Christmas Inflation: Cost of Christmas celebration across African countries in 2023
According to WorldRemit‘s Cost of Christmas Study report for 2023, up to 84% of family’s monthly income is expected to be spent on Christmas this year, and families around the world are expected to spend up to 24% more on Christmas this year.
The study compares the average cost of food, gifts, and decor to the average household incomes across 24 countries, to determine the festive season’s financial impact on families around the world.
In Africa, the research revealed that households in Cameroon will pay the highest amount compared to their average monthly income (83.67%). This year, the cost of Christmas in Nigeria is expected to be 23.71% higher than last year, while in the Dominican Republic and Zimbabwe, the increases are anticipated to be 22.25% and 19.38%, respectively.
This is unsurprising, as many African countries have been battling gravity-defying inflation, particularly impacting the prices of essential commodities like food. In a sepearte report, Pricepally revealed how this surge has affected the prices of stew ingredients, showing an increase from 2022 to 2023.
Methodology
The Christmas items were selected based on desk research of typical Christmas meals, gifts, traditions, travel and decorations. The average price of each item for an average family on an average income was then researched.
In late September 2023, online research was conducted on prices. The gathered information, which included breakdowns of what is appropriate for Christmas celebrations, was verified by a local resident of each country. Adjustments were made as necessary to ensure accurate data.
| Rank | Country | Christmas food | Christmas decorations | Christmas gift | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cameroon | 34% | 51% | 15% | $650 |
| 2 | Zimbabwe | 22% | 37% | 41% | $254 |
| 3 | Rwanda | 32% | 34% | 34% | $239 |
| 4 | Nigeria | 52% | 31% | 17% | $218 |
| 5 | Kenya | 21% | 23% | 56% | $215 |
| 6 | South Africa | 26% | 36% | 38% | $166 |
| 7 | Uganda | 56% | 20% | 23% | $64 |
