In Africa, where many countries are working to achieve sustainable development and enhance residents’ quality of life, grocery prices significantly impact economic and social consequences.
Low grocery prices immediately contribute to food security, which is a fundamental component of national stability.
More people will have access to the essential nutrients required for a healthy lifestyle thanks to reasonably priced foods.
Low pricing can help close the gap between scarcity and abundance in areas where food insecurity is still a major problem, lowering hunger and promoting residents’ physical and mental health.
For the Africans living below the poverty line, food is sometimes a considerable component of family expenses.
As a result, expensive grocery prices can force families deeper into impoverished circumstances, requiring them to make difficult decisions between food, and other basic amenities such as healthcare, and education.
Additionally, affordable groceries help to promote equity in society by closing the gap between various socioeconomic groups.
High food costs disproportionately impact low-income households, creating inequality and societal instability. In contrast, low rates even the playing field, ensuring that all residents, regardless of economic standing, have access to basic needs.
With that said, here are the 5 African countries where buying groceries is cheap according to Numbeo, which provides an estimation of grocery prices in a city relative to New York City.
Numbeo computes this index for every city using item weights from the “Markets” section.
| Rank | Country | Grocery Index |
| 1. | Egypt | 21.2 |
| 2. | Labia | 22.2 |
| 3. | Madagascar | 24.1 |
| 4. | Tanzania | 25.4 |
| 5. | Uganda | 29.3 |
Source: Business insider Africa