Cotonou vs Tamarin: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Tamarin costs roughly 2.5x less than Cotonou. The cost gap makes Tamarin the stronger pick for financial independence. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Tamarin is approximately 5.3x more expensive than Cotonou based on cost of living including rent. This makes Cotonou a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Cotonou has a FIRE Score of 76/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 65, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Cotonou is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Cotonou
Cotonou is a bargain for renters, with a city-centre one-bedroom at $180/mo and a three-bedroom outside the centre at $410/mo, but the average monthly net salary of $256/mo means most locals cannot touch those prices. Expats on foreign income will find the comfortable tier at $833/mo genuinely comfortable, and the overall expat score of 74/100 reflects that. The catch is infrastructure: 18 Mbps internet, fair healthcare, and an air quality index of 68 are the trade-offs for a cost of living index of 45/100. Come for the FIRE score of 76/100, stay if you can tolerate a small expat community and tropical heat at 10 m above sea level.
About Benin
Benin is best for FIRE & GeoArbitrage seekers due to its low cost of living, with a 1BR in the city center costing just $137.25/month, and single monthly expenses excluding rent around $500. However, the lack of a digital nomad or retirement visa, limited English proficiency, and a healthcare index of 29.8 make long-term residency and medical care challenging.
$2,352/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
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About Tamarin
Tamarin is a sleepy, low-cost coastal town that punches above its weight for retirees and FIRE seekers, with a safety index of 80 and a comfortable monthly budget of $1,142. The $24,000 monthly income requirement for the Mauritius Retirement Permit is absurdly high for a place where the average local salary is $842, but the $1,500 threshold for the Premium Visa makes it a no-brainer for digital nomads. Rent is a steal at $947 for a one-bedroom in the center, and a cappuccino costs just $3, but don't expect fast internet at 25 Mbps or any urban energy from a population of 3,000. If you want cheap, safe, and boring, Tamarin delivers; if you need nightlife or career opportunities, look elsewhere.
About Mauritius
A clear pathway to permanent residency and citizenship exists here, with clear citizenship access down the line. Retirees clearing $24,000/mo transferred income and remote workers hitting $1,500/mo should look past that ceiling given rent as low as $314.16/mo outside the center and a flat 15% income tax. High expat friendliness (8/10) and common English-speaking doctors round out a low-cost, low-friction base.
$2,311/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Cotonou | Tamarin |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $179.51 | $946.97 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $166.69 | $420.88 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $598.36 | $1578.28 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $410.3 | $841.75 |
| Safety Index | 65 | 80 |
| Internet Speed | 18Mbps | 25Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Cotonou | Tamarin |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $731/mo | $767/mo |
| Excluding rent | $564/mo | $346/mo |
| Rent | $167/mo | $421/mo |
| Groceries | $155/mo | $119/mo |
| Dining out | $51.00/mo | $58.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $127/mo | $85.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $231/mo | $84.00/mo |
| Transport | N/A | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Cotonou vs Tamarin -- Frequently Asked Questions
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