These 5 African Countries Could Offer You a Budget-Friendly Retirement

Of the more than 700,000 Americans collecting Social Security abroad, most settle in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. Relatively few move to Africa, despite living costs that are as much as 80% lower than in more popular retirement destinations.

In Morocco, for example, the average cost of living for one person runs $729 a month, about 71% less than in the U.S. In Tunisia, it drops to $506, or 80% less. Mauritius comes in 68% cheaper.

Retiring to these locales may not require as many compromises as you think. These are countries with UNESCO sites, Mediterranean coastlines, established expat communities, and retiree visa programs designed to welcome you.

How These Countries Were Chosen

These five countries stand out for low daily costs, cultural and natural attractions, quality health care, growing expat communities, and visa paths for long-term stays.

Each also scores a Level 2 or lower on the U.S. State Department’s travel advisory scale—the same rating assigned to France, Spain, and the United Kingdom. 

Morocco

Morocco offers Arab, Berber, and French influences. Retirees feel that mix daily in spice-heavy tagines, the call to prayer over tile rooftops, and French newspapers at sidewalk cafes.

Marrakech’s Jemaa el-Fnaa square comes alive in the evening evening with musicians, storytellers, and food stalls. Essaouira draws a quieter crowd—painters, windsurfers, and retirees who prefer Atlantic breezes to the bustle of the medina. It’s also a two- to three-hour flight from most European capitals, close enough for specialized medical care or a weekend trip.

Outside the pricier neighborhoods of Casablanca, Rabat, and Tangier, a single retiree can cover rent, food, transportation, and entertainment for about $700 to $1,000 a month. Private clinics and hospitals in Marrakech, Casablanca, and Rabat provide quality care at far lower costs than in the U.S.

Morocco doesn’t have a retiree visa, but standard long-stay permits allow stays of up to one year with proof of income and are renewable.

Tunisia

Thousands of years of Mediterranean history are crossable within short drives here. The ruins of Carthage, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are just 15 minutes from the cafes of Sidi Bou Said, the cliffside village that’s drawn French writers and artists since the 18th century. Coastal towns like Sousse, Monastir, and Hammamet have Mediterranean beaches, walkable medinas, and outdoor markets where a full meal costs a few dollars.

Expat estimates put a comfortable solo budget at $600 to $1,000 a month—rent, groceries, dining out, and transport included—about 70% less than in the U.S.

Tunisia is a medical tourism destination for an estimated 2 million foreign patients a year. Private clinics in Tunis, Sousse, and Sfax, staffed by physicians trained in France, run 60% to 70% less than European or North American facilities.

French is widely spoken, and Paris is a two-and-a-half-hour flight away.

Ghana

Ghana is politically stable and English-speaking. A growing number of Black Americans have relocated here to reconnect with their ancestral heritage, especially since Ghana’s “Year of Return” campaign in 2019 invited the African diaspora home. The budget case is universal: Nationwide, a single person’s monthly costs average around $619.

Ghana’s culture emphasizes hospitality and community, helping newcomers quickly build friendships through churches, clubs, or neighborhood gatherings.​ Expat communities in Cape Coast and Kumasi offer support at lower costs than in Accra.​ Costs in Kumasi—the Ashanti Kingdom’s cultural capital, famous for open-air markets and kente cloth—run a third lower. 

Americans enter visa-free for 90 days, with options to extend or apply for residence permits without leaving the country. Private health care in Accra has expanded quickly: Facilities like Nyaho Medical Centre employ U.S.-trained doctors and offer 24/7 emergency services, but health care quality can drop sharply outside Accra and Kumasi.

Namibia

Namibia’s Namib Desert crashes into the Atlantic along the Skeleton Coast, and in Etosha National Park, you can drive past elephants, lions, and rhinos without hiring a guide. The country gained independence from South Africa in 1990 and has been one of Africa’s most stable democracies since.

English is the official language, though you can hear German echo through Windhoek and especially Swakopmund, a coastal town founded in 1892 that blends neo-Baroque landmarks with German bakeries and a small-city pace. Windhoek, three hours inland, offers more urban energy, better access to medical care, and direct international flights. 

The cost of living is about 60% less than in the U.S. Most of Namibia’s medical staff is in Windhoek, where private hospitals provide care that meets international standards. Swakopmund and Walvis Bay have private facilities, but care thins outside these cities.

Americans need a visa. The default stay is 30 days, extendable up to 90 days through the Ministry of Home Affairs in Windhoek. Permanent residence is available to retirees 60 and older with at least $215,000 in combined assets.

Mauritius

Mauritius sits about 1,200 miles off Africa’s southeast coast, a small island shaped by Indian, African, Chinese, and French settlers. Today, it has a prosperous economy and a culturally layered society. Diwali, Eid, Chinese New Year, and Christmas are all publicly celebrated.

Grand Baie and Pereybère on the north coast draw expats with restaurants, nightlife, and beaches. Tamarin and Black River on the west coast offer the mountains and a quieter pace.

The cost of living for a single person is about 70% lower than in the U.S. Mauritius has one of Africa’s strongest health care systems. Five major public hospitals and more than 20 private clinics serve the island. For highly specialized care not available on the island, patients travel to India, South Africa, or Reunion Island, making evacuation coverage worth carrying.

A 10-year retirement permit requires $1,500 per month deposited into a local bank account. After three consecutive years, you can apply for a 20-year permanent residence permit.