Cost of Living in Lome - Updated Prices & Insights

Monthly Cost of Living

Living costs for one person come to about $582 monthly including rent, or $458 excluding housing.

Estimated monthly costs for a couple: $1,015 with rent, or $789 without housing.

Monthly costs for a family of three come to about $1,448 including rent, or $1,120 for daily expenses alone.

Lome sits 51–58% below the global median across household types. Within Africa, costs are well below average (38% lower) – one of the most affordable options in the region.

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🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.99 F CFA 1,684
$2.45 F CFA 1,382
$3.51 F CFA 1,980
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.41 F CFA 17.7K
$18.28 F CFA 10.3K
$43.62 F CFA 24.6K
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.66 F CFA 3,188
$5.22 F CFA 2,944
$6.09 F CFA 3,432
Cappuccino
$5.95 F CFA 3,355
$5.25 F CFA 2,959
$6.65 F CFA 3,750
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21 F CFA 2,371
$1.84 F CFA 1,038
$6.57 F CFA 3,705
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 F CFA 405
$0.59 F CFA 335
$0.85 F CFA 480
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.92 F CFA 520
$0.83 F CFA 466
$2.53 F CFA 1,425
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 F CFA 979
$1.74 F CFA 979
$4.35 F CFA 2,451
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$2.41 F CFA 1,358
$1.91 F CFA 1,079
$2.91 F CFA 1,642
White Bread (500g)
$1.35 F CFA 762
$0.61 F CFA 345
$2.10 F CFA 1,184
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.46 F CFA 821
$1.20 F CFA 679
$1.72 F CFA 969
Eggs
$2.07 F CFA 1,167
$1.49 F CFA 843
$2.58 F CFA 1,452
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.71 F CFA 3,220
$5.28 F CFA 2,973
$6.15 F CFA 3,466
Apples (1kg)
$3.17 F CFA 1,787
$1.81 F CFA 1,020
$4.53 F CFA 2,554
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 F CFA 978
$0.87 F CFA 492
$2.61 F CFA 1,470
Tomato (1kg)
$2.69 F CFA 1,514
$1.79 F CFA 1,007
$3.57 F CFA 2,014
Potato (1kg)
$1.75 F CFA 984
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.25 F CFA 706
$0.90 F CFA 507
$1.61 F CFA 905
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 F CFA 511
$0.89 F CFA 500
$0.91 F CFA 511
Wine (Bottle)
$4.98 F CFA 2,805
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 F CFA 638
$1.04 F CFA 588
$1.22 F CFA 688
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 F CFA 855
-
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 F CFA 689
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.40 F CFA 2,478
$3.62 F CFA 2,038
$5.18 F CFA 2,917
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 F CFA 696
$1.22 F CFA 690
$1.31 F CFA 736
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 F CFA 84.9K
$124 F CFA 69.8K
$177 F CFA 99.9K
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.57 F CFA 12.7K
$12.61 F CFA 7,108
$25.28 F CFA 14.3K
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.56 F CFA 25.1K
$26.74 F CFA 15.1K
$53.5 F CFA 30.1K
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.7 F CFA 35.4K
$35.50 F CFA 20.0K
$88.8 F CFA 50.0K
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.97 F CFA 5,058
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.55 F CFA 2,562
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,239 F CFA 698.2K
$1,062 F CFA 598.5K
$1,593 F CFA 897.7K
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$306 F CFA 172.3K
$216 F CFA 121.7K
$450 F CFA 253.6K
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$311 F CFA 175.1K
-

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

Last update: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average take-home pay sits at $311, while typical expenses reach $582. The gap means tight budgeting for locals, though expats with foreign income can live comfortably.

Expect to spend about $146 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant costs roughly $31.00 for two – well below the African average of $42.00.

