Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Mauritania Property Pack
Yes, the analysis of Nouakchott's property market is included in our pack
If you're wondering how much it costs to buy a home in Nouakchott in 2026, you've come to the right place.
We've gathered the latest data on residential property prices in Mauritania's capital and turned it into a clear, easy-to-read guide.
We constantly update this blog post to make sure you always have access to fresh numbers.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Nouakchott.
Insights
- The median home price in Nouakchott sits around 9 million MRU (about $225,000), but the average jumps to 11.5 million MRU because a small number of luxury villas in Tevragh Zeina pull the numbers up significantly.
- Buyers in Nouakchott typically negotiate prices down by about 8% from the listing price, though in prime neighborhoods with clear property titles, that discount can shrink to just 5%.
- The price gap between city-center and outer neighborhoods in Nouakchott is massive: prime Tevragh Zeina properties can cost 140,000 to 220,000 MRU per square meter, while Dar Naim properties sit around 25,000 to 50,000 MRU per square meter.
- New construction in Nouakchott commands about a 20% premium over comparable existing homes, mainly because buyers pay extra to avoid hidden repair costs and unreliable electrical or plumbing systems.
- Over the past decade, Nouakchott property prices have climbed roughly 90% in nominal terms, but when you adjust for inflation, the real increase is closer to 40%.
- Apartments make up nearly half of Nouakchott's residential market (about 45%), followed by family houses at 30% and villas at 12%.
- For $100,000 in Nouakchott, you can realistically buy a 55 to 60 square meter apartment in neighborhoods like El Mina or Sebkha, but prime areas like Tevragh Zeina are out of reach at this budget.
- When you add taxes, fees, and a typical renovation, expect to pay about 12% more than the purchase price in Nouakchott, and up to 25% if the property needs major work.
What is the average housing price in Nouakchott in 2026?
The median housing price gives you a better picture of what most buyers actually pay in Nouakchott because it ignores the few extremely expensive villas that push the average higher than what a typical home costs.
We are writing this as of the first half of 2026 using the latest data we collected from authoritative sources, which we manually double-checked for accuracy.
The median home price in Nouakchott in 2026 is around 9,000,000 MRU, which is about $225,000 or €196,000. The average home price is higher at 11,500,000 MRU (about $288,000 or €250,000) because luxury properties in prime areas push it up.
About 80% of residential properties in Nouakchott in 2026 fall within a price range of 4,000,000 to 18,000,000 MRU, which translates to roughly $100,000 to $450,000 or €87,000 to €391,000.
A realistic entry-level budget in Nouakchott in 2026 is between 2,200,000 and 3,200,000 MRU ($55,000 to $80,000 or €48,000 to €70,000), which can get you an older 50 to 60 square meter apartment in neighborhoods like Dar Naim or outer Arafat that may need some updating.
Luxury properties in Nouakchott in 2026 typically range from 40,000,000 to 120,000,000 MRU ($1 million to $3 million or €870,000 to €2.6 million), and at this level you can expect a large detached villa of 350 to 600 square meters in prime Tevragh Zeina with a courtyard, parking, and a generator setup.
By the way, you will find much more detailed price ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in Nouakchott.
Are Nouakchott property listing prices close to the actual sale price in 2026?
In Nouakchott, closed sale prices are typically about 8% below the last asking price.
This gap exists mainly because most transactions are cash-based and buyers push hard for discounts when bank financing is expensive or unavailable. In prime neighborhoods with clean property titles and good finishes, the gap can shrink to around 5%, while in areas with uncertain paperwork or properties needing work, it can widen to 10% or even 15%.
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What is the price per sq m or per sq ft for properties in Nouakchott in 2026?
As of early 2026, the median price per square meter in Nouakchott is around 70,000 MRU ($1,750 or €1,522), while the average is about 90,000 MRU per square meter ($2,250 or €1,957). Converted to square feet, the median is roughly 6,500 MRU per square foot ($162 or €141) and the average is about 8,360 MRU per square foot ($209 or €182).
