For one person, living is cheaper in Benin: $814 a month against $1,775 in Spain, rent and utilities included – about $11,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Spain and in Benin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,775 per month in Spain vs $814 in Benin, rent included.
Spain $1,775
Benin $814
A couple spends around $2,606 per month in Spain vs $1,313 in Benin, rent included.
Spain $2,606
Benin $1,313
A family of three spends $3,438 per month in Spain vs $1,812 in Benin, rent included.
Spain $3,438
Benin $1,812
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Spain ($931–$2,610) than in Benin ($712–$897), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Spain is about 118% higher than in Benin on average.
📊
Spain sits 30% above the global median, while Benin is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
Benin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69€14.95
$5.09F CFA 2,987
227.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.7€49.88
$35.52F CFA 20.9K
56.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.37€10.18
$9.34F CFA 5,488
21.73%
Cappuccino
$2.42€2.16
$5.26F CFA 3,089
-53.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68€2.40
$1.22F CFA 715
119.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79€1.60
$1.33F CFA 783
34.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.42€3.07
$0.81F CFA 475
322.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.47
$3.89F CFA 2,287
-0.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
Benin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20€1.07
$2.26F CFA 1,327
-46.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48€1.33
$0.82F CFA 483
80.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67€1.50
$1.84F CFA 1,078
-9.24%
Eggs
$3.42€3.06
$2.15F CFA 1,262
59.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.17€12.69
$7.52F CFA 4,419
88.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.33€7.46
$4.51F CFA 2,650
84.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.20€14.51
$5.39F CFA 3,164
200.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45€2.20
$2.94F CFA 1,728
-16.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.03€1.82
$1.20F CFA 705
69.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.86
$1.21F CFA 708
71.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.58€2.31
$2.46F CFA 1,442
4.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.64
$1.31F CFA 767
39.69%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.79
$1.18F CFA 693
69.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31€1.17
$0.46F CFA 270
184.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77€0.69
$0.86F CFA 503
-10.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.36€5.70
$1.95F CFA 1,146
226.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.64€5.05
$4.16F CFA 2,443
35.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30€1.17
$1.21F CFA 708
7.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09€1.87
$1.75F CFA 1,028
19.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
Benin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64€1.47
$1.27F CFA 745
29.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.91€29.48
$7.59F CFA 4,459
333.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.96
$1.55F CFA 912
185.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.47€1.31
$1.54F CFA 905
-4.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.98€22.38
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77€1.59
$1.24F CFA 726
42.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K€31.8K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K€27.4K
$23.9KF CFA 14.0M
28.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
Benin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$149€134
$147F CFA 86.5K
1.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.67€15.83
$31.46F CFA 18.5K
-43.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.88€28.55
$54.1F CFA 31.8K
-41.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
Benin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.24€39.62
$38.80F CFA 22.8K
14.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.29€13.70
$4.13F CFA 2,428
270.22%
Cinema Ticket
$9.66€8.65
$8.57F CFA 5,032
12.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
Benin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$544€487
$131F CFA 77.0K
315.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6K€9,499
$5,539F CFA 3.3M
91.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
Benin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.9€76.0
$21.47F CFA 12.6K
295.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.11€33.24
$8.30F CFA 4,876
347.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.2€79.9
$29.84F CFA 17.5K
198.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106€94.7
$47.68F CFA 28.0K
121.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
Benin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,056€946
$118F CFA 69.3K
795.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$808€723
$117F CFA 68.9K
588.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,452
$406F CFA 238.6K
298.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,116
$370F CFA 217.6K
236.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,135€3,704
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,633€2,358
$2,595F CFA 1.5M
1.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
Benin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,999€1,790
$280F CFA 164.7K
613.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.3
4
-17.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Spain: October 24, 2026
Last update for Benin: October 26, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Spain
$808 45.5%
Benin
$117 14.4% ↓ 85.5%$690
🛒Groceries & Markets
Spain
$272 15.3%
Benin
$183 22.5% ↓ 32.5%$88
🍽Eating Out
Spain
$239 13.5%
Benin
$154 18.9% ↓ 35.7%$86
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$199 11.2%
Benin
$233 28.6% ↑ 17.1%$34
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$143 8%
Benin
$48 5.9% ↓ 66.1%$94
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$64 3.6%
Benin
$56 6.9% ↓ 12%$7.6
🚌Getting Around
Spain
$51 2.9%
Benin
$22 2.7% ↓ 57.2%$29
🏠Accommodation & Living
Spain
$1.2K 36.3%
Benin
$370 20.4% ↓ 70.3%$876
🛒Groceries & Markets
Spain
$646 18.8%
Benin
$428 23.6% ↓ 33.7%$218
🍽Eating Out
Spain
$763 22.2%
Benin
$479 26.5% ↓ 37.2%$284
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$217 6.3%
Benin
$264 14.6% ↑ 22.1%$48
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$317 9.2%
Benin
$107 5.9% ↓ 66.1%$210
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$142 4.1%
Benin
$116 6.4% ↓ 18.5%$26
🚌Getting Around
Spain
$106 3.1%
Benin
$46 2.6% ↓ 56.2%$59
Cost Breakdown
💰Average salary: $1,972 in Spain vs $168 in Benin. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 576% higher in Spain.
⭐Dining out costs 84% more in Spain.
⭐Public transport is 288% more expensive in Spain.
⭐Salaries are about 12 times higher in Spain, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Spain.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Spain vs Benin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Benin and Spain compare in cost of living?
Benin is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 54% lower on average.
How do rents compare between Benin and Spain?
Housing costs more in Spain: a central one-bedroom averages $920 versus $136 in Benin.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Benin or Spain?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Benin – part of why living there is about 54% cheaper overall.
How far does $1,200 go in Benin compared to Spain?
$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Benin, but in Spain it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in Benin and in Spain?
Benin is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.