EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COTONOU

You want to relocate to Benin Republic, and you have the city of Cotonou in mind. This article addresses what you need to prepare for ahead for your daily living experience in the city. This is drawn from firsthand experiences. We assume that you have made your research about the geographical features of the city and the travel documents you need. So let us dive into what it is likely going to be like when you land in the country.

Transportation in Cotonou

From the moment you get to the bus park at Seme or Tokpa, or from the airport, prepare your mind to be exploited by transporters if you do not speak French or Fon. As long as you give off vibes of being new, you are going to be exploited, well except you take car hailing services such as Gozem. Motorcycles, popularly known as Kekenor”, are the most commonly available transportation. Fares should range between 200 CFA to 800 CFA. But you may be charged 5,000 CFA by greedy kekenors. A journey of 20 minutes generally costs 800 CFA. So, watch out for yourself.

You can opt to take their Tokpa-Tokpa buses. But it may be difficult for you to communicate with the conductors who often do not speak French. So, if you have a local guide or a friend or relative who speaks Fon, it will be easier for you to find your way around.

You may choose to use a car hailing service such as Gozem or Beninfy. Their prices are official and fixed just like Bolt and Uber. Ensure you download their app before leaving your home country. And this takes us to the next challenge you will likely face – Internet connection.

Internet Connection and Telecommunication Services in Cotonou

MTN has a large presence in Benin Republic. There are other popular telco companies such as Celtis, and Moov. Each sim pack cost between 300 to 500 CFA. And it can be registered using your International Passport or your ECOWAS Travel Document. Then you can buy Credit (airtime) on it and/or Internet (data subscription). We were pleasantly surprised that their Unlimited is actually unlimited, unlike in Nigeria where Unlimited was pegged at 40gb until the telcos scrapped it. Unlimited data bundles start from 15,000 CFA for 20gb. You get high speed internet for your unlimited until you consume the cap bundle, and the speed is downgraded to 1Mbps till the end of 30 days.

You can buy 20,000 CFA for 40gb, or 30,000 CFA for 80gb. You can also buy smaller amounts such as 200 CFA but they last for 24 hours. 1000 CFA lasts for 1 week but do not count on it.

Accommodation in Cotonou

You are getting tired of your hotel room and you need to rent an apartment. There are no fixed prices for houses here. There are single room ensuite, Sittingroom and 1 bedroom ensuite, and 2 or 3 bedroom apartments. The cost of rent depends on the fixtures in the house. Furnished single room or sittingroom and 1 bedroom apartments cost about 90,000 CFA and 150,000 CFA monthly respectively. The term “furnished” here means the house as air-conditioners fixed. Airbnb apartments cost about 20,000 CFA per day.

For us, the term “poorly built” refers to houses where the kitchen and toilet share one door and no window. It seems that house builders in Benin Republic do not understand what hygiene is. They often put the toilet and kitchen in one space. Fumes from your cooking go into the toilet, and germs from the toilet go into the kitchen. Worse, the only window links to the bedroom.

Some houses are “properly built”, in which the toilet is standalone and has its own window which leads outside, and the kitchen is standalone with proper ventilation. In the list below, apartments vary according to the house fixtures and location. Many 3-bedroom apartments and higher are standalone in the compound, that is there are no neighbours in that compound. This type tends to be very expensive.

Note, you are required by law to deposit 3 months rent ahead, then you will pay for the current month you want to use. That makes 4 month. You will also pay the agency in charge of the house (if any) 1 month of your rent as commission. And you will be required to deposit some amount as Caution for your utility usage.

When you are leaving the house, you are free to demand for your Caution and 3 months deposit. This is a dicey one though because many agents and landlords find it difficult to pay these monies, and they may deceive you to leave the money. So, before you pay money to an agent, KNOW THEIR OFFICE. This is important so that when they refuse to pay you, you are to report to the police who will issue a convocation to the agent which you will take to the office. If you do not know their office, that may be the end of your money. Or you use the house for the period that your money covers.

Cost of Utilities in Cotonou

The bigger your house, the higher your amenities costs rise. Electricity costs 125 CFA per unit if you are connected to the main electricity supplier. Others sell at 200 CFA per unit. With just 2 laptops, 4 bulbs and 1 ceiling fan, you are likely to consume 12 units per month. When you throw in a fridge, a tv, 1 AC, and electric iron, you are looking at 110 units per month.

Water costs about 150 CFA per unit. Each apartment is supposed to have its own water meter and electricity meter. It is important to ask for the house utility bill before packing in, as some landlords pile up debt on the meters and you will be disconnected when officials from the relevant body come to your house. Those landlords collect Caution from past tenants but find it difficult to clear the debts left by those tenants, leaving the debts for the next tenant to clear. Although, if you clear a previous bill used by the previous tenant, you are allowed to deduct it from your next rent.

Cost of Food in Cotonou

Food is cheap. Food is affordable even to those earning minimum wage. Foodstuffs such as rice, beans, fish, meat, and others are measured in kilogram. This reduces cheating and haggling as the measurements and prices are fixed. But in the open market, you may need to bring your negotiating powers.

How much do you need to survive in Cotonou?

As a single person living in a well-built sittingroom and 1 bedroom, you will live fine with 100,000 CFA per month inclusive rent but excluding utility bills. Same for a couple with no kids. If you earn $300 monthly or more, you will enjoy living in Cotonou.

What about education in Benin Republic?

We will discuss this in a later article. Although, you may need to register your child for an online lesson to keep their mind academically alert and active. There are other cheaper regions apart from Cotonou, such as Calavi, Porto Novo. We will discuss them in later articles. If you need a guide to help you settle down in your first month, send us a message here. We will ensure you find your stay enjoyable and peaceful.

Relocate to Cotonou, Benin?