Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Togo and South Africa

For one person, living is cheaper in Togo: $680 a month against $1,203 in South Africa, rent and utilities included – about $6,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Togo
South Africa
🇹🇬 Togo
$680
/mo nomad
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,203
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Togo and in South Africa

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Togo and in South Africa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $680 per month in Togo vs $1,203 in South Africa, rent included.

  • Togo $680
  • South Africa $1,203

A couple spends around $1,073 per month in Togo vs $1,893 in South Africa, rent included.

  • Togo $1,073
  • South Africa $1,893

A family of three spends $1,466 per month in Togo vs $2,583 in South Africa, rent included.

  • Togo $1,466
  • South Africa $2,583

The regional cost range is wider in South Africa ($618–$1,556) than in Togo ($128–$560), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in Togo is roughly 43% lower than in South Africa on average.

Both Togo and South Africa are more affordable than the global median – Togo 50% lower, South Africa 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Togo
South Africa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.89 F CFA 1,699
$10.67 R 178
-72.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.11 F CFA 18.3K
$41.66 R 696
-25.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.63 F CFA 3,305
$5.80 R 96.9
-2.93%
Cappuccino
$5.71 F CFA 3,355
$2.36 R 39.39
141.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16 F CFA 2,442
$1.12 R 18.64
271.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 F CFA 406
$0.90 R 15.06
-23.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 F CFA 561
$2.42 R 40.36
-60.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 F CFA 1,014
$3.06 R 51.1
-43.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Togo
South Africa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 F CFA 1,327
$1.18 R 19.67
91.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 F CFA 702
$1.13 R 18.91
6.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 F CFA 872
$1.74 R 29.02
-14.94%
Eggs
$1.94 F CFA 1,138
$2.57 R 42.98
-24.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$8.43 R 141
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$5.12 R 85.5
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.60 F CFA 3,289
$7.59 R 127
-26.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.96 F CFA 1,739
$1.77 R 29.64
67.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 F CFA 990
$1.74 R 29.02
-2.87%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.77 R 29.55
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.64 F CFA 1,548
$1.76 R 29.38
50.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.74 F CFA 1,023
$1.49 R 24.91
16.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 F CFA 706
$1.47 R 24.48
-18.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.23 R 20.61
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 F CFA 513
$1.10 R 18.33
-20.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.24 R 54.2
-
Wine (Bottle)
$4.81 F CFA 2,823
$5.00 R 83.5
-3.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 F CFA 666
$1.50 R 25.01
-24.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 F CFA 874
$1.94 R 32.40
-23.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Togo
South Africa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.48 R 24.69
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$59.3 R 990
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.09 R 18.29
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 F CFA 718
$0.99 R 16.53
23.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.30 F CFA 2,527
$7.46 R 125
-42.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 F CFA 701
$1.43 R 23.86
-16.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$35.3K R 589.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.4K R 541.9K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Togo
South Africa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$147 F CFA 86.2K
$133 R 2,218
10.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.64 F CFA 12.7K
$34.83 R 582
-37.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.36 F CFA 25.5K
$39.76 R 664
9.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Togo
South Africa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.4 F CFA 35.5K
$33.09 R 553
82.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.35 F CFA 4,903
$11.65 R 195
-28.33%
Cinema Ticket
$4.19 F CFA 2,463
$7.18 R 120
-41.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Togo
South Africa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$224 R 3,744
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,462 R 91.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Togo
South Africa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$54.2 R 906
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$34.13 R 570
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$102 R 1,706
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$88.5 R 1,478
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Togo
South Africa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$261 F CFA 153.1K
$492 R 8,223
-47.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$118 F CFA 69.1K
$398 R 6,645
-70.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 F CFA 582.4K
$946 R 15.8K
4.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$332 F CFA 195.2K
$827 R 13.8K
-59.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,099 R 18.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$769 R 12.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Togo
South Africa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$293 F CFA 171.9K
$1,502 R 25.1K
-80.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
11.23
-

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

Last update for Togo: October 27, 2026

Last update for South Africa: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Togo
–
South Africa
$398
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Togo
–
South Africa
$207
Groceries & Markets
Togo
–
South Africa
$196
Eating Out
Togo
–
South Africa
$157
Clothing & Footwear
Togo
–
South Africa
$126
Getting Around
Togo
–
South Africa
$71
Sport & Entertainment
Togo
–
South Africa
$47

Cost Breakdown

Average salary: $295 in Togo vs $1,488 in South Africa. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 63% higher in South Africa.

Dining out costs 26% more in South Africa.

Salaries are about 5 times higher in South Africa, and purchasing power comes out stronger in South Africa.

Good to know
🇹🇬 Togo
🇿🇦 South Africa
🕒 Local time
00:57 12:57 AM
02:57 2:57 AM
2 h ahead of Togo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
7,797,694
62,027,503
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, USD, EUR to XOF – West African CFA Franc Converter

West African CFA Franc exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 587 XOF (1,000 XOF = 1.7 USD). 1 EUR = 656 XOF (1,000 XOF = 1.52 EUR).

South African Rand exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 16.71 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.99 USD). 1 EUR = 18.66 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.36 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Togo South Africa 4,740 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Togo
  • South Africa

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
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 43% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in South Africa: a central one-bedroom averages $422 versus $259 in Togo.
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. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Togo vs other spots: cost of living compared

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