For one person, living is cheaper in Benin: $814 a month against $1,775 in Spain, rent and utilities included – about $11,500 less a year. Rent and utilities 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 Spain actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $814 per month in Benin vs $1,775 in Spain, rent included.
Benin $814
Spain $1,775
A couple spends around $1,313 per month in Benin vs $2,606 in Spain, rent included.
Benin $1,313
Spain $2,606
A family of three spends $1,812 per month in Benin vs $3,438 in Spain, rent included.
Benin $1,812
Spain $3,438
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Spain ($931–$2,610) than in Benin ($712–$897), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Benin is roughly 54% lower than in Spain on average.
📊
Benin sits 40% below the global median, while Spain is 30% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Benin
Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.09F CFA 2,975
$16.69€14.89
-69.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.52F CFA 20.8K
$55.7€49.69
-36.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.34F CFA 5,465
$11.37€10.14
-17.85%
Cappuccino
$5.26F CFA 3,076
$2.42€2.16
117.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22F CFA 712
$2.68€2.39
-54.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33F CFA 780
$1.79€1.60
-25.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.81F CFA 474
$3.42€3.06
-76.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89F CFA 2,278
$3.88€3.46
0.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Benin
Spain
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26F CFA 1,321
$1.20€1.07
88.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.82F CFA 481
$1.48€1.32
-44.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84F CFA 1,073
$1.67€1.49
10.18%
Eggs
$2.15F CFA 1,257
$3.42€3.05
-37.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.52F CFA 4,401
$14.17€12.64
-46.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.51F CFA 2,639
$8.33€7.43
-45.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.39F CFA 3,151
$16.20€14.46
-66.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.94F CFA 1,721
$2.45€2.19
20.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.20F CFA 702
$2.03€1.81
-40.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.21F CFA 705
$2.08€1.85
-41.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46F CFA 1,436
$2.58€2.30
-4.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.31F CFA 764
$1.83€1.63
-28.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18F CFA 691
$2.00€1.79
-41.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.46F CFA 269
$1.31€1.17
-64.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86F CFA 501
$0.77€0.69
11.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.95F CFA 1,141
$6.36€5.68
-69.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.16F CFA 2,433
$5.64€5.03
-26.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21F CFA 705
$1.30€1.16
-6.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75F CFA 1,023
$2.09€1.86
-16.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Benin
Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.27F CFA 742
$1.64€1.47
-22.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.59F CFA 4,440
$32.91€29.36
-76.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.55F CFA 908
$4.43€3.95
-65.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54F CFA 901
$1.47€1.31
4.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$24.98€22.29
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24F CFA 723
$1.77€1.58
-29.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$35.5K€31.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9KF CFA 14.0M
$30.6K€27.3K
-22.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Benin
Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$147F CFA 86.2K
$149€133
-1.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.46F CFA 18.4K
$17.67€15.77
78.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.1F CFA 31.7K
$31.88€28.44
69.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Benin
Spain
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.80F CFA 22.7K
$44.24€39.47
-12.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.13F CFA 2,418
$15.29€13.64
-72.99%
Cinema Ticket
$8.57F CFA 5,011
$9.66€8.62
-11.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Benin
Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$131F CFA 76.7K
$544€486
-75.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,539F CFA 3.2M
$10.6K€9,463
-47.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Benin
Spain
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.47F CFA 12.6K
$84.9€75.8
-74.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.30F CFA 4,856
$37.11€33.11
-77.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$29.84F CFA 17.5K
$89.2€79.6
-66.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.68F CFA 27.9K
$106€94.3
-54.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Benin
Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$118F CFA 69.0K
$1,056€943
-88.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$117F CFA 68.7K
$808€721
-85.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$406F CFA 237.6K
$1,621€1,446
-74.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$370F CFA 216.7K
$1,246€1,112
-70.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,135€3,690
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,595F CFA 1.5M
$2,633€2,349
-1.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Benin
Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$280F CFA 164.0K
$1,999€1,784
-85.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
3.3
21.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Benin: October 26, 2026
Last update for Spain: October 24, 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%
Spain
$199 11.2% ↓ 14.6%$34
🛒Groceries & Markets
Benin
$183 22.5%
Spain
$272 15.3% ↑ 48.2%$88
🍽Eating Out
Benin
$154 18.9%
Spain
$239 13.5% ↑ 55.6%$86
🏠Accommodation & Living
Benin
$117 14.4%
Spain
$808 45.5% ↑ 588%$690
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Benin
$56 6.9%
Spain
$64 3.6% ↑ 13.6%$7.6
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Benin
$48 5.9%
Spain
$143 8% ↑ 195%$94
🚌Getting Around
Benin
$22 2.7%
Spain
$51 2.9% ↑ 134%$29
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Benin
$264 14.6%
Spain
$217 6.3% ↓ 18.1%$48
🛒Groceries & Markets
Benin
$428 23.6%
Spain
$646 18.8% ↑ 50.9%$218
🍽Eating Out
Benin
$479 26.5%
Spain
$763 22.2% ↑ 59.2%$284
🏠Accommodation & Living
Benin
$370 20.4%
Spain
$1.2K 36.3% ↑ 236%$876
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Benin
$116 6.4%
Spain
$142 4.1% ↑ 22.8%$26
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Benin
$107 5.9%
Spain
$317 9.2% ↑ 195%$210
🚌Getting Around
Benin
$46 2.6%
Spain
$106 3.1% ↑ 128%$59
Cost Breakdown
💰Average salary: $168 in Benin vs $1,972 in Spain. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 576% higher in Spain.
⭐Dining out costs 84% more in Spain.
⭐Public transport is 288% more expensive in Spain.
⭐Salaries are about 12 times higher in Spain, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Spain.
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 Spain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Benin and Spain compare in cost of living?
Benin is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 54% lower on average.
How do rents compare between Benin and Spain?
Housing costs more in Spain: a central one-bedroom averages $920 versus $136 in Benin.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Benin or Spain?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Benin – part of why living there is about 54% cheaper overall.
How far does $1,200 go in Benin compared to Spain?
$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Benin, but in Spain it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in Benin and in Spain?
Benin is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.