Cost of Living Comparison Between Abomey-Calavi and Cotonou Cost of Living Comparison Between Abomey-Calavi and Cotonou

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $744 per month in Abomey-Calavi vs $946 in Cotonou, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,164 per month in Abomey-Calavi vs $1,477 in Cotonou, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,584 per month in Abomey-Calavi vs $2,009 in Cotonou, rent included.

Abomey-Calavi is about 21% cheaper than Cotonou, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Abomey-Calavi and Cotonou are more affordable than the global median – Abomey-Calavi 46% lower, Cotonou 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.55 F CFA 3,174

$5.34 F CFA 3,052

3.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.00 F CFA 14.9K

$36.50 F CFA 20.9K

-28.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.13 F CFA 4,647

$9.92 F CFA 5,668

-18.04%

Cappuccino

$4.89 F CFA 2,793

$5.12 F CFA 2,927

-4.49%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 F CFA 638

$1.05 F CFA 599

6.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 F CFA 998

$0.91 F CFA 519

92.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 F CFA 1,034

$0.86 F CFA 491

110.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.25 F CFA 3,002

$2.69 F CFA 1,538

95.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.16 F CFA 1,237

$3.17 F CFA 1,814

-31.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.25 F CFA 142

$1.28 F CFA 731

-80.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 F CFA 1,184

$1.88 F CFA 1,074

10.11%

Eggs

$2.06 F CFA 1,177

$2.81 F CFA 1,605

-26.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.55 F CFA 2,027

$9.66 F CFA 5,522

-63.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.86 F CFA 2,207

$5.66 F CFA 3,232

-31.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.14 F CFA 3,511

$5.19 F CFA 2,963

18.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 F CFA 1,233

$4.32 F CFA 2,466

-50.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 F CFA 526

$1.93 F CFA 1,105

-52.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 F CFA 382

$1.34 F CFA 764

-50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.05 F CFA 1,173

$2.78 F CFA 1,590

-26.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 F CFA 536

$1.30 F CFA 741

-27.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.82 F CFA 468

$1.80 F CFA 1,031

-54.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 F CFA 383

$0.45 F CFA 257

48.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 F CFA 515

$1.16 F CFA 663

-22.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.42 F CFA 243

$3.44 F CFA 1,963

-87.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.05 F CFA 6,317

$4.29 F CFA 2,451

157.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 F CFA 567

$1.22 F CFA 695

-18.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 F CFA 667

$1.89 F CFA 1,079

-38.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 F CFA 776

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.69 F CFA 4,396

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 F CFA 992

$1.38 F CFA 788

26.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 F CFA 998

$1.44 F CFA 821

21.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 F CFA 709

$1.23 F CFA 701

0.81%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.1K F CFA 14.3M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$121 F CFA 69.4K

$151 F CFA 86.1K

-19.35%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.29 F CFA 11.6K

$35.44 F CFA 20.2K

-42.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$89.5 F CFA 51.1K

$49.28 F CFA 28.2K

81.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.48 F CFA 20.3K

$49.48 F CFA 28.3K

-28.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.25 F CFA 3,001

$3.54 F CFA 2,025

48.31%

Cinema Ticket

$6.12 F CFA 3,497

$8.86 F CFA 5,061

-30.93%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$137 F CFA 78.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,660 F CFA 3.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.53 F CFA 10.0K

$25.92 F CFA 14.8K

-32.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.88 F CFA 5,075

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.47 F CFA 15.1K

$34.87 F CFA 19.9K

-24.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.31 F CFA 15.0K

$70.6 F CFA 40.3K

-62.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$103 F CFA 59.0K

$182 F CFA 103.9K

-43.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.1 F CFA 43.5K

$175 F CFA 99.8K

-56.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$220 F CFA 125.5K

$614 F CFA 351.0K

-64.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 F CFA 161.6K

$429 F CFA 245.2K

-34.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$89.3 F CFA 51.0K

$261 F CFA 149.2K

-65.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Abomey-Calavi: September 12, 2026

Last update for Cotonou: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $103 in Abomey-Calavi versus $182 in Cotonou. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 192% higher in Cotonou, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Abomey-Calavi versus $37.00 in Cotonou. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $230 – making Abomey-Calavi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Abomey-Calavi vs Cotonou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cotonou is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,116 per month in Abomey-Calavi and $1,418 in Cotonou. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Abomey-Calavi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 39% more in Cotonou, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Abomey-Calavi and $37.00 in Cotonou. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $744 in Abomey-Calavi and $946 in Cotonou, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Abomey-Calavi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Abomey-Calavi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cotonou makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.