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 $1,137 per month in South Africa vs $357 in Togo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,773 per month in South Africa vs $632 in Togo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,408 per month in South Africa vs $907 in Togo, rent included.

The cost of living in South Africa is about 218% 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 17% lower, Togo 74% lower.

The regional cost range is wider in South Africa ($633$1,817) than in Togo ($135$578), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.22 R 182
$2.94 F CFA 1,667
281.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.86 R 697
$31.14 F CFA 17.7K
37.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.77 R 93.8
$5.77 F CFA 3,277
-
Cappuccino
$2.41 R 39.24
$5.85 F CFA 3,324
-58.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 R 19.41
$4.26 F CFA 2,421
-72.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 R 14.22
$0.72 F CFA 407
20.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.40 R 39.08
$0.99 F CFA 565
142.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 R 48.68
$1.72 F CFA 976
73.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 R 20.33
$2.32 F CFA 1,316
-46.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.10 R 17.84
$1.22 F CFA 695
-9.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 R 28.73
$1.47 F CFA 835
20.41%
Eggs
$2.51 R 40.84
$2.09 F CFA 1,187
20.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.46 R 138
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.41 R 88.0
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.94 R 129
$5.86 F CFA 3,331
35.49%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 R 29.56
$3.03 F CFA 1,719
-39.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 R 27.41
$1.79 F CFA 1,016
-5.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 R 28.15
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.77 R 28.79
$2.71 F CFA 1,539
-34.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 R 23.91
$1.81 F CFA 1,028
-18.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.46 R 23.83
$1.25 F CFA 709
16.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 R 20.41
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 R 18.82
$0.90 F CFA 511
28.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.31 R 53.9
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$4.88 R 79.3
$4.76 F CFA 2,705
2.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 R 24.85
$1.16 F CFA 661
31.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 R 33.30
$1.51 F CFA 858
35.76%
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
Togo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.69 R 27.43
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.8 R 1,021
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.08 R 17.52
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.94 R 15.35
$1.24 F CFA 706
-24.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.90 R 128
$4.57 F CFA 2,594
72.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 R 23.22
$1.24 F CFA 706
15.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K R 595.6K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K R 506.2K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$131 R 2,133
$148 F CFA 84.3K
-11.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.38 R 576
$21.82 F CFA 12.4K
62.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.24 R 671
$43.63 F CFA 24.8K
-5.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.46 R 561
$61.3 F CFA 34.8K
-43.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.85 R 193
$8.67 F CFA 4,927
36.68%
Cinema Ticket
$7.58 R 123
$4.38 F CFA 2,488
73.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$231 R 3,766
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,534 R 90.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.0 R 895
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.73 R 549
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 R 1,631
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.5 R 1,488
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
Togo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$501 R 8,154
$263 F CFA 149.3K
90.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$418 R 6,807
$123 F CFA 69.8K
240.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$955 R 15.5K
$1,034 F CFA 587.0K
-7.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$826 R 13.4K
$345 F CFA 196.1K
139.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,158 R 18.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$788 R 12.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Africa
Togo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,542 R 25.1K
$303 F CFA 171.9K
409.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.24
0
-

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

Last update for South Africa: September 13, 2026

Last update for Togo: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average salary: $1,543 in South Africa vs $307 in Togo. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 236% higher in South Africa.

Dining out costs 150% more in South Africa.

Salaries are 403% 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 244% 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 244% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $800 a realistic budget in South Africa or in Togo?
$800 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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