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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Cotonou costs about 27% more than Abomey-Calavi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.34 F CFA 3,052

$5.55 F CFA 3,174

-3.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.50 F CFA 20.9K

$26.00 F CFA 14.9K

40.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 F CFA 5,668

$8.13 F CFA 4,647

22.02%

Cappuccino

$5.12 F CFA 2,927

$4.89 F CFA 2,793

4.70%

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

$1.05 F CFA 599

$1.12 F CFA 638

-6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 F CFA 519

$1.75 F CFA 998

-48.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.86 F CFA 491

$1.81 F CFA 1,034

-52.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 F CFA 1,538

$5.25 F CFA 3,002

-48.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.17 F CFA 1,814

$2.16 F CFA 1,237

46.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 F CFA 731

$0.25 F CFA 142

412.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 F CFA 1,074

$2.07 F CFA 1,184

-9.18%

Eggs

$2.81 F CFA 1,605

$2.06 F CFA 1,177

36.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.66 F CFA 5,522

$3.55 F CFA 2,027

172.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.66 F CFA 3,232

$3.86 F CFA 2,207

46.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.19 F CFA 2,963

$6.14 F CFA 3,511

-15.47%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 F CFA 2,466

$2.16 F CFA 1,233

100.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 F CFA 1,105

$0.92 F CFA 526

109.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.34 F CFA 764

$0.67 F CFA 382

100.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.78 F CFA 1,590

$2.05 F CFA 1,173

35.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 F CFA 741

$0.94 F CFA 536

38.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 F CFA 1,031

$0.82 F CFA 468

119.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 F CFA 257

$0.67 F CFA 383

-32.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 F CFA 663

$0.90 F CFA 515

28.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 F CFA 1,963

$0.42 F CFA 243

719.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.29 F CFA 2,451

$11.05 F CFA 6,317

-61.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 F CFA 695

$0.99 F CFA 567

23.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 F CFA 1,079

$1.17 F CFA 667

61.54%

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)

$1.38 F CFA 788

$1.74 F CFA 992

-20.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 F CFA 821

$1.75 F CFA 998

-17.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 F CFA 701

$1.24 F CFA 709

-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)

$151 F CFA 86.1K

$121 F CFA 69.4K

23.99%

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

$35.44 F CFA 20.2K

$20.29 F CFA 11.6K

74.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.28 F CFA 28.2K

$89.5 F CFA 51.1K

-44.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.48 F CFA 28.3K

$35.48 F CFA 20.3K

39.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.54 F CFA 2,025

$5.25 F CFA 3,001

-32.57%

Cinema Ticket

$8.86 F CFA 5,061

$6.12 F CFA 3,497

44.77%

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)

$25.92 F CFA 14.8K

$17.53 F CFA 10.0K

47.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.88 F CFA 5,075

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$34.87 F CFA 19.9K

$26.47 F CFA 15.1K

31.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 F CFA 40.3K

$26.31 F CFA 15.0K

168.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$182 F CFA 103.9K

$103 F CFA 59.0K

76.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 F CFA 99.8K

$76.1 F CFA 43.5K

129.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$614 F CFA 351.0K

$220 F CFA 125.5K

179.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 F CFA 245.2K

$283 F CFA 161.6K

51.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$261 F CFA 149.2K

$89.3 F CFA 51.0K

192.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Cotonou: September 13, 2026

Last update for Abomey-Calavi: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $182 in Cotonou versus $103 in Abomey-Calavi. 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 $37.00 in Cotonou versus $26.00 in Abomey-Calavi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $230 vs $166 – 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

Cotonou vs Abomey-Calavi: 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 $1,418 per month in Cotonou and $1,116 in Abomey-Calavi. 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 $37.00 in Cotonou and $26.00 in Abomey-Calavi. 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 $946 in Cotonou and $744 in Abomey-Calavi, 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.