Cost Highlights

Lome has the 5th most expensive cappuccino in Africa

Gym membership is more expensive than 96% of cities in Africa

Local beer is cheaper than 92% of cities in Africa

Lome Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Download
Mbps
Upload
Mbps
Latency
ms

Fixed Broadband

Download
Mbps
Upload
Mbps
Latency
ms
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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Cost of Living in Lome - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lome affordable for travelers, expats, and digital nomads, and how does it compare to other West African cities?
Overall, Lome offers a compelling mix of value and city life for travelers, expats, and digital nomads. You’ll find everything from budget guesthouses to mid-range apartments in livelier neighborhoods, with markets and street food keeping daily costs reasonable. Cost of Living in Lome is often described as moderate for a capital city by the gulf of Guinea, especially if you blend local meals with occasional western staples and shop around for utilities or coworking spaces. The city’s rhythm is relaxed by day and lively by night, and transport options keep trips affordable if you plan ahead. Tip: Test a few neighborhoods on short stays before committing long term.
What does daily life look like in Lome in terms of housing search, food options, transport, coworking spaces, and errands?
Daily life blends warm market days with a compact urban core. In housing terms, many newcomers start in modest apartment blocks in Plateau or nearby neighborhoods, then widen search to include shared flats or longer-term rentals in quieter streets. Food options range from street stalls to small family-run cafés, with fresh produce at markets shaping the budget more than brands. For transport, motos and shared taxis move you quickly, while walking remains practical in central areas. Co-working spaces vary by vibe and price, and errands typically flow through the same markets you shop. Lome living cost considerations guide your move. Tip: Map a month-by-month budget.
How can you budget effectively for quality of life in Lome, including seasonal changes, neighborhood fit, and savings strategies?
Quality of life in Lome scales with neighborhood fit and a practical budgeting framework. If you favor proximity to the coast and nightlife, look at central districts, but expect a livelier pace and slightly higher rent than inland areas. A simple budgeting framework helps you compare housing, food, and transport across months: set a weekly food plan, cap dining out, and factor in shared workspace if you work remotely. Seasonality matters for outdoor plans and market crowds; plan for rainy days with indoor activities and flexible transport options. Build a neighborhood trial into your first month to see commute times, noise, and safety. Tip: use a simple envelope budget and renegotiate when leases end.
Why is Lome considered affordable?
Compared to most cities worldwide, Lome is just cheap – all-in costs average $582 monthly. Both housing and daily necessities sit below the international median, which explains its popularity with budget travelers, nomads, and locals on modest incomes.
Is Lome expensive to live in?
Your money goes further in Lome than in most cities its size. Expect to spend roughly $582 per month with housing included – groceries, transport, and eating out are all priced well below what you'd pay in comparable urban centers.
Can you save money on an average salary in Lome?
At $311 take-home, most residents in Lome can cover the $582 monthly cost of living. Those earning $872 or more have room to save; below-average earners will find things noticeably tighter.
Is food expensive in Lome?
Groceries in Lome cost around $146 monthly – well below what you'd pay in most cities. Fresh produce, staples, and locally made goods are all well-priced, so eating well on a budget is straightforward here.
How expensive is a gym membership in Lome?
Fitness in Lome is cheap at around $62.7 monthly for a standard gym. It's one of the lighter items in the budget, making it easy to stay active without worrying about the cost.
Can you live on $800 a month in Lome?
$800 stretches far in Lome – all-in monthly costs average only $582. The surplus means you can build savings, travel a bit, and live above the local average without much effort.
What is quality of life like in Lome?
Lome offers genuinely appealing day-to-day living. Residents value vibrant nightlife, coastal lifestyle, beach access, and at around $582 per month, it's accessible to a broad range of incomes. Most people find the cost-to-quality balance sustainable long-term.
Can you save money living in Lome?
Monthly expenses in Lome run around $582, so putting money aside takes more than $872 in income. Keeping housing costs low and avoiding lifestyle creep are the keys to building a decent savings rate here.
Is Lome good for backpackers on a budget?
Budget travelers love Lome – low prices across accommodation, food, and transport make it one of the most backpacker-friendly cities around. Long-stay costs come to just $582 monthly; short-term visitors can get by on even less with hostels and local food.

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