- AMO for formal sector; expats need private insurance, care affordable in private clinics.
- Private insurance (base adult rate): $35–$65/mo
- English-speaking doctors: rare
Egypt
Two-tier public/private (UHI rollout)
- Public system limited; expats use private hospitals, very affordable.
- Private insurance (base adult rate): $28–$52/mo
- English-speaking doctors: available
South Africa
Two-tier public/private
- Public sector strained; most expats use private medical schemes.
- Private insurance (base adult rate): $70–$130/mo
- English-speaking doctors: common
Health cover for the move
Still mobile, or in the early-retirement phase before you settle? A monthly, cancel-anytime travel-medical plan bridges the gap while you arrange local or resident cover (affiliate — we may earn a commission at no cost to you; compare a full resident plan if you're settling long-term).
If your move needs proof of cover, start by checking what your visa, landlord, or local provider actually requires. SafetyWing is travel-medical cover for mobile periods; it is not comprehensive resident insurance and may not meet a residency-visa requirement.
Mauritius
East Africa
Mauritius ranks well by balancing its strong safety with reasonable performance in your highest priority (healthcare).
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Frequently Asked Questions
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