Cost of living comparison

 Benin
compared to
 South Africa
South Africa vs. Benin Cost of Living Summary

South Africa is 68.9% more expensive than Benin overall.

Restaurants
pay 64.3% more in South Africa
Groceries
pay 9.9% less in South Africa
Transportation
pay 2.8% more in South Africa
Housing
pay 46.7% more in South Africa
Childcare
pay 23.7% less in South Africa
Entertainment and Sports
pay 9.3% more in South Africa
Clothing
pay 4.9 times more in South Africa

The cost of clothing, restaurants, housing, entertainment and sports, and transportation in South Africa are more expensive than in Benin. Expenses including childcare and groceries are lower in South Africa. Notably, clothing is significantly more expensive in South Africa.

South Africa vs. Benin Cost Breakdown

If you lived in South Africa instead of Benin, you would:

pay 64.3% more for restaurants

 
Benin
South Africa
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $3.27
F CFA1,956
$8.97
ZAR171.66
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$4.90
F CFA2,934
$4.77
ZAR91.27
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.69
F CFA411
$0.95
ZAR18.26

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pay 9.9% less for groceries

 
Benin
South Africa
Bread
1 loaf
$1.25
F CFA750
$0.99
ZAR18.95
Local cheese (8 oz) $4.36
F CFA2,608
$3.67
ZAR70.31
Milk (1 gallon) $7.11
F CFA4,257
$4.20
ZAR80.33

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pay 2.8% more for transportation

 
Benin
South Africa
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.75
F CFA2,246
$4.99
ZAR95.45
Monthly public transit pass ?? $52.31
ZAR1,000.84
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) ?? $20,607.77
ZAR394,278.10

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pay 46.7% more for housing

 
Benin
South Africa
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$52.08
F CFA31,171
$41.37
ZAR791.50
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $178.09
F CFA106,593
$382.55
ZAR7,319.21
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $130.71
F CFA78,233
$326.35
ZAR6,243.84

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pay 23.7% less for childcare

 
Benin
South Africa
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $204.24
F CFA122,239
$174.12
ZAR3,331.28
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $5,990.94
F CFA3,585,689
$4,033.53
ZAR77,171.46

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pay 9.3% more for entertainment and sports

 
Benin
South Africa
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $0.98
F CFA587
$2.11
ZAR40.33
Cappuccino in mid-range area $4.08
F CFA2,445
$1.88
ZAR36.02
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$2.12
F CFA1,271
$2.90
ZAR55.57

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pay 4.9 times more for clothing

 
Benin
South Africa
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$16.34
F CFA9,779
$47.72
ZAR912.91
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$8.17
F CFA4,890
$32.06
ZAR613.37
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$8.17
F CFA4,890
$90.39
ZAR1,729.36

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: April 2025
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