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: $1,047 in Lome versus $132 in Kpalime.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,533 in Lome versus $256 in Kpalime.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,020 in Lome versus $379 in Kpalime.

Living in Lome is roughly 691% more expensive than Kpalime, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lome 22% lower, Kpalime 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.15 F CFA 1,216

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.22 F CFA 17.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.38 F CFA 3,036

Cappuccino

$5.61 F CFA 3,168

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

$3.46 F CFA 1,953

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 F CFA 627

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.84 F CFA 477

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 F CFA 964

Milk (1 liter)

$2.48 F CFA 1,397

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 F CFA 748

$0.84 F CFA 472

58.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 F CFA 1,035

Eggs

$2.10 F CFA 1,184

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.13 F CFA 7,975

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.41 F CFA 4,748

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.44 F CFA 5,326

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 F CFA 1,530

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 F CFA 845

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 F CFA 1,481

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 F CFA 1,402

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 F CFA 1,012

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 F CFA 981

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 F CFA 284

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 F CFA 482

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.44 F CFA 815

Wine (Bottle)

$4.87 F CFA 2,748

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 F CFA 749

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 F CFA 855

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 F CFA 204

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 F CFA 30.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.13 F CFA 1,203

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 F CFA 389

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.21 F CFA 2,938

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 F CFA 704

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)

$26.0K F CFA 14.7M

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

$173 F CFA 97.5K

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

$21.89 F CFA 12.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.32 F CFA 25.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.54 F CFA 28.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.63 F CFA 4,871

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 F CFA 2,444

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

$177 F CFA 99.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,103 F CFA 2.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.39 F CFA 13.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.26 F CFA 15.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.14 F CFA 23.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.0 F CFA 53.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 F CFA 202.9K

$265 F CFA 149.4K

35.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$224 F CFA 126.2K

$124 F CFA 69.7K

80.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$765 F CFA 431.8K

$435 F CFA 245.6K

75.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 F CFA 169.0K

$347 F CFA 195.8K

-13.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$267 F CFA 150.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Lome: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kpalime: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $360 in Lome and $265 in Kpalime. 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

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 691% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,570 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: $360 in Lome versus $265 in Kpalime. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2920% higher in Lome. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,047 per month in Lome versus $132 in Kpalime – a 691% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $132 in Kpalime versus $1,047 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 691% less than in Lome. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.