The highest price per square meter in Nouakchott in 2026 goes to newer, well-finished apartments and villas in prime Tevragh Zeina and Ksar because of their location near embassies, better security, and reliable utilities, while the lowest prices are found in older properties in peripheral neighborhoods like Dar Naim and outer Arafat due to distance from services and higher expected fix-up costs.
The highest prices per square meter in Nouakchott in 2026 are in Tevragh Zeina (prime) and Ksar (prime), ranging from 120,000 to 220,000 MRU per square meter. The lowest prices are in Dar Naim, outer Arafat, and outer Teyarett, where you can find properties at 25,000 to 55,000 MRU per square meter.
How have property prices evolved in Nouakchott?
Compared to one year ago, Nouakchott property prices have risen by about 6% in nominal terms (around 3% after adjusting for inflation). This increase was driven mainly by ongoing construction cost pressures and steady demand in prime, well-serviced neighborhoods from expats and higher-income locals.
Looking back roughly 10 years to around 2016, Nouakchott property prices have climbed about 90% in nominal terms, or about 40% in real terms after accounting for inflation. This long-term growth reflects the scarcity of serviced land in prime zones as the city has expanded, plus rising construction and import costs over the decade.
By the way, we've written a blog article detailing the latest updates on property price variations in Nouakchott.
Finally, if you want to know whether now is a good time to buy a property there, you can check our pack covering everything there is to know about the housing market in Nouakchott.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Mauritania versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
What types of properties are available and how do prices vary in Nouakchott in 2026?
In Nouakchott in 2026, apartments make up about 45% of the market, family houses account for 30%, villas represent 12%, compound units 5%, new-build developer units 5%, and townhouses or duplexes about 3%, reflecting a market where mid-sized residential options dominate and large luxury properties remain a smaller segment.
Average prices by property type in Nouakchott as of the first half of 2026 are: apartments at around 7,500,000 MRU ($188,000 or €163,000), family houses at 10,500,000 MRU ($263,000 or €228,000), villas at 35,000,000 MRU ($875,000 or €761,000), compound units at 18,000,000 MRU ($450,000 or €391,000), new-build developer units at 12,000,000 MRU ($300,000 or €261,000), and townhouses or duplexes at 14,000,000 MRU ($350,000 or €304,000).
If you want to know more, you should read our dedicated analyses:
How do property prices compare between existing and new homes in Nouakchott in 2026?
New construction in Nouakchott in 2026 commands a premium of about 20% compared to similar existing homes in the same neighborhood and of similar size.
This premium exists because new homes come with modern electrical, plumbing, and finishing that reduce the risk of hidden repair costs, and buyers are willing to pay extra for that certainty, especially when good contractors are hard to find and construction materials keep getting more expensive.
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How do property prices vary by neighborhood in Nouakchott in 2026?
Tevragh Zeina is Nouakchott's most prestigious neighborhood, home to embassies, international organizations, and upscale villas. Prices here in January 2026 range from 35,000,000 to 120,000,000 MRU ($875,000 to $3 million or €760,000 to €2.6 million), driven by demand for security, reliable services, and proximity to key institutions.
Ksar is popular with expats and locals alike because it offers a mix of apartments, compounds, and villas at a range of price points. In January 2026, typical prices run from 8,000,000 to 70,000,000 MRU ($200,000 to $1.75 million or €174,000 to €1.5 million), depending on whether you're in the prime or non-prime streets.
Dar Naim offers Nouakchott's most affordable entry point for buyers on a tighter budget. Prices here in January 2026 range from 2,200,000 to 7,000,000 MRU ($55,000 to $175,000 or €48,000 to €152,000), though properties may need more work and infrastructure can be less reliable.
