Cost of Living Comparison Between Benin and South Africa Cost of Living Comparison Between Benin and South Africa

🙂 Solo nomad: Benin is 9.4% cheaper than South Africa without rent, and 22.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Benin is 15.3% cheaper than South Africa without rent, and 27.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Benin
South Africa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.59 F CFA 2,030
$9.05 R 161
-60.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.8 F CFA 15.2K
$38.84 R 691
-31.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.23 F CFA 3,524
$4.9 R 87.1
27.14%
Cappuccino
$4.64 F CFA 2,624
$1.98 R 35.28
134.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1 F CFA 563
$0.96 R 17.06
4.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 F CFA 574
$0.75 R 13.31
34.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 F CFA 810
$2.18 R 38.72
-34.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.5 F CFA 1,979
$2.54 R 45.1
37.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Benin
South Africa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 F CFA 1,207
$1.1 R 19.58
93.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.05 F CFA 597
$1.03 R 18.32
1.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.95 F CFA 1,106
$1.56 R 27.71
25.00%
Eggs
$2.23 F CFA 1,263
$2.25 R 39.93
-0.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.23 F CFA 5,224
$7.67 R 136
20.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.7 F CFA 2,658
$4.62 R 82.2
1.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.42 F CFA 3,068
$6.86 R 122
-20.99%
Apples (1kg)
$2.69 F CFA 1,520
$1.58 R 28.02
70.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 F CFA 714
$1.42 R 25.3
-11.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.93 F CFA 528
$1.44 R 25.58
-35.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 F CFA 870
$1.49 R 26.5
3.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 F CFA 652
$1.25 R 22.16
-8.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.1 F CFA 621
$1.34 R 23.81
-17.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 F CFA 367
$1.09 R 19.31
-40.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 F CFA 617
$0.96 R 17.15
13.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.08 F CFA 609
$2.9 R 51.6
-62.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.61 F CFA 3,740
$5.07 R 90.3
30.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 F CFA 588
$1.38 R 24.49
-24.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 F CFA 966
$1.68 R 29.79
1.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Benin
South Africa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.74 F CFA 987
$1.71 R 30.47
1.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.56 F CFA 4,279
$45.01 R 801
-83.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.62 F CFA 919
$1.1 R 19.61
47.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 F CFA 868
$1.09 R 19.41
40.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.73 F CFA 980
$4.8 R 85.3
-63.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 F CFA 588
$1.31 R 23.23
-20.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21K R 374.2K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K F CFA 14.1M
$23.7K R 421.3K
4.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Benin
South Africa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 F CFA 96.7K
$113 R 2,009
51.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.16 F CFA 15.9K
$33.11 R 589
-14.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.4 F CFA 35.9K
$41.49 R 738
52.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Benin
South Africa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.77 F CFA 23.6K
$31.69 R 564
31.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.34 F CFA 3,020
$9.45 R 168
-43.49%
Cinema Ticket
$6.02 F CFA 3,409
$6.7 R 119
-10.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Benin
South Africa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$184 F CFA 104.4K
$186 R 3,303
-0.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,360 F CFA 3.6M
$4,336 R 77.1K
46.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Benin
South Africa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.75 F CFA 10K
$48.56 R 864
-63.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.97 F CFA 5,079
$30.74 R 547
-70.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$17.3 F CFA 9,792
$92 R 1,636
-81.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.73 F CFA 23.1K
$79.6 R 1,415
-48.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Benin
South Africa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$190 F CFA 107.5K
$442 R 7,860
-57.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$139 F CFA 78.4K
$370 R 6,579
-62.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$539 F CFA 304.8K
$880 R 15.7K
-38.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$300 F CFA 169.8K
$724 R 12.9K
-58.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,021 R 18.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,627 F CFA 1.5M
$803 R 14.3K
227.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Benin
South Africa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$239 F CFA 135.4K
$1,406 R 25K
-82.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
11.55
-56.71%

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

Last update for Benin: October 29, 2025

Last update for South Africa: October 29, 2025

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