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: $1,049 in Lome versus $131 in Kpalime.

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

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

Living in Lome is roughly 704% more expensive than in Kpalime, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

$1.31 F CFA 751

$0.89 F CFA 513

47.19%

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)

$363 F CFA 208.6K

$265 F CFA 152.1K

37.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 F CFA 126.6K

$124 F CFA 70.9K

78.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$757 F CFA 434.6K

$444 F CFA 254.7K

70.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 F CFA 173.4K

$354 F CFA 203.3K

-14.72%

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 Lome: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kpalime: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $363 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 704% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,574 in Lome and $196 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: $363 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 2699% higher in Lome. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,049 per month in Lome versus $131 in Kpalime – 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.