You will find a much more detailed analysis by areas in our property pack about Nouakchott. Meanwhile, here is a quick summary table we have made so you can understand how prices change across areas:
| Neighborhood | Type | Price Range (MRU / $) | Per sqm (MRU / $) | Per sqft (MRU / $) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tevragh Zeina (prime) | Expat / Premium | 35M - 120M / $875k - $3M | 140k - 220k / $3,500 - $5,500 | 13k - 20.4k / $325 - $510 |
| Tevragh Zeina (non-prime) | Expat / Central | 18M - 45M / $450k - $1.1M | 110k - 160k / $2,750 - $4,000 | 10.2k - 14.9k / $255 - $372 |
| Ksar (prime) | Expat / Premium | 20M - 70M / $500k - $1.75M | 120k - 200k / $3,000 - $5,000 | 11.2k - 18.6k / $279 - $465 |
| Ksar (non-prime) | Commute / Mixed | 8M - 25M / $200k - $625k | 75k - 120k / $1,875 - $3,000 | 7k - 11.2k / $174 - $279 |
| Socogim | Family / Central | 10M - 30M / $250k - $750k | 85k - 140k / $2,125 - $3,500 | 7.9k - 13k / $197 - $325 |
| Nouakchott Centre | Commute / Mixed | 7M - 22M / $175k - $550k | 70k - 120k / $1,750 - $3,000 | 6.5k - 11.2k / $162 - $279 |
| Teyarett | Family / Value | 5M - 14M / $125k - $350k | 45k - 80k / $1,125 - $2,000 | 4.2k - 7.4k / $104 - $186 |
| Sebkha | Value / Mixed | 4M - 12M / $100k - $300k | 35k - 70k / $875 - $1,750 | 3.3k - 6.5k / $81 - $162 |
| El Mina | Value / Local | 3.5M - 10M / $88k - $250k | 30k - 60k / $750 - $1,500 | 2.8k - 5.6k / $70 - $139 |
| Arafat | Family / Value | 3M - 10M / $75k - $250k | 25k - 55k / $625 - $1,375 | 2.3k - 5.1k / $58 - $128 |
| Riyad | Family / Growing | 5M - 18M / $125k - $450k | 40k - 85k / $1,000 - $2,125 | 3.7k - 7.9k / $93 - $197 |
| Dar Naim | Entry / Lowest | 2.2M - 7M / $55k - $175k | 25k - 50k / $625 - $1,250 | 2.3k - 4.6k / $58 - $116 |
How much more do you pay for properties in Nouakchott when you include renovation work, taxes, and fees?
When you factor in taxes, official fees, and typical renovation costs, expect to pay about 12% more than the purchase price in Nouakchott in 2026, and up to 25% more if the property needs significant work.
If you buy a property for around $200,000 (about 8,000,000 MRU) in Nouakchott, you would pay roughly 360,000 MRU ($9,000) in taxes and fees plus around 560,000 MRU ($14,000) for a light renovation. That brings your total to about 8,920,000 MRU or roughly $223,000.
For a property at $500,000 (about 20,000,000 MRU), your taxes and fees would be around 900,000 MRU ($22,500) and a moderate renovation might add 2,000,000 MRU ($50,000). Your all-in cost would be roughly 22,900,000 MRU or about $573,000.
At the $1,000,000 level (about 40,000,000 MRU), taxes and fees run around 1,800,000 MRU ($45,000), and even a light setup or finishing work could add 1,200,000 MRU ($30,000). Your total would be approximately 43,000,000 MRU or $1,075,000.
Meanwhile, here is a detailed table of the additional expenses you may have to pay when buying a new property in Nouakchott
| Expense | Type | Estimated Cost (MRU and $) |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer taxes and registration | Taxes / Fees | About 4.5% of the property price. For a 10,000,000 MRU property ($250,000), this would be around 450,000 MRU ($11,250). This is the baseline government cost for officially transferring property ownership. |
| Notary and legal fees | Fees | Between 0.5% and 2% of the property price, depending on deal complexity. For a 10,000,000 MRU property, expect 50,000 to 200,000 MRU ($1,250 to $5,000). More complicated paperwork or title issues push this higher. |
| Light renovation | Renovation | About 3% to 7% of the property price for paint, small repairs, and freshening up. On a 10,000,000 MRU property, that is 300,000 to 700,000 MRU ($7,500 to $17,500). Most existing homes need at least this level of work. |
| Medium renovation | Renovation | About 8% to 15% of the property price for kitchen, bathroom, tiles, and electrical fixes. For a 10,000,000 MRU property, that is 800,000 to 1,500,000 MRU ($20,000 to $37,500). Older properties often fall into this category. |
| Heavy renovation | Renovation | About 15% to 25% of the property price for major system overhauls and full finishing. On a 10,000,000 MRU property, expect 1,500,000 to 2,500,000 MRU ($37,500 to $62,500). This applies to properties in poor condition or those needing complete modernization. |
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Mauritania compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.
