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

Name: Benin
Address: BJ

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,020 per month in South Africa vs $857 in Benin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,587 per month in South Africa vs $1,277 in Benin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,154 per month in South Africa vs $1,696 in Benin, rent included.

The cost of living in South Africa is about 19% higher than in Benin on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both South Africa and Benin are more affordable than the global median – South Africa 24% lower, Benin 36% lower.

The regional cost range is wider in South Africa ($803–$1,362) than in Benin ($736–$979), so city choice matters more there.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.14 R 151

$3.50 F CFA 2,007

161.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.14 R 646

$26.24 F CFA 15.1K

49.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.19 R 85.6

$6.16 F CFA 3,535

-15.75%

Cappuccino

$1.98 R 32.63

$4.47 F CFA 2,564

-55.70%

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

$1.00 R 16.52

$1.00 F CFA 573

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 R 12.97

$1.01 F CFA 578

-21.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 R 36.50

$1.44 F CFA 829

53.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 R 42.45

$3.50 F CFA 2,010

-26.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 R 18.50

$2.14 F CFA 1,230

-47.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 R 15.96

$1.06 F CFA 611

-8.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 R 25.47

$2.03 F CFA 1,166

-24.14%

Eggs

$2.25 R 37.10

$2.24 F CFA 1,286

0.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.86 R 130

$9.59 F CFA 5,505

-18.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 R 75.6

$4.53 F CFA 2,602

1.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.68 R 110

$5.56 F CFA 3,190

20.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.57 R 25.98

$2.74 F CFA 1,574

-42.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 R 24.27

$1.27 F CFA 730

15.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 R 25.10

$0.95 F CFA 546

60.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 R 24.91

$1.60 F CFA 916

-5.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 R 20.79

$1.12 F CFA 642

12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 R 21.04

$1.15 F CFA 660

10.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 R 17.93

$0.68 F CFA 392

60.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 R 16.00

$1.13 F CFA 648

-14.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 R 46.81

$1.04 F CFA 596

173.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.20 R 85.9

$4.45 F CFA 2,556

16.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 R 22.84

$1.02 F CFA 588

35.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 R 28.36

$1.66 F CFA 953

3.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 R 28.42

$1.74 F CFA 1,001

-1.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.22 R 730

$7.85 F CFA 4,507

463.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 R 19.01

$1.55 F CFA 888

-25.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 R 17.59

$1.57 F CFA 899

-31.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.74 R 78.2

$1.78 F CFA 1,023

166.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 R 21.18

$1.09 F CFA 625

17.43%

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

$20.4K R 336.1K

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

$24.0K R 395.8K

$24.9K F CFA 14.3M

-3.54%

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

$113 R 1,864

$172 F CFA 98.8K

-34.40%

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

$32.35 R 534

$28.35 F CFA 16.3K

14.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.46 R 684

$62.2 F CFA 35.7K

-33.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.04 R 512

$43.12 F CFA 24.8K

-28.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.72 R 160

$5.24 F CFA 3,009

85.50%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 R 110

$6.30 F CFA 3,616

5.87%

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

$186 R 3,063

$186 F CFA 106.7K

-0.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,399 R 72.6K

$6,423 F CFA 3.7M

-31.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.2 R 828

$17.59 F CFA 10.1K

185.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.37 R 501

$8.75 F CFA 5,021

247.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.4 R 1,541

$17.83 F CFA 10.2K

423.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 R 1,327

$40.46 F CFA 23.2K

98.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 R 7,239

$189 F CFA 108.6K

131.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$372 R 6,136

$144 F CFA 82.6K

158.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$903 R 14.9K

$524 F CFA 301.0K

72.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$705 R 11.6K

$310 F CFA 177.8K

127.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,116 R 18.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$793 R 13.1K

$2,579 F CFA 1.5M

-69.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,506 R 24.9K

$269 F CFA 154.3K

460.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.55

131.00%

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

Last update for South Africa: July 13, 2026

Last update for Benin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average salary: $1,513 in South Africa vs $130 in Benin. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 139% higher in South Africa.

Dining out costs 35% more in South Africa.

Public transport is 300% more expensive in South Africa.

Salaries are 1064% higher in South Africa, and purchasing power comes out stronger in South Africa.

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

South Africa vs Benin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Benin is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 26% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in South Africa, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but South Africa consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Benin, contributing to the overall 26% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Benin, but in South Africa it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Benin is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.