Lagos has emerged as Africa’s most expensive city for premium office fit-outs, highlighting how rising demand for Grade A workspaces and structural cost pressures are reshaping commercial real estate across the continent.
The finding comes from Turner & Townsend’s Global Office Fit-Out Cost Guide 2026, which tracks the cost of delivering high-specification office spaces across 58 global cities.
The report shows that African markets are increasingly being shaped by the same global trends seen in major financial hubs, where companies are prioritising modern, technology-enabled workplaces.
A combination of strong demand, a limited pool of top-tier contractors, and constrained supply has pushed New York back to the top of global office fit-out costs, with average premium fit-outs rising 4% to $5,886 per square metre.
London remains the second most expensive market globally at $5,872 per square metre, while Tokyo ranks among the top ten, with costs rising to $4,814 per square metre amid tightening supply and strong demand for Grade A space.
