Renting a high-end two-bedroom apartment in Accra could cost an average of about GH¢25,469 a month, according to a 2026 analysis by Fortren & Company.

The report puts the average annual rent at $26,299, equivalent to about GH¢305,566.

This places Accra as the third most expensive rental market among the 10 major African cities studied.

Only Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire and Cape Town in South Africa recorded higher average rents, at $41,671 and $27,138 per year, respectively.

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Lagos, Nigeria, followed Accra with an average annual rent of $19,379.

Fortren & Company said the study focused on cities with strong economies, large numbers of expatriates and mobile professionals, and developed rental markets.

The figures focus on high-end and mid-market areas and therefore do not represent the average rent paid by everyone living in these cities.

In Accra, areas such as Cantonment, East Legon and Airport Residential Area are among the main locations for high-end rentals. Demand in these areas comes from multinational companies, diplomats, NGOs and high-income tenants.

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The report also highlighted Africa’s wider housing challenge. It estimates that the continent has a housing shortage of more than 53 million homes, while fewer than 40% of people own houses.

Fortren & Company also found that rental payments can be a major challenge for tenants. About half of Africa’s traditional rental markets require at least three months’ rent upfront.

In Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Cameroon, landlords can commonly demand one or two years’ rent in advance.

Tenants may also have to pay additional costs such as agency fees, deposits, legal charges and service fees.

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