Cost of Living Comparison Between Kpalime and Lome Cost of Living Comparison Between Kpalime and Lome

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $131 in Kpalime versus $1,049 in Lome.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $248 in Kpalime versus $1,501 in Lome.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $366 in Kpalime versus $1,954 in Lome.

Living in Kpalime costs roughly 88% less than in Lome, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kpalime 90% lower, Lome 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.17 F CFA 1,248

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.09 F CFA 18.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.16 F CFA 2,964

Cappuccino

$5.62 F CFA 3,229

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

$3.46 F CFA 1,984

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 F CFA 636

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.86 F CFA 493

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 F CFA 1,034

Milk (1 liter)

$2.42 F CFA 1,390

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 F CFA 513

$1.31 F CFA 751

-32.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 F CFA 1,037

Eggs

$2.06 F CFA 1,186

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.16 F CFA 8,128

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.21 F CFA 4,711

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.37 F CFA 5,381

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 F CFA 1,532

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 F CFA 819

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 F CFA 1,506

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 F CFA 1,447

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 F CFA 1,033

Onion (1kg)

$1.75 F CFA 1,004

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 F CFA 313

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 F CFA 497

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.43 F CFA 821

Wine (Bottle)

$4.66 F CFA 2,676

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 F CFA 794

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 F CFA 901

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 F CFA 194

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 F CFA 30.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 F CFA 1,173

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 F CFA 421

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 F CFA 3,008

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 F CFA 720

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$14.1K F CFA 8.1M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.8K F CFA 14.8M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$178 F CFA 102.4K

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

$21.67 F CFA 12.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.41 F CFA 24.9K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.00 F CFA 28.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.73 F CFA 5,013

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 F CFA 2,465

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$173 F CFA 99.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,151 F CFA 3.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.78 F CFA 14.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.41 F CFA 15.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.82 F CFA 23.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.1 F CFA 55.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 F CFA 152.1K

$363 F CFA 208.6K

-27.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$124 F CFA 70.9K

$221 F CFA 126.6K

-44.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$444 F CFA 254.7K

$757 F CFA 434.6K

-41.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 F CFA 203.3K

$302 F CFA 173.4K

17.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$261 F CFA 149.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Kpalime: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lome: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $265 in Kpalime and $363 in Lome. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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

Kpalime vs Lome: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kpalime is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 704% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $196 in Kpalime and $1,574 in Lome to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $265 in Kpalime versus $363 in Lome. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2699% higher in Lome. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $131 per month in Kpalime versus $1,049 in Lome – a 704% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $131 in Kpalime versus $1,049 in Lome, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kpalime but tight or insufficient in Lome. The gap between the two cities makes Kpalime the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Kpalime gentler on the wallet – expenses run 704% less than in Lome. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.