Africa · drilling prices
Borehole drilling cost in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Zimbabwe (2026)
Drillers across Africa publish price lists, but each covers different depths, rock and extras. We put the 2025–2026 figures from four countries side by side and turned them into the same 60 m borehole.
By Borehole Payback · updated 24 October 2026
What our numbers show
Our comparison of drillers' and cost guides' published prices, 2025–2026
- Per metre, the dearest published rate is 3.3 times the cheapest in Kenya, 3.1 in Ghana, 2.6 in Nigeria and 2.2 in Zimbabwe. Rock type explains much of it: hard rock in Abuja or Ghana's basement complex costs far more per metre than soft ground in Lagos or the Volta Basin.
- For the same 60 m borehole that means KSh 180 000 to KSh 600 000 of drilling in Kenya and ₦ 2 100 000 to ₦ 5 400 000 in Nigeria, before the pump. Many 'complete system' prices describe shallower holes, so check the depth behind any headline figure.
- The pump choice is the second big number. In Kenya an electric pump installation is quoted at KSh 120 000–250 000, a solar system at KSh 250 000–600 000: solar roughly doubles that part of the bill.
- The same spread exists in South Africa, where published rates run from about R300 to R1 500 per metre. Asking three drillers for a per-metre quote with casing is the cheapest way to cut the price.
| Kenya | 3.3× between quotes | |
| Ghana | 3.1× between quotes | |
| Nigeria | 2.6× between quotes | |
| Zimbabwe | 2.2× between quotes |
Dearest published rate per metre divided by the cheapest, 2025–2026, in local currency.
Four countries side by side
| Country | Published per metre | Dearest ÷ cheapest | 60 m of drilling | Complete system |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya | KSh 3 000–10 000 | 3.3× | KSh 180 000–600 000 | KSh 400 000–2 500 000 (standard 60–120 m residential to 150–180 m deep, as quoted) |
| Nigeria | ₦ 35 000–90 000 | 2.6× | ₦ 2 100 000–5 400 000 | ₦ 900 000–4 500 000 (shallow Lagos to hard rock in Abuja) |
| Ghana | GH₵ 800–2 500 | 3.1× | GH₵ 48 000–150 000 | GH₵ 13 000–180 000 (shallow drilling with pump to deep hard-rock boreholes in Ashanti) |
| Zimbabwe | US$ 38–85 | 2.2× | US$ 2 280–5 100 | US$ 6 500–22 000 (complete installed system) |
Published 2025–2026 rates from drillers, builders and cost guides in each country, in local currency, as compiled for this page. "60 m of drilling" multiplies the cheapest and dearest per-metre rate by 60 m. Complete-system ranges are as published and cover the depths stated.
Rock and region
- Nigeria: about ₦35 000–60 000 per metre in Lagos and the south-west, ₦55 000–90 000 around Abuja's hard rock.
- Ghana: about GH₵800–1 600 per metre in the sedimentary Volta Basin, GH₵1 200–2 500 in basement rock.
- Kenya: Nairobi's phonolite is quoted at KSh 8 000–10 000 per metre, the coast at KSh 6 000–8 000; mud drilling costs far more than air drilling.
- Zimbabwe: US$38–85 per metre, and Harare packages of about US$900–1 050 for the first 40 m with Class 6 casing.
How to compare quotes
- Ask for a price per metre with casing, and the expected depth.
- Price the pump, rising main, cabling and tank separately: they are a third or more of the total.
- Ask whether a siting survey and a yield test are included, and what happens if the hole is dry.
For South Africa, see what a borehole costs and whether it pays for itself in your metro.
Questions owners ask
How much does it cost to drill a borehole in Kenya?
Published 2025–2026 rates run from KSh 3 000 to KSh 10 000 per metre depending on rock and region; complete residential boreholes are quoted at KSh 400 000–2 500 000.
How much is a borehole in Nigeria?
From ₦ 35 000 per metre in soft ground around Lagos to ₦ 90 000 in hard rock around Abuja; complete systems at ₦ 900 000–4 500 000.
Why do borehole quotes differ so much?
Depth, rock, casing, the pump and whether a yield test and siting survey are included. Compare quotes per metre with casing, and the pump separately.
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