MigrantoCost of living in Burkina Faso
What a month costs, how prices compare with other countries, and where the money goes
Monthly cost in Burkina Faso
Spending runs from F CFA 14,700 a month in the poorest fifth to F CFA 87,300 in the richest
Per person, whole country
F CFA 30,600
what a typical person spends in a month
Spending across the population
F CFA 14,700richest 20%
F CFA 87,300
Where people spend money in Burkina Faso
One person's out-of-pocket spending, averaged across the whole country
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Key facts
The cost of living in Burkina Faso in numbers
Groceries takes an unusual share of the budget
It absorbs 52.5% of spending here, or F CFA 15,900 a month, against 19.7% in a typical country, 32.8 points more.
Typical spending takes 27% of the average wage
A typical person spends F CFA 30,600 a month while the average take-home wage is F CFA 114,000, so 73% of an average wage sits above what a typical person spends.
How living costs in Burkina Faso compare
Neighbours, region and the world on the same monthly figure
What things cost here
How much the same goods and services cost in Burkina Faso against other countries
Cheaper than 77% of countries
Where Burkina Faso sits when every country is lined up from cheapest to most expensive
Pakistanmost expensive
Bermuda
middle
A basket of goods and services that costs F CFA 567,000 at world-middle prices costs F CFA 436,000 here.
Data source: household consumption 2024 (World Bank), International Comparison Program 2021 (World Bank), category breakdown 2022 (United Nations Statistics Division), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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What it costs to live in Burkina Faso
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Cost of living in Burkina Faso
F CFA 14,700/mo
vs F CFA 454,000 in your country
Take-home
F CFA 45,600
vs F CFA 681,000 in your country
Potential savings
F CFA 30,800
more than in your country
Standard of living
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in Burkina Faso?
A typical person in Burkina Faso spends about F CFA 30,600 a month — around F CFA 367,000 a year — on housing, groceries, transport and other everyday costs. It's a nationwide average across different regions, cities and types of housing.
What is the standard of living in Burkina Faso?
By spending, Burkina Faso ranks #168 of 185 countries. A typical person spends about F CFA 30,600 a month, the poorest 20% about F CFA 14,700 and the richest 20% about F CFA 87,300. The gap between them shows how unevenly people live.
What is the cost of living in Burkina Faso in US dollars?
The cost of living in Burkina Faso is about $54 a month, or roughly $648 a year per person.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Burkina Faso?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about F CFA 14,700 a month per person, a typical one around F CFA 30,600, and a comfortable life around F CFA 41,400. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
What do people spend the most on in Burkina Faso?
The biggest expense is groceries, at about F CFA 15,900 a month (53% of spending). Then come housing (F CFA 3,970, 13%) and home & household (F CFA 2,270, 8%).
Is the average salary in Burkina Faso enough to live on?
Yes, with room to spare. Average spending is about F CFA 30,600 a month, while the average take-home pay in Burkina Faso is about F CFA 114,000. For more on incomes, see salaries in Burkina Faso.
Is Burkina Faso an expensive country to live in?
No. Burkina Faso is more expensive than 9% of countries worldwide and ranks 36th of 53 in Africa by cost of living.
What currency is used in Burkina Faso?
Burkina Faso uses the West African CFA Franc (XOF). Amounts on this page are shown in it; the currency switcher converts them.
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Living in Burkina Faso
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