🙂A single person spends $590 per month in Togo vs $1,020 in South Africa, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $875 per month in Togo vs $1,587 in South Africa, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,160 per month in Togo vs $2,154 in South Africa, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Togo is roughly 42% lower than in 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 – Togo 56% lower, South Africa 24% 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
Togo
South Africa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.15F CFA 1,230
$9.14R 150
-76.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.15F CFA 17.8K
$39.14R 643
-20.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.38F CFA 3,082
$5.19R 85.3
3.66%
Cappuccino
$5.72F CFA 3,277
$1.98R 32.50
188.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33F CFA 1,909
$1.00R 16.45
233.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06F CFA 607
$0.79R 12.92
34.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.86F CFA 494
$2.21R 36.36
-61.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81F CFA 1,035
$2.57R 42.28
-29.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Togo
South Africa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.37F CFA 1,358
$1.12R 18.43
111.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.21F CFA 693
$0.97R 15.90
24.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85F CFA 1,059
$1.54R 25.37
20.13%
Eggs
$2.07F CFA 1,186
$2.25R 36.96
-8.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.88F CFA 7,949
$7.86R 129
76.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.52F CFA 4,878
$4.58R 75.3
86.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.99F CFA 5,148
$6.68R 110
34.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63F CFA 1,510
$1.57R 25.88
67.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44F CFA 827
$1.47R 24.18
-2.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69F CFA 1,543
$1.52R 25.00
76.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57F CFA 1,472
$1.51R 24.81
70.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79F CFA 1,024
$1.26R 20.71
42.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.69F CFA 969
$1.27R 20.96
33.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.51F CFA 292
$1.09R 17.86
-53.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84F CFA 482
$0.97R 15.93
-13.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.44F CFA 823
$2.84R 46.62
-49.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.69F CFA 2,686
$5.20R 85.5
-9.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38F CFA 789
$1.38R 22.74
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55F CFA 889
$1.72R 28.24
-9.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Togo
South Africa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36F CFA 207
$1.72R 28.30
-79.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$52.8F CFA 30.3K
$44.22R 727
19.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.13F CFA 1,221
$1.15R 18.93
85.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73F CFA 419
$1.07R 17.51
-31.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.41F CFA 3,101
$4.74R 77.8
14.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24F CFA 710
$1.28R 21.09
-3.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.0KF CFA 8.0M
$20.4KR 334.8K
-31.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KF CFA 14.6M
$24.0KR 394.3K
6.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Togo
South Africa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$175F CFA 100.0K
$113R 1,856
54.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.30F CFA 12.8K
$32.35R 532
-31.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.40F CFA 25.4K
$41.46R 682
7.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Togo
South Africa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.52F CFA 28.4K
$31.04R 510
59.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.05F CFA 5,186
$9.72R 160
-6.89%
Cinema Ticket
$4.37F CFA 2,506
$6.67R 110
-34.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Togo
South Africa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$179F CFA 102.5K
$186R 3,051
-3.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,253F CFA 3.0M
$4,399R 72.3K
19.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Togo
South Africa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.85F CFA 14.2K
$50.2R 824
-50.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.61F CFA 15.8K
$30.37R 499
-9.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$40.67F CFA 23.3K
$93.4R 1,535
-56.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.2F CFA 54.5K
$80.4R 1,322
18.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Togo
South Africa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$407F CFA 233.2K
$439R 7,210
-7.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$197F CFA 112.6K
$372R 6,112
-47.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$596F CFA 341.3K
$903R 14.8K
-33.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$313F CFA 179.2K
$705R 11.6K
-55.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,116R 18.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$793R 13.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Togo
South Africa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$265F CFA 152.0K
$1,506R 24.8K
-82.38%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for South Africa: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $314 in Togo vs $368 in South Africa. For reference, capital cities sit at $363 in Lome and $292 in Bloemfontein.
💰Average salary: $261 in Togo vs $1,513 in South Africa. 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
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 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.