MigrantoCost of living in Burkina Faso
Average monthly spending, by standard of living, by category, and against other countries
Monthly cost
F CFA 30,600
what a typical person spends
Spending by standard of living
F CFA 14,700richest 20%
F CFA 87,300
Burkina Faso is a landlocked Sahel country leaning on gold and cotton, with a euro-pegged currency and prices that sit low even by the region's standards. Locally grown food and labour cost very little, and a roof over your head doesn't press on the budget the way it does in pricier places. Between a comfortable life and a frugal one the gap is moderate — noticeable, but a long way from a chasm.
Where people spend money in Burkina Faso
In Burkina Faso the biggest part of a month's spending goes on groceries, with rent after that but lighter than you'd expect, and the everyday business of running a household behind both. Day-to-day food is the cost that won't budge, while housing leaves more room to breathe than in most places. It's the household odds and ends, more than rent, where a careful budget finds its give.
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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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How living costs in Burkina Faso compare
Burkina Faso is one of the cheapest countries in the world to live in, and even against the rest of Africa it comes in below the middle — cheaper than most of its neighbours, not just the wider world. Low wages and cheap home-grown food do most of that work, and a light housing burden keeps the whole picture down rather than any single cost standing out.
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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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 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.
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Living in Burkina Faso
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