For one person, living is cheaper in India: $399 a month against $814 in Benin, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Benin and in India actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $814 per month in Benin vs $399 in India, rent included.
Benin $814
India $399
A couple spends around $1,313 per month in Benin vs $639 in India, rent included.
Benin $1,313
India $639
A family of three spends $1,812 per month in Benin vs $879 in India, rent included.
Benin $1,812
India $879
📏
The regional cost range is wider in India ($230–$813) than in Benin ($712–$897), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Benin is about 104% higher than in India on average.
📊
Both Benin and India are more affordable than the global median – Benin 40% lower, India 71% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Benin
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.09F CFA 2,988
$2.14₹203
137.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.52F CFA 20.9K
$10.46₹993
239.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.34F CFA 5,489
$3.80₹361
145.79%
Cappuccino
$5.26F CFA 3,090
$1.68₹159
213.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22F CFA 715
$0.38₹35.93
221.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33F CFA 784
$0.15₹14.58
786.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.81F CFA 476
$1.87₹177
-56.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89F CFA 2,288
$3.18₹302
22.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Benin
India
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26F CFA 1,327
$0.62₹59.1
264.52%
White Bread(500g)
$0.82F CFA 483
$0.50₹47.68
64.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84F CFA 1,078
$0.63₹60.2
192.06%
Eggs
$2.15F CFA 1,262
$0.96₹91.1
123.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.52F CFA 4,420
$4.85₹460
55.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.51F CFA 2,651
$2.84₹270
58.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.39F CFA 3,164
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.94F CFA 1,729
$2.00₹190
47.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.20F CFA 705
$0.65₹61.3
84.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.21F CFA 708
$0.97₹92.1
24.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46F CFA 1,442
$0.47₹44.22
423.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.31F CFA 767
$0.34₹31.82
285.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18F CFA 694
$0.42₹39.66
180.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.46F CFA 270
$0.47₹44.32
-2.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86F CFA 503
$0.31₹29.62
177.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.95F CFA 1,146
$5.08₹482
-61.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.16F CFA 2,444
$7.31₹694
-43.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21F CFA 708
$1.63₹154
-25.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75F CFA 1,028
$2.76₹262
-36.59%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.11₹485
-
🚌 Getting Around
Benin
India
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.27F CFA 745
$0.26₹24.81
388.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.59F CFA 4,460
$8.58₹815
-11.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.55F CFA 912
$1.00₹94.5
55.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54F CFA 905
$0.27₹25.69
470.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.54₹146
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24F CFA 726
$1.07₹102
15.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$11.2K₹1.1M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9KF CFA 14.0M
$20.1K₹1.9M
19.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Benin
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$147F CFA 86.5K
$37.08₹3,521
297.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.46F CFA 18.5K
$3.58₹340
778.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.1F CFA 31.8K
$7.15₹679
656.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Benin
India
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.80F CFA 22.8K
$15.00₹1,424
158.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.13F CFA 2,429
$7.17₹681
-42.40%
Cinema Ticket
$8.57F CFA 5,033
$3.20₹303
167.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Benin
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$131F CFA 77.0K
$58.8₹5,583
122.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,539F CFA 3.3M
$1,667₹158.2K
232.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Benin
India
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.47F CFA 12.6K
$23.03₹2,187
-6.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.30F CFA 4,877
$24.17₹2,295
-65.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$29.84F CFA 17.5K
$41.20₹3,911
-27.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.68F CFA 28.0K
$29.62₹2,812
60.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Benin
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$118F CFA 69.3K
$146₹13.9K
-19.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$117F CFA 69.0K
$96.4₹9,149
21.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$406F CFA 238.7K
$343₹32.6K
18.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$370F CFA 217.6K
$234₹22.2K
58.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,177₹111.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,595F CFA 1.5M
$633₹60.1K
309.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Benin
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$280F CFA 164.7K
$409₹38.8K
-31.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
8.93
-55.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Benin: October 26, 2026
Last update for India: October 25, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Benin
$233 28.6%
India
$48 12% ↓ 79.5%$185
🛒Groceries & Markets
Benin
$183 22.5%
India
$102 25.6% ↓ 44.3%$81
🍽Eating Out
Benin
$154 18.9%
India
$67 16.7% ↓ 56.8%$87
🏠Accommodation & Living
Benin
$117 14.4%
India
$96 24.1% ↓ 17.9%$21
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Benin
$56 6.9%
India
$21 5.4% ↓ 61.8%$35
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Benin
$48 5.9%
India
$53 13.3% ↑ 10%$4.8
🚌Getting Around
Benin
$22 2.7%
India
$12 3% ↓ 45.3%$9.9
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Benin
$264 14.6%
India
$51 5.9% ↓ 80.6%$213
🛒Groceries & Markets
Benin
$428 23.6%
India
$220 25.1% ↓ 48.5%$208
🍽Eating Out
Benin
$479 26.5%
India
$181 20.6% ↓ 62.2%$298
🏠Accommodation & Living
Benin
$370 20.4%
India
$234 26.6% ↓ 36.9%$137
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Benin
$116 6.4%
India
$50 5.7% ↓ 56.9%$66
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Benin
$107 5.9%
India
$118 13.4% ↑ 10%$11
🚌Getting Around
Benin
$46 2.6%
India
$24 2.8% ↓ 47.2%$22
Cost Breakdown
💰Average salary: $168 in Benin vs $412 in India. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 13% higher in Benin.
⭐Dining out costs 182% more in Benin.
⭐Salaries are about 2.5 times higher in India, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Benin vs India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Benin and India compare in cost of living?
India is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 51% lower on average.
How do rents compare between Benin and India?
Housing costs more in Benin: a central one-bedroom averages $136 versus $120 in India.
How do I choose between living in Benin and in India?
India is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.