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 $1,587 per month in South Africa vs $875 in Togo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,154 per month in South Africa vs $1,160 in Togo, rent included.

The cost of living in South Africa is about 73% higher than in 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.

The regional cost range is wider in Togo ($131$1,049) than in South Africa ($803$1,362), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.14 R 151
$2.15 F CFA 1,231
325.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.14 R 648
$31.15 F CFA 17.9K
25.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.19 R 85.9
$5.38 F CFA 3,085
-3.53%
Cappuccino
$1.98 R 32.73
$5.72 F CFA 3,280
-65.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 R 16.57
$3.33 F CFA 1,911
-69.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 R 13.01
$1.06 F CFA 607
-25.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 R 36.61
$0.86 F CFA 495
156.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 R 42.58
$1.81 F CFA 1,037
41.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 R 18.56
$2.37 F CFA 1,360
-52.74%
White Bread (500g)
$0.97 R 16.01
$1.21 F CFA 694
-19.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 R 25.55
$1.85 F CFA 1,060
-16.76%
Eggs
$2.25 R 37.22
$2.07 F CFA 1,188
8.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.86 R 130
$13.88 F CFA 7,958
-43.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.58 R 75.8
$8.52 F CFA 4,884
-46.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.68 R 111
$8.99 F CFA 5,154
-25.70%
Apples (1kg)
$1.57 R 26.06
$2.63 F CFA 1,511
-40.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 R 24.35
$1.44 F CFA 828
2.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 R 25.18
$2.69 F CFA 1,545
-43.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.51 R 24.98
$2.57 F CFA 1,474
-41.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 R 20.85
$1.79 F CFA 1,025
-29.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 R 21.11
$1.69 F CFA 971
-24.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 R 17.99
$0.51 F CFA 292
113.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 R 16.04
$0.84 F CFA 483
15.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.84 R 46.95
$1.44 F CFA 824
97.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.20 R 86.1
$4.69 F CFA 2,689
10.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 R 22.91
$1.38 F CFA 790
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 R 28.44
$1.55 F CFA 890
10.97%
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
Togo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.72 R 28.50
$0.36 F CFA 207
377.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.22 R 732
$52.8 F CFA 30.3K
-16.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.15 R 19.06
$2.13 F CFA 1,223
-46.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 R 17.64
$0.73 F CFA 419
46.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.74 R 78.4
$5.41 F CFA 3,105
-12.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 R 21.24
$1.24 F CFA 710
3.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4K R 337.1K
$14.0K F CFA 8.0M
45.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K R 397.0K
$25.6K F CFA 14.7M
-6.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 R 1,869
$175 F CFA 100.1K
-35.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.35 R 536
$22.30 F CFA 12.8K
45.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.46 R 686
$44.40 F CFA 25.5K
-6.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.04 R 514
$49.52 F CFA 28.4K
-37.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.72 R 161
$9.05 F CFA 5,192
7.40%
Cinema Ticket
$6.67 R 110
$4.37 F CFA 2,509
52.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$186 R 3,072
$179 F CFA 102.6K
3.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,399 R 72.8K
$5,253 F CFA 3.0M
-16.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.2 R 830
$24.85 F CFA 14.3K
101.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.37 R 503
$27.61 F CFA 15.8K
10.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.4 R 1,546
$40.67 F CFA 23.3K
129.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4 R 1,332
$95.2 F CFA 54.6K
-15.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
Togo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$439 R 7,261
$407 F CFA 233.5K
7.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$372 R 6,155
$197 F CFA 112.7K
89.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$903 R 14.9K
$596 F CFA 341.7K
51.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$705 R 11.7K
$313 F CFA 179.4K
125.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,116 R 18.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$793 R 13.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,506 R 24.9K
$265 F CFA 152.2K
467.48%
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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Togo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $368 in South Africa vs $314 in Togo. For reference, capital cities sit at $292 in Bloemfontein and $363 in Lome.

Average salary: $1,513 in South Africa vs $261 in Togo. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 17% higher in South Africa.

Dining out costs 119% more in South Africa.

Public transport is 69% more expensive in Togo.

Salaries are 480% 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 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 in 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 to 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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