Cost of Living Fear Keeps Growing Across Countries

The rising cost of everyday essentials is becoming a major concern for people around the world, with millions of households struggling to keep up with their expenses. From food and rent to transportation and electricity, the pressure of managing daily expenses continues to affect how people live.

A new global survey highlighted by The Star Kenya shows that the cost of living crisis remains the biggest concern for many people across different countries, with Africa also feeling the impact.

What The Global Survey Revealed

According to the survey conducted by the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute in partnership with Ipsos, 56 per cent of respondents across 32 countries identified the cost of living as their biggest concern. This represents a six-percentage-point increase compared with the previous year.

The survey also found that food and energy costs were the leading sources of financial pressure, with 34 per cent of respondents identifying them as major concerns.

The findings show that even as people continue working and earning money, keeping up with everyday expenses remains a serious challenge. beta.the-star.co.ke

Why Africans Relate To The Findings

The findings are particularly relevant to African households, where many families already struggle to balance their income with the rising cost of basic necessities.

In countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and South Africa, changes in food prices, fuel costs and transportation fares can quickly affect household budgets. When the price of essential goods increases, families often have to adjust their spending or reduce the amount they buy.

An Afrobarometer report published in June 2026 supports this concern. It found that 59 per cent of Africans described their country's economic condition as bad, while 23 per cent identified the increasing cost of living as one of the major issues governments should address. Afrobarometer

This shows that the Africa household pressure highlighted by the global findings is not just about figures. It reflects challenges people experience in their everyday lives.

Food, Rent And Transport Put Pressure On Families

For many households, the struggle begins with shopping for food. Items such as rice, cooking oil, bread, vegetables and other household essentials can take up a large portion of monthly earnings.

Rent is another major concern. Tenants facing increased rental costs may find it difficult to save money or comfortably manage other responsibilities.

Transportation also adds to the pressure. Higher fuel prices can lead to increased transport fares, making it more expensive for workers, traders and students to move around every day.

These expenses leave families with difficult decisions about what to prioritise and what they can temporarily do without.

Why The Cost Of Living Remains A Major Concern

The global survey inflation findings highlight how financial pressure continues to influence people's priorities across different countries.

Although the experiences may differ from one country to another, the challenge remains familiar: people want their earnings to cover their basic needs without constantly worrying about the next increase in prices.

For governments, addressing the situation requires attention to affordable food, stable prices, employment opportunities and essential public services.

Ultimately, the growing cost of living concern is a reminder that economic progress must also be felt in people's homes. For millions of families, being able to afford food, pay rent and cover transportation costs remains an important measure of financial security.