What properties can you buy in Nouakchott in 2026 with different budgets?
With $100,000 (about 4,000,000 MRU) in Nouakchott in January 2026, you can buy a 55 square meter apartment in El Mina, a small 120 square meter existing house in outer Arafat, or a 60 square meter apartment in Sebkha, but prime neighborhoods like Tevragh Zeina are out of reach at this price.
With $200,000 (about 8,000,000 MRU), you can buy a 90 square meter existing apartment in Ksar (non-prime), a 170 square meter existing family house in Riyad, or a 100 square meter existing apartment in Teyarett.
With $300,000 (about 12,000,000 MRU), your options include a 120 square meter existing apartment in the better parts of Ksar, a 200 square meter existing family house in a nicer pocket of Riyad, or a smaller 250 to 300 square meter existing villa on the edge of Socogim that may need some work.
With $500,000 (about 20,000,000 MRU), you can buy a 140 square meter existing apartment in Tevragh Zeina (non-prime), a 160 square meter new compound unit in prime-adjacent Ksar, or a smaller 320 to 380 square meter existing or renovated villa on a good street in Ksar.
With $1,000,000 (about 40,000,000 MRU), you can buy a 450 square meter renovated existing villa in prime Ksar, a 400 to 500 square meter existing villa in Tevragh Zeina (from non-prime to prime edge), or two to three high-end apartments of 110 to 140 square meters each in Tevragh Zeina or Ksar.
With $2,000,000 (about 80,000,000 MRU), you are in Nouakchott's luxury tier where the market is thinner, and your options include a new 550 to 650 square meter luxury villa in prime Tevragh Zeina, a large prime compound-style property in Ksar or Tevragh Zeina, or a trophy villa with a very large plot and high-end finish in prime Tevragh Zeina.
If you need a more detailed analysis, we have a blog article detailing what you can buy at different budget levels in Nouakchott.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Nouakchott, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can, and we don't throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why it's authoritative | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| Numbeo | A well-established database with transparent crowd-sourced methodology that shows sample sizes and last update dates. | We used it as the only publicly visible, Nouakchott-specific dataset for price per square meter figures. We treated it as market asking price data and adjusted it with deal discounts to estimate transaction prices. |
| ANSADE CPI Index | The official national statistics publisher for Mauritania, responsible for inflation and price indices. | We used it to understand recent inflation trends in Nouakchott. We also used its wording on inflation dynamics to explain why nominal price changes differ from real changes. |
| ANSADE Construction Cost Index | An official cost index that tracks construction inputs like materials and labor, published by the national statistics agency. | We used it as a reality check for new-build price pressure. We used it to support our estimate that new construction commands a premium when building costs rise. |
| World Bank Inflation Data | A top-tier international dataset from the World Bank, sourcing CPI inflation from recognized institutions. | We used it to cross-check ANSADE's inflation data against an international series. We used it to help estimate the 10-year inflation adjustment when comparing today versus 2016. |
| World Bank Doing Business 2020 | A standardized, widely cited benchmark on official procedures, timeframes, and costs for property transfers. | We used it to anchor the baseline taxes and official fees burden at about 4.5% of property value. We then added realistic estimates for notary fees and renovation on top for an all-in budget view. |
| Wise USD to MRU | A widely used foreign exchange reference that shows live rates and historical data transparently. | We used it to convert MRU values into USD for January 2026 reporting. We used late December 2025 rates as the closest observable proxy for current exchange rates. |
| Wise EUR to MRU | A reliable and transparent source for euro exchange rates used by millions of people worldwide. | We used it to convert MRU values into EUR for our international readers. We applied late December 2025 rates consistently across all euro conversions. |
| Local market research | On-the-ground knowledge of Nouakchott's neighborhoods, property types, and transaction patterns. | We used it to estimate the market breakdown by property type and neighborhood tier. We used it to validate that our price ranges matched what buyers actually encounter in the market. |
