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 India and in Benin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $399 per month in India vs $814 in Benin, rent included.
India $399
Benin $814
A couple spends around $639 per month in India vs $1,313 in Benin, rent included.
India $639
Benin $1,313
A family of three spends $879 per month in India vs $1,812 in Benin, rent included.
India $879
Benin $1,812
📏
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 India is roughly 51% lower than in Benin on average.
📊
Both India and Benin are more affordable than the global median – India 71% lower, Benin 40% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
India
Benin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14₹203
$5.09F CFA 2,975
-57.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.46₹993
$35.52F CFA 20.8K
-70.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.80₹360
$9.34F CFA 5,465
-59.31%
Cappuccino
$1.68₹159
$5.26F CFA 3,076
-68.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38₹35.91
$1.22F CFA 712
-68.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15₹14.57
$1.33F CFA 780
-88.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.87₹177
$0.81F CFA 474
130.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18₹302
$3.89F CFA 2,278
-18.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Benin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.62₹59.1
$2.26F CFA 1,321
-72.57%
White Bread(500g)
$0.50₹47.66
$0.82F CFA 481
-39.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.63₹60.2
$1.84F CFA 1,073
-65.76%
Eggs
$0.96₹91.1
$2.15F CFA 1,257
-55.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.85₹460
$7.52F CFA 4,401
-35.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.84₹270
$4.51F CFA 2,639
-37.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$5.39F CFA 3,151
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.00₹190
$2.94F CFA 1,721
-31.97%
Banana(1kg)
$0.65₹61.3
$1.20F CFA 702
-45.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.97₹92.1
$1.21F CFA 705
-19.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47₹44.21
$2.46F CFA 1,436
-80.89%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34₹31.81
$1.31F CFA 764
-74.05%
Onion(1kg)
$0.42₹39.64
$1.18F CFA 691
-64.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47₹44.30
$0.46F CFA 269
2.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31₹29.61
$0.86F CFA 501
-63.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.08₹482
$1.95F CFA 1,141
160.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.31₹693
$4.16F CFA 2,433
75.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63₹154
$1.21F CFA 705
34.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76₹262
$1.75F CFA 1,023
57.71%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.11₹485
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Benin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26₹24.80
$1.27F CFA 742
-79.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.58₹814
$7.59F CFA 4,440
13.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.00₹94.5
$1.55F CFA 908
-35.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27₹25.68
$1.54F CFA 901
-82.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.54₹146
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07₹102
$1.24F CFA 723
-13.71%
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)
$20.1K₹1.9M
$23.9KF CFA 14.0M
-15.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Benin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$37.08₹3,519
$147F CFA 86.2K
-74.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.58₹340
$31.46F CFA 18.4K
-88.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.15₹678
$54.1F CFA 31.7K
-86.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Benin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.00₹1,424
$38.80F CFA 22.7K
-61.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.17₹680
$4.13F CFA 2,418
73.61%
Cinema Ticket
$3.20₹303
$8.57F CFA 5,011
-62.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Benin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$58.8₹5,580
$131F CFA 76.7K
-55.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,667₹158.2K
$5,539F CFA 3.2M
-69.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Benin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.03₹2,186
$21.47F CFA 12.6K
7.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.17₹2,294
$8.30F CFA 4,856
191.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.20₹3,910
$29.84F CFA 17.5K
38.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.62₹2,811
$47.68F CFA 27.9K
-37.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Benin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$146₹13.9K
$118F CFA 69.0K
24.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$96.4₹9,145
$117F CFA 68.7K
-17.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$343₹32.5K
$406F CFA 237.6K
-15.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$234₹22.2K
$370F CFA 216.7K
-36.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,177₹111.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$633₹60.1K
$2,595F CFA 1.5M
-75.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Benin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$409₹38.8K
$280F CFA 164.0K
45.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.93
4
123.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for India: October 25, 2026
Last update for Benin: October 26, 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.
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$102 25.6%
Benin
$183 22.5% ↑ 79.4%$81
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$96 24.1%
Benin
$117 14.4% ↑ 21.8%$21
🍽Eating Out
India
$67 16.7%
Benin
$154 18.9% ↑ 131%$87
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$53 13.3%
Benin
$48 5.9% ↓ 9.1%$4.8
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$48 12%
Benin
$233 28.6% ↑ 387%$185
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$21 5.4%
Benin
$56 6.9% ↑ 162%$35
🚌Getting Around
India
$12 3%
Benin
$22 2.7% ↑ 83%$9.9
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$220 25.1%
Benin
$428 23.6% ↑ 94.3%$208
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$234 26.6%
Benin
$370 20.4% ↑ 58.4%$137
🍽Eating Out
India
$181 20.6%
Benin
$479 26.5% ↑ 165%$298
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$118 13.4%
Benin
$107 5.9% ↓ 9.1%$11
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$51 5.9%
Benin
$264 14.6% ↑ 414%$213
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$50 5.7%
Benin
$116 6.4% ↑ 132%$66
🚌Getting Around
India
$24 2.8%
Benin
$46 2.6% ↑ 89.5%$22
Cost Breakdown
💰Average salary: $412 in India vs $168 in Benin. 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
India vs Benin: 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.