What budget to travel Benin? Money and currency

What budget for activities and outings Benin?

In Benin, there are no free passes of any kind. In any case, prices rarely soar... However, traveling with an incoming agency, and therefore a guide and driver, will always save you a few "extras" at checkout...

For a good workout in Cotonou, head for the beach in the Fidjrossè district at the start of the Route des Pêches. Since the road has been paved, the beach is only a few minutes from downtown. This major transformation means that you can now go for a swim on one of the many beaches designed for restaurants and bars that have sprung up like mushrooms in recent years. Beach volleyball, beach soccer, jogging, swimming (without losing your footing, as it's dangerous)... You can work up a sweat without spending much. The same goes for Grand-Popo, where you'll find the country's largest and most beautiful beach. At Lake Ahémé, there are also a number of ways to work up a sweat: kayaking or canoeing on the lake, or mountain biking or running around in running shoes. Last but not least, the hotel swimming pools (often open to outsiders for a fee) allow you to take a dip.

Except in the chic stores of Cotonou, leave your credit card in your suitcase and bring cash.

It's not all nightclubs! At weekends, the country's bars offer extended parties, sometimes even with DJs or live bands. Evenings where you can dance the night away and finish up at sunrise. More and more bars are opening in the Fidjrossè area.

What budget to eat Benin?

There's something for every taste and budget. You can eat on the street or in a maquis (between 1,000 and 2,000 FCFA), or treat yourself to a gourmet meal in a good restaurant. Maquis offer very simple dishes: braised chicken or peanut sauce, spaghetti, brochettes, etc. These cheap eateries are often a good opportunity to meet the local population and make friends. Small restaurants offer African and European cuisine, in addition to these low-cost options. In Cotonou, a few restaurants with more elaborate menus prepare excellent European, African, Italian and even Asian cuisine. Fish and shellfish lovers will also be delighted, with fine fish and seafood offerings, notably on the beaches of Fidjrossè in Cotonou or in the seaside resort of Grand Popo in the south-west.

Bars and cafés are generally open all day from 8 or 9am, until 11pm, or even 1am for some. Some bars organize concerts by local bands, especially in Cotonou.

Petite Béninoise, the local beer, costs 500 FCFA in 25 cl bottles. A cocktail costs between 2,500 and 3,000 FCFA. A soda, known in Benin as a "sucrerie", costs 300 FCFA.

What is the budget for accommodation Benin?

As soon as you leave Benin's major cities, tourism is underdeveloped, as is the hotel infrastructure. To discover a region, it's best to secure a bed and breakfast in a town from which you can radiate. Room rates vary from region to region. In the south, and especially in Cotonou, prices are higher than in the north.

In hotels offering rudimentary comfort, rates for generally ventilated rooms range from 6,500 to 15,000 FCFA (except in Cotonou). Room furnishings are generally reduced to the bare minimum: a bed, a chair, a small table and a bathroom. In the most spartan establishments, a bucket of water is used as a shower, but this is rare.

In the superior hotel category, prices start at 12,000 FCFA for ventilated rooms, and range overall from 16,000 to 70,000 FCFA for air-conditioned rooms. In this category, quality establishments are beginning to appear in some towns. Top-of-the-range hotels are becoming increasingly rare, but are mainly to be found in Cotonou.

Please note that a tax of 1,500 FCFA is added to the room rate. We have included this in the prices given in this guide.

As for means of payment, very few accommodations outside Cotonou offer a credit card payment service. You should therefore always bring cash, bearing in mind that all banks in the country are equipped with ATMs and accept Visa and Mastercard.

Travel budget Benin and cost of living

Foreigners, especially white ones, are considered wealthy. Indeed, the simple price of a plane ticket to Benin represents a fortune for the vast majority of the population. To get an idea of the gap between income and living standards, remember that the minimum wage in Benin is 52,000 FCFA, the equivalent of barely €80.
Many things will seem very cheap compared to what you're used to. However, to travel, you may need to use expensive services: car rental, tours organized by travel agencies, luxury hotels or high-end restaurants. This can add up to a hefty bill. On the other hand, adventurers can get by just fine if they travel by bush cab or bus, eat in maquis and sleep in small hotels.

Small budget: between 15,000 FCFA and 25,000 FCFA, including accommodation in a ventilated room, bus travel and meals in small maquis.

Medium budget: between FCFA 20,000 and FCFA 60,000, including accommodation in small hotels with air-conditioned rooms, bus travel and meals in quality restaurants.

Big budget: from 60,000 FCFA upwards, and the price becomes very high if you travel by rental car: count around 75,000 FCFA per day for a 4x4 with driver outside Cotonou.

In Benin, haggling is the order of the day when it comes to buying souvenirs or staying in small hotels. Here's a tip: divide the advertised price (at least) by two, then increase it little by little until you come to an agreement with your contact.