🙂A single person spends $590 per month in Togo vs $1,020 in South Africa, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $895 per month in Togo vs $1,598 in South Africa, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,199 per month in Togo vs $2,175 in South Africa, rent included.
🙂Togo is roughly 42% cheaper than South Africa on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Both Togo and South Africa are more affordable than the global median – Togo56% lower, South Africa24% 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
Togo
South Africa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.17F CFA 1,225
$9.05R 147
-76.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.70F CFA 17.9K
$39.48R 642
-19.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.40F CFA 3,047
$4.94R 80.3
9.31%
Cappuccino
$5.91F CFA 3,333
$2.06R 33.47
186.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31F CFA 1,868
$0.95R 15.40
248.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11F CFA 628
$0.81R 13.13
37.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.92F CFA 519
$2.21R 35.90
-58.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75F CFA 984
$2.48R 40.33
-29.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Togo
South Africa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.37F CFA 1,339
$1.11R 18.07
113.51%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22F CFA 689
$1.02R 16.64
19.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87F CFA 1,056
$1.56R 25.28
19.87%
Eggs
$1.98F CFA 1,119
$2.34R 38.05
-15.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.19F CFA 8,005
$7.73R 126
83.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.53F CFA 4,808
$4.49R 73.1
89.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.91F CFA 5,023
$6.73R 109
32.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71F CFA 1,526
$1.56R 25.40
73.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49F CFA 842
$1.43R 23.22
4.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61F CFA 1,470
$1.44R 23.48
81.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55F CFA 1,436
$1.51R 24.55
68.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.74F CFA 981
$1.22R 19.81
42.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.68F CFA 946
$1.28R 20.74
31.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.50F CFA 284
$1.04R 16.89
-51.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90F CFA 509
$0.94R 15.21
-4.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.37F CFA 775
$2.99R 48.55
-54.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.82F CFA 2,716
$5.16R 83.8
-6.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31F CFA 739
$1.39R 22.55
-5.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56F CFA 878
$1.66R 26.93
-6.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Togo
South Africa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33F CFA 188
$1.63R 26.48
-79.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.1F CFA 29.9K
$45.05R 732
17.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.12F CFA 1,196
$1.13R 18.41
87.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.72F CFA 407
$1.10R 17.93
-34.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.27F CFA 2,970
$4.86R 78.9
8.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21F CFA 680
$1.24R 20.15
-2.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.3KF CFA 8.1M
$20.3KR 330.2K
-29.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7KF CFA 14.5M
$23.5KR 381.4K
9.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Togo
South Africa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$175F CFA 98.8K
$113R 1,843
54.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21F CFA 12.5K
$32.36R 526
-31.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.74F CFA 25.2K
$41.45R 674
7.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Togo
South Africa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.6F CFA 28.5K
$31.59R 513
60.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.00F CFA 5,078
$9.61R 156
-6.35%
Cinema Ticket
$4.52F CFA 2,547
$6.83R 111
-33.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Togo
South Africa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$174F CFA 98.2K
$187R 3,039
-6.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,161F CFA 2.9M
$4,362R 70.9K
18.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Togo
South Africa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.58F CFA 13.9K
$49.50R 804
-50.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.15F CFA 15.3K
$30.42R 494
-10.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.44F CFA 23.4K
$91.7R 1,489
-54.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.4F CFA 54.4K
$78.9R 1,281
22.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Togo
South Africa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$417F CFA 235.3K
$442R 7,175
-5.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$195F CFA 110.1K
$367R 5,963
-46.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$596F CFA 336.0K
$884R 14.4K
-32.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$317F CFA 178.8K
$723R 11.8K
-56.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,090R 17.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$780R 12.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Togo
South Africa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$271F CFA 152.9K
$1,558R 25.3K
-82.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
11.55
-30.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Togo: June 1, 2026
Last update for South Africa: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $312 in Togo vs $368 in South Africa. For reference, capital cities sit at $360 in Lome and $765 in Cape Town.
💰Average salary: $267 in Togo vs $1,520 in South Africa. 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
Togo vs South Africa: 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.