South Africa has emerged as the continent’s strongest performer in a new ranking of Africa’s most liveable cities, with five urban centres securing places in the top 10.
Gqeberha/Maria Luiza Melo/Pexels
The June 2026 study by JB.com assessed cities across Africa using factors including quality of life, healthcare, safety, cost of living, pollution, traffic congestion and internet speed. While Kigali in Rwanda claimed the top spot overall, South Africa’s cities stood out for their strong quality-of-life scores.
Leading the local pack is Cape Town, which ranked second overall. The Mother City earned a quality of life score of 160.4, placing it among the highest-rated cities on the continent. Researchers noted its combination of strong healthcare infrastructure, economic opportunities and world-famous natural surroundings as key strengths, despite lower safety scores than some of its continental counterparts.
Close behind is Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) in third place. The Eastern Cape city recorded the highest quality of life score in the entire study at 161.9, surpassing global cities including New York, London and Barcelona. The report also highlighted its relatively moderate monthly living costs and reliable healthcare, making it one of Africa’s strongest performers for overall living standards.
The rankings also placed Durban sixth, with a quality of life score of 151.8. Researchers pointed to the city’s affordability, access to healthcare and coastal lifestyle as contributing factors to its position.
Pretoria followed in seventh place, earning praise for dependable healthcare services and a quality of life score of 143.5, while Johannesburg rounded out South Africa’s presence in eighth position with a score of 140.5.
The report found that quality of life was influenced by a combination of factors rather than a single measure. Healthcare access, disposable income, pollution levels, internet speed, traffic congestion and safety all played a role in determining how comfortable and practical everyday life is for residents.
Although Kigali topped the continental rankings thanks to its high safety rating, affordable living costs and clean environment, South Africa’s five cities collectively made the country the best-represented nation in the top 10.
Africa’s 10 most liveable cities
- Kigali, Rwanda
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), South Africa
- Rabat, Morocco
- Windhoek, Namibia
- Durban, South Africa
- Pretoria, South Africa
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Gaborone, Botswana
- Marrakech, Morocco
Commenting on the findings, a JB.com travel analyst said the results show that liveability is about getting the essentials right.
“When you strip away the marketing and focus on the numbers, the cities that make everyday life easier aren’t always the ones people expect. Kigali performed well because it strikes a balance between safety, affordability and environmental quality — factors that have a meaningful impact on residents’ daily lives.”
Follow us on social media for more travel news, inspiration, and guides. You can also tag us to be featured.
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Spotify
ALSO READ:
