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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,028 in Lome versus $132 in Kpalime.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,520 in Lome versus $254 in Kpalime.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,012 in Lome versus $375 in Kpalime.

Living in Lome is roughly 676% more expensive than Kpalime, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lome 24% lower, Kpalime 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.18 F CFA 1,219

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.89 F CFA 17.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.15 F CFA 2,876

Cappuccino

$5.90 F CFA 3,291

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

$3.38 F CFA 1,888

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 F CFA 621

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.84 F CFA 472

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 F CFA 955

Milk (1 liter)

$2.42 F CFA 1,353

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 F CFA 706

$0.90 F CFA 500

40.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 F CFA 1,031

Eggs

$2.06 F CFA 1,148

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.08 F CFA 7,859

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.50 F CFA 4,746

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.91 F CFA 4,974

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 F CFA 1,471

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 F CFA 842

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 F CFA 1,504

Tomato (1kg)

$2.43 F CFA 1,358

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 F CFA 1,007

Onion (1kg)

$1.75 F CFA 975

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 F CFA 289

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 F CFA 479

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.38 F CFA 773

Wine (Bottle)

$4.83 F CFA 2,699

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 F CFA 760

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 F CFA 839

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 F CFA 190

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.2 F CFA 29.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 F CFA 1,172

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 F CFA 415

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.27 F CFA 2,941

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 F CFA 666

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

$14.1K F CFA 7.9M

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

$25.6K F CFA 14.3M

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

$172 F CFA 96.0K

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

$22.30 F CFA 12.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.33 F CFA 24.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.05 F CFA 27.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.08 F CFA 5,069

Cinema Ticket

$4.31 F CFA 2,404

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

$178 F CFA 99.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,148 F CFA 2.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.52 F CFA 13.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.17 F CFA 15.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.81 F CFA 22.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.2 F CFA 52.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$358 F CFA 199.9K

$270 F CFA 150.5K

32.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 F CFA 123.2K

$124 F CFA 69.4K

77.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$764 F CFA 426.4K

$445 F CFA 248.3K

71.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$300 F CFA 167.7K

$351 F CFA 195.9K

-14.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$264 F CFA 147.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Lome: April 14, 2026

Last update for Kpalime: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $358 in Lome and $270 in Kpalime. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32 in Lome vs $0 in Kpalime for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $9 per month, with Kpalime cheaper across the board.

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

Lome vs Kpalime: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kpalime is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 676% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,542 in Lome and $199 in Kpalime 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: $358 in Lome versus $270 in Kpalime. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2689% higher in Lome. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,028 per month in Lome versus $132 in Kpalime – a 676% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kpalime gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 676% less than in Lome. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.