Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and Benin Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and Benin

😐 Solo nomad: South Africa is 10.4% more expensive than Benin without rent, and 29% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: South Africa is 18% more expensive than Benin without rent, and 38.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Africa
Benin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.05 R 161
$3.59 F CFA 2,030
152.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.84 R 691
$26.8 F CFA 15.2K
44.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.9 R 87.1
$6.23 F CFA 3,524
-21.35%
Cappuccino
$1.98 R 35.28
$4.64 F CFA 2,624
-57.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 R 17.06
$1 F CFA 563
-4.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 R 13.31
$1.01 F CFA 574
-25.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.18 R 38.72
$1.43 F CFA 810
52.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 R 45.1
$3.5 F CFA 1,979
-27.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Africa
Benin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.1 R 19.58
$2.13 F CFA 1,207
-48.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 R 18.32
$1.05 F CFA 597
-1.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 R 27.71
$1.95 F CFA 1,106
-20.00%
Eggs
$2.25 R 39.93
$2.23 F CFA 1,263
0.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.67 R 136
$9.23 F CFA 5,224
-16.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.62 R 82.2
$4.7 F CFA 2,658
-1.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.86 R 122
$5.42 F CFA 3,068
26.57%
Apples (1kg)
$1.58 R 28.02
$2.69 F CFA 1,520
-41.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 R 25.3
$1.26 F CFA 714
12.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 R 25.58
$0.93 F CFA 528
54.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 R 26.5
$1.54 F CFA 870
-3.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.25 R 22.16
$1.15 F CFA 652
8.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 R 23.81
$1.1 F CFA 621
21.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 R 19.31
$0.65 F CFA 367
67.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 R 17.15
$1.09 F CFA 617
-11.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.9 R 51.6
$1.08 F CFA 609
168.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.07 R 90.3
$6.61 F CFA 3,740
-23.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 R 24.49
$1.04 F CFA 588
32.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 R 29.79
$1.71 F CFA 966
-1.75%
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
Benin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 R 30.47
$1.74 F CFA 987
-1.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.01 R 801
$7.56 F CFA 4,279
495.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.1 R 19.61
$1.62 F CFA 919
-32.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 R 19.41
$1.53 F CFA 868
-28.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.8 R 85.3
$1.73 F CFA 980
177.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 R 23.23
$1.04 F CFA 588
25.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21K R 374.2K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K R 421.3K
$24.8K F CFA 14.1M
-4.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
Benin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 R 2,009
$171 F CFA 96.7K
-33.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.11 R 589
$28.16 F CFA 15.9K
17.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.49 R 738
$63.4 F CFA 35.9K
-34.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
Benin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.69 R 564
$41.77 F CFA 23.6K
-24.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.45 R 168
$5.34 F CFA 3,020
76.97%
Cinema Ticket
$6.7 R 119
$6.02 F CFA 3,409
11.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
Benin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$186 R 3,303
$184 F CFA 104.4K
0.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,336 R 77.1K
$6,360 F CFA 3.6M
-31.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
Benin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.56 R 864
$17.75 F CFA 10K
173.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.74 R 547
$8.97 F CFA 5,079
242.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92 R 1,636
$17.3 F CFA 9,792
431.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 R 1,415
$40.73 F CFA 23.1K
95.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
Benin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$442 R 7,860
$190 F CFA 107.5K
132.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 R 6,579
$139 F CFA 78.4K
167.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$880 R 15.7K
$539 F CFA 304.8K
63.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 R 12.9K
$300 F CFA 169.8K
141.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,021 R 18.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$803 R 14.3K
$2,627 F CFA 1.5M
-69.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Africa
Benin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,406 R 25K
$239 F CFA 135.4K
487.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.55
5
131.00%

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

Last update for South Africa: October 29, 2025

Last update for Benin: October 29, 2025

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