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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 Africa 24% lower, Togo 56% 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
$9.05 R 147
$2.17 F CFA 1,225
317.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.48 R 642
$31.70 F CFA 17.9K
24.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.94 R 80.3
$5.40 F CFA 3,047
-8.52%
Cappuccino
$2.06 R 33.47
$5.91 F CFA 3,333
-65.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 R 15.40
$3.31 F CFA 1,868
-71.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 R 13.13
$1.11 F CFA 628
-27.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 R 35.90
$0.92 F CFA 519
140.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 R 40.33
$1.75 F CFA 984
41.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 R 18.07
$2.37 F CFA 1,339
-53.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 R 16.64
$1.22 F CFA 689
-16.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 R 25.28
$1.87 F CFA 1,056
-16.58%
Eggs
$2.34 R 38.05
$1.98 F CFA 1,119
18.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.73 R 126
$14.19 F CFA 8,005
-45.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.49 R 73.1
$8.53 F CFA 4,808
-47.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.73 R 109
$8.91 F CFA 5,023
-24.47%
Apples (1kg)
$1.56 R 25.40
$2.71 F CFA 1,526
-42.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 R 23.22
$1.49 F CFA 842
-4.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 R 23.48
$2.61 F CFA 1,470
-44.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.51 R 24.55
$2.55 F CFA 1,436
-40.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.22 R 19.81
$1.74 F CFA 981
-29.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.28 R 20.74
$1.68 F CFA 946
-23.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 R 16.89
$0.50 F CFA 284
108.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 R 15.21
$0.90 F CFA 509
4.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99 R 48.55
$1.37 F CFA 775
118.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.16 R 83.8
$4.82 F CFA 2,716
7.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 R 22.55
$1.31 F CFA 739
6.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 R 26.93
$1.56 F CFA 878
6.41%
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
Togo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.63 R 26.48
$0.33 F CFA 188
393.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.05 R 732
$53.1 F CFA 29.9K
-15.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.13 R 18.41
$2.12 F CFA 1,196
-46.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 R 17.93
$0.72 F CFA 407
52.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.86 R 78.9
$5.27 F CFA 2,970
-7.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 R 20.15
$1.21 F CFA 680
2.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.3K R 330.2K
$14.3K F CFA 8.1M
41.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K R 381.4K
$25.7K F 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)
$113 R 1,843
$175 F CFA 98.8K
-35.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.36 R 526
$22.21 F CFA 12.5K
45.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.45 R 674
$44.74 F CFA 25.2K
-7.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.59 R 513
$50.6 F CFA 28.5K
-37.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.61 R 156
$9.00 F CFA 5,078
6.78%
Cinema Ticket
$6.83 R 111
$4.52 F CFA 2,547
51.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$187 R 3,039
$174 F CFA 98.2K
7.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,362 R 70.9K
$5,161 F CFA 2.9M
-15.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.50 R 804
$24.58 F CFA 13.9K
101.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.42 R 494
$27.15 F CFA 15.3K
12.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.7 R 1,489
$41.44 F CFA 23.4K
121.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 R 1,281
$96.4 F CFA 54.4K
-18.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
Togo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$442 R 7,175
$417 F CFA 235.3K
5.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$367 R 5,963
$195 F CFA 110.1K
87.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$884 R 14.4K
$596 F CFA 336.0K
48.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$723 R 11.8K
$317 F CFA 178.8K
128.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,090 R 17.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$780 R 12.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,558 R 25.3K
$271 F 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

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