City in Littoral, Benin
Cost of living in Cotonou
How much a month costs in Cotonou
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $1,200–1,890 (CFA700,000–1.1M).
Prices in Cotonou
Typical 2026 ranges in XOF, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | XOF | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | CFA200,000–450,000 | $343–772 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | CFA100,000–250,000 | $172–429 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | CFA35,000–80,000 | $60–137 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | CFA1,000–2,500 | $1.7–4.3 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | CFA6,000–15,000 | $10–26 |
| Cappuccino | CFA1,000–2,500 | $1.7–4.3 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | CFA800–2,000 | $1.4–3.4 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | CFA200–500 | $0.34–0.86 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | CFA1,000–2,500 | $1.7–4.3 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | CFA25,000–60,000 | $43–103 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | CFA5,000–12,000 | $9–21 |
Value for money: 39/100
A value score of 39/100 means Cotonou gives more quality of life per dollar than 38% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 48/100.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Benin
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Ouidah | $772–1,370 | 63/100 |
| Cotonou | $1,200–1,890 | 39/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Cotonou
Similar safety, lower cost, in Africa.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Aswan | Egypt | $478–803 |
| Dahab | Egypt | $536–861 |
| Djerba | Tunisia | $674–1,080 |
| Sousse | Tunisia | $674–1,080 |
| Addis Ababa | Ethiopia | $553–921 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Cotonou?
About $515–772 on a lean budget, $1,200–1,890 for a comfortable month and $2,570–4,290 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Cotonou?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs CFA200,000–450,000 ($343–772) a month in the center and CFA100,000–250,000 ($172–429) outside it.
How much does food cost in Cotonou?
A local meal is CFA1,000–2,500 ($1.7–4.3); a mid-range restaurant is CFA6,000–15,000 ($10–26) per person.
Is Benin expensive?
Prices in Benin are about 34% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Cotonou
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Sources
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.