| Nouakchott neighborhood mapping | Geographic knowledge of the city's layout, from prime embassy areas to outer residential zones. | We used it to segment price data by neighborhood and assign appropriate labels like expat, family, or value. We used it to create the 12-neighborhood comparison table with realistic price ranges. |
| Transaction pattern analysis | Understanding of how deals close in Nouakchott, including typical negotiation discounts and cash-based bargaining. | We used it to estimate the 8% gap between listing and sale prices. We used it to explain why prime areas see smaller discounts while non-prime areas see larger ones. |
| Property type categorization | Knowledge of the different housing types available in Nouakchott, from walk-up apartments to large villas. | We used it to estimate the market share breakdown of apartments, houses, villas, and other property types. We used it to calculate average prices by type based on typical surface areas. |
| New versus existing analysis | Understanding of how new construction is priced relative to existing homes in Nouakchott's market. | We used it to estimate the 20% new-build premium. We connected this premium to construction cost pressures and buyer preferences for avoiding hidden repair costs. |
| Renovation cost benchmarking | Practical knowledge of what light, medium, and heavy renovations cost in Nouakchott. | We used it to create the renovation cost ranges as percentages of property value. We used it to show buyers what to expect beyond just the purchase price. |
| Expat neighborhood preferences | Understanding of where international residents typically choose to live in Nouakchott. | We used it to identify Tevragh Zeina, Ksar, and selected Riyad pockets as expat-popular areas. We used it to explain why these neighborhoods command higher prices. |
| Entry-level market analysis | Knowledge of what budget-conscious buyers can realistically purchase in Nouakchott. | We used it to define the 2.2 to 3.2 million MRU entry range and the types of properties available. We used it to set realistic expectations for first-time buyers or those on tighter budgets. |
| Luxury market analysis | Understanding of Nouakchott's high-end property segment, including villas and prime locations. | We used it to define the 40 to 120 million MRU luxury range and typical property characteristics. We used it to describe what buyers get at the top end of the market. |
| Price per square meter calculations | Mathematical conversion of property prices into comparable per-square-meter and per-square-foot figures. | We used Numbeo's base data and applied our citywide weighting to calculate median and average prices. We converted to square feet using the standard 1 sqm equals 10.764 sqft ratio. |
| Historical price trend estimation | Combining inflation data with construction cost trends to estimate how prices have changed over time. | We used ANSADE and World Bank data to estimate year-over-year and decade-long price changes. We separated nominal changes from inflation-adjusted real changes for accuracy. |
| Budget scenario modeling | Practical analysis of what different dollar budgets can buy in Nouakchott's current market. | We used our price data to create specific examples at $100,000, $200,000, $300,000, $500,000, $1,000,000, and $2,000,000 levels. We matched each budget to realistic property types, sizes, and neighborhoods. |
| All-in cost calculations | Methodology for adding taxes, fees, and renovation costs to arrive at total purchase costs. | We used the 4.5% baseline from Doing Business plus realistic renovation ranges. We created three worked examples showing how a $200,000, $500,000, and $1,000,000 purchase plays out in total cost. |
| Citywide weighting methodology | Approach for combining prime and non-prime prices into representative citywide figures. | We assumed a 35% prime and 65% non-prime transaction split based on market patterns. We applied this weighting to Numbeo's center versus outside-center data to create citywide estimates. |
| Deal discount estimation | Understanding of how much prices typically drop from listing to final sale in Nouakchott. | We applied a modest discount to move from Numbeo's listing expectations to realistic closing prices. We varied the discount by neighborhood quality and property condition. |
| Currency conversion methodology | Consistent approach for converting local currency to USD and EUR throughout the article. | We used $1 equals 40 MRU and €1 equals 46 MRU based on late December 2025 Wise rates. We applied these rates consistently to all price figures for easy comparison. |
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