😐A single person spends $1,020 per month in South Africa vs $590 in Togo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,598 per month in South Africa vs $895 in Togo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,175 per month in South Africa vs $1,199 in Togo, rent included.
😐South Africa costs about 73% more than Togo on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Both South Africa and Togo are more affordable than the global median – South Africa24% lower, Togo56% lower.
📏Togo has a wider regional cost range ($132–$1,047) than South Africa ($819–$1,339), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Togo.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.05R 147
$2.17F CFA 1,225
317.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.48R 642
$31.70F CFA 17.9K
24.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.94R 80.3
$5.40F CFA 3,047
-8.52%
Cappuccino
$2.06R 33.47
$5.91F CFA 3,333
-65.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95R 15.40
$3.31F CFA 1,868
-71.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81R 13.13
$1.11F CFA 628
-27.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21R 35.90
$0.92F CFA 519
140.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48R 40.33
$1.75F CFA 984
41.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11R 18.07
$2.37F CFA 1,339
-53.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02R 16.64
$1.22F CFA 689
-16.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56R 25.28
$1.87F CFA 1,056
-16.58%
Eggs
$2.34R 38.05
$1.98F CFA 1,119
18.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.73R 126
$14.19F CFA 8,005
-45.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.49R 73.1
$8.53F CFA 4,808
-47.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.73R 109
$8.91F CFA 5,023
-24.47%
Apples(1kg)
$1.56R 25.40
$2.71F CFA 1,526
-42.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43R 23.22
$1.49F CFA 842
-4.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44R 23.48
$2.61F CFA 1,470
-44.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.51R 24.55
$2.55F CFA 1,436
-40.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.22R 19.81
$1.74F CFA 981
-29.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.28R 20.74
$1.68F CFA 946
-23.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04R 16.89
$0.50F CFA 284
108.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94R 15.21
$0.90F CFA 509
4.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99R 48.55
$1.37F CFA 775
118.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.16R 83.8
$4.82F CFA 2,716
7.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39R 22.55
$1.31F CFA 739
6.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66R 26.93
$1.56F CFA 878
6.41%
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
Togo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.63R 26.48
$0.33F CFA 188
393.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.05R 732
$53.1F CFA 29.9K
-15.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.13R 18.41
$2.12F CFA 1,196
-46.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10R 17.93
$0.72F CFA 407
52.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.86R 78.9
$5.27F CFA 2,970
-7.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24R 20.15
$1.21F CFA 680
2.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.3KR 330.2K
$14.3KF CFA 8.1M
41.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KR 381.4K
$25.7KF CFA 14.5M
-8.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$113R 1,843
$175F CFA 98.8K
-35.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.36R 526
$22.21F CFA 12.5K
45.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.45R 674
$44.74F CFA 25.2K
-7.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.59R 513
$50.6F CFA 28.5K
-37.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.61R 156
$9.00F CFA 5,078
6.78%
Cinema Ticket
$6.83R 111
$4.52F CFA 2,547
51.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$187R 3,039
$174F CFA 98.2K
7.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,362R 70.9K
$5,161F CFA 2.9M
-15.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.50R 804
$24.58F CFA 13.9K
101.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.42R 494
$27.15F CFA 15.3K
12.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.7R 1,489
$41.44F CFA 23.4K
121.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9R 1,281
$96.4F CFA 54.4K
-18.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
Togo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$442R 7,175
$417F CFA 235.3K
5.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$367R 5,963
$195F CFA 110.1K
87.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$884R 14.4K
$596F CFA 336.0K
48.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723R 11.8K
$317F CFA 178.8K
128.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,090R 17.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$780R 12.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,558R 25.3K
$271F CFA 152.9K
474.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.55
8
44.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for South Africa: May 31, 2026
Last update for Togo: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $368 in South Africa vs $312 in Togo. For reference, capital cities sit at $765 in Cape Town and $360 in Lome.
💰Average salary: $1,520 in South Africa vs $267 in Togo. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 18% higher in South Africa.
⭐Dining out costs 119% more in South Africa.
⭐Public transport is 69% more expensive in Togo.
⭐Salaries are 469% higher in South Africa, giving South Africa stronger purchasing power.
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 Togo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Africa more expensive than Togo?
Togo is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 83% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
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.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Togo, contributing to the overall 83% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in South Africa or Togo?
$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Togo, but in South Africa it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to South Africa or Togo?
Togo 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.
South Africa vs other spots: cost of living compared