How Benin compares across key indices
Cost of Living
33 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
85/100
Healthcare
32/100
Quality of Life
94/200
How far your money goes in Benin
Cost of Living
33
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
25
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
33
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
35
100 = NYC dining
How safe residents feel in Benin - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
85/100
Crime Index
25/100
Lower is better
0 point drop from day to night
Benin has 66 modeled cities; this view starts with 40 curated or popular options. Monthly costs for a single person range from $651 in Pobé to $795 in Porto-Novo. Parakou leads on safety, scoring 85/100. Porto-Novo ranks highest for quality of life at 101/200.
Pobé
$651/mo
Parakou
85/100
Porto-Novo
101/200
Porto-Novo
38/100
| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porto-Novo | $795 | 83/100 | 101/200 | 38/100 | 95 |
| Cotonou | $741 | 83/100 | 101/200 | 36/100 | 95 |
| Abomey-Calavi | $722 | 85/100 | 101/200 | 35/100 | 95 |
| Parakou | $707 | 85/100 | 101/200 | 33/100 | 95 |
| Godomè | $707 | 85/100 | 101/200 | 33/100 | 95 |
| Abomey | $680 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 31/100 | 95 |
| Djougou | $673 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 30/100 | 95 |
| Bohicon | $672 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 30/100 | 95 |
| Ekpé | $665 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 29/100 | 94 |
| Nikki | $660 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 29/100 | 93 |
| Malanville | $659 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 29/100 | 93 |
| Kandi | $654 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| KĂ©rou | $654 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Natitingou | $653 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Pobé | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Ouidah | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Lokossa | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Bassila | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Tchaourou | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Cové | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Sakété | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Comé | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Missérété | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Dogbo | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| KĂ©tou | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Savalou | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Banikoara | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| PĂ©honko | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Kalalé | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Sinendé | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Banigbé | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Savé | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Bembèrèkè | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Dassa-Zoumè | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Kopargo | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Kouandé | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Tanguiéta | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| Kpozoun | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| SĂ© | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
| SĂ©gbana | $651 | 85/100 | 100/200 | 28/100 | 92 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Verified school profiles for families comparing language model, grade range, credentials, and admissions next steps in Benin. Tuition appears only when published in verified public sources.
4
Verified records
1
Cities covered
3
Credential signals
Cotonou
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school, Middle school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Cotonou
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.
Healthcare system overview for Benin
Recommended PartnerReal coverage for real life abroad. Not travel insurance. Not hoping for the best.
A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
Air quality, water, and environmental conditions in Benin
Pollution Index
100/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
51.0ug/m3
Unhealthy
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Common questions about living in Benin, answered with data
Benin has a cost of living index of 33 relative to New York City (100). It is significantly cheaper than the US. Monthly costs for a single person start around $680 in Abomey and reach $795 in Porto-Novo.
Abomey is the most affordable city in Benin in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $680 for a single person including rent. Parakou is the next most affordable at $707/mo.
Benin has a safety index of 85/100, making it very safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Parakou scores highest on safety at 85/100.
Porto-Novo ranks highest for quality of life in Benin, scoring 101/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $795/mo for a single person. For budget-conscious expats, Abomey offers the lowest monthly costs at $680/mo.
Benin scores 32/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it limited in some areas by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Yes. Benin's cost of living is roughly 67% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 75% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
Benin has a pollution index of 100/100 (lower = cleaner). Pollution can be a concern in urban areas. Research specific cities before committing, as rural and coastal areas typically fare better.
Your pre-departure checklist for Benin
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Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources
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