MigrantoCost of living in the Central African Republic
Average monthly spending, by standard of living and against other countries
Monthly cost
FCFA 19,300
what a typical person spends
Spending by standard of living
FCFA 7,940richest 20%
FCFA 66,900
Central African Republic is one of the least expensive places to fund a basic life, and also one of the most uneven. Years of conflict have thinned out the formal economy, so local goods and labor come cheap while anything brought from outside is scarce and dear. The distance between how the best-off and worst-off live is a chasm — an ordinary life costs almost nothing, and a small, expensive bubble sits well above it.
Living-cost calculator
What it costs to live in the Central African Republic
Tell us what you earn and spend today — we'll estimate what the same lifestyle would cost in the Central African Republic and how much you could have left each month
- What your lifestyle costs
- How much could be left each month
- How it compares with today
Cost of living in the Central African Republic
FCFA 7,940/mo
vs FCFA 454,000 in your country
Take-home
FCFA 102,000
vs FCFA 681,000 in your country
Potential savings
FCFA 93,600
more than in your country
Standard of living
Under a minute, no sign-up
How living costs in the Central African Republic compare
Set against the rest of the world, this is about as cheap as living gets, and it sits near the floor within Africa too. The low cost isn't the sign of a comfortable bargain so much as of an economy where very little money changes hands. For someone deciding, what you'd pay matters less than what's actually there to buy at any price.
Data source: household consumption 2024 (World Bank), International Comparison Program 2021 (World Bank), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
Ask Migo
Tap a question — our AI assistant answers it in chat
Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in the Central African Republic?
A typical person in the Central African Republic spends about FCFA 19,300 a month — around FCFA 231,000 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 the Central African Republic in US dollars?
The cost of living in the Central African Republic is about $34 a month, or roughly $408 a year per person.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in the Central African Republic?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about FCFA 7,940 a month per person, a typical one around FCFA 19,300, and a comfortable life around FCFA 28,900. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
Is the Central African Republic an expensive country to live in?
No. The Central African Republic is more expensive than 3% of countries worldwide and ranks 48th of 53 in Africa by cost of living.
Where to live?
Match a country to your priorities
Living in the Central African Republic
See the full country overview