Cost of Living Comparison Between Italy and BeninCost of Living Comparison Between Italy and Benin
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,718 per month in Italy vs $857 in Benin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,621 per month in Italy vs $1,277 in Benin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,524 per month in Italy vs $1,696 in Benin, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Italy is about 100% higher than in Benin on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Italy sits 29% above the global median, while Benin is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
📏The regional cost range is wider in Italy ($1,176–$2,467) than in Benin ($736–$979), so city choice matters more there.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Benin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.40
$3.50F CFA 2,007
402.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.5€72.2
$26.24F CFA 15.1K
214.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.72€10.26
$6.16F CFA 3,535
90.26%
Cappuccino
$1.92€1.68
$4.47F CFA 2,564
-57.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99€2.62
$1.00F CFA 573
199.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.19
$1.01F CFA 578
34.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.76€5.04
$1.44F CFA 829
300.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.22€4.57
$3.50F CFA 2,010
49.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Benin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69€1.48
$2.14F CFA 1,230
-21.03%
White Bread(500g)
$2.33€2.04
$1.06F CFA 611
119.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.05€2.67
$2.03F CFA 1,166
50.25%
Eggs
$3.99€3.49
$2.24F CFA 1,286
78.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.68€14.61
$9.59F CFA 5,505
73.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.57€11.01
$4.53F CFA 2,602
177.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.53€17.98
$5.56F CFA 3,190
269.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.56€2.24
$2.74F CFA 1,574
-6.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.20€1.93
$1.27F CFA 730
73.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.68€2.35
$0.95F CFA 546
182.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.37€2.95
$1.60F CFA 916
110.63%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.79
$1.12F CFA 642
82.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88€1.65
$1.15F CFA 660
63.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.29
$0.68F CFA 392
116.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54€0.47
$1.13F CFA 648
-52.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.00€6.13
$1.04F CFA 596
573.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.09€6.21
$4.45F CFA 2,556
59.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80€1.58
$1.02F CFA 588
76.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51€2.20
$1.66F CFA 953
51.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Benin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.96€1.72
$1.74F CFA 1,001
12.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.58€36.42
$7.85F CFA 4,507
429.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.80€5.08
$1.55F CFA 888
274.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60€1.40
$1.57F CFA 899
1.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.07€30.71
$1.78F CFA 1,023
1870.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13€1.87
$1.09F CFA 625
95.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K€28.5K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K€29.6K
$24.9KF CFA 14.3M
35.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Benin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$225€197
$172F CFA 98.8K
30.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.14€11.51
$28.35F CFA 16.3K
-53.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.19€27.31
$62.2F CFA 35.7K
-49.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Benin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.2€50.1
$43.12F CFA 24.8K
32.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.85€22.64
$5.24F CFA 3,009
393.32%
Cinema Ticket
$10.34€9.05
$6.30F CFA 3,616
64.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Benin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$564€494
$186F CFA 106.7K
203.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3K€9,057
$6,423F CFA 3.7M
60.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Benin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.9€80.5
$17.59F CFA 10.1K
422.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.54€35.51
$8.75F CFA 5,021
363.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.2€86.0
$17.83F CFA 10.2K
450.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132€116
$40.46F CFA 23.2K
226.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Benin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$855€749
$189F CFA 108.6K
351.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663€581
$144F CFA 82.6K
361.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,522€1,333
$524F CFA 301.0K
190.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,089€954
$310F CFA 177.8K
251.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,747€3,282
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,299€2,013
$2,579F CFA 1.5M
-10.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Benin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,897€1,661
$269F CFA 154.3K
605.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.41
5
-11.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Italy: July 11, 2026
Last update for Benin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Average salary: $1,912 in Italy vs $130 in Benin. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 382% higher in Italy.
⭐Dining out costs 185% more in Italy.
⭐Public transport is 1000% more expensive in Italy.
⭐Salaries are 1371% higher in Italy, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Italy.
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
Italy vs Benin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Benin and Italy compare in cost of living?
Benin is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 112% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
How do rents compare between Benin and Italy?
Housing costs more in Italy, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Italy consistently has higher rents.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Benin or Italy?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Benin, contributing to the overall 112% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
How far does $1,200 go in Benin compared to Italy?
$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Benin, but in Italy it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in Benin and in Italy?
Benin is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.