Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Ivory Coast Property Pack
Everything you need to know before buying real estate is included in our Ivory Coast Property Pack
If you're thinking about retiring in Ivory Coast, the first question on your mind is probably how much money you'll actually need to live there.
This guide breaks down real costs for retirees in Ivory Coast in 2026, from bare-bones survival budgets to luxury living, plus housing prices, taxes, visas, and healthcare.
We constantly update this blog post with the latest data so you always have current numbers for your planning.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Ivory Coast.
How much money do I need to retire in Ivory Coast right now?
What's the absolute minimum monthly budget to survive in Ivory Coast?
The absolute minimum monthly budget to survive in Ivory Coast in 2026 is around 600,000 XOF, which equals roughly $1,000 USD or about 950 EUR, and this assumes you live in Abidjan where most foreigners settle because of better healthcare and services.
At this minimum budget level in Ivory Coast, you can cover a simple one-bedroom apartment in cheaper neighborhoods like Yopougon or Abobo (150,000 to 250,000 XOF), local food (150,000 to 220,000 XOF), public transportation via SOTRA buses (20,000 to 40,000 XOF), and basic utilities including mobile data (60,000 to 120,000 XOF).
Living on this minimum budget in Ivory Coast means you will need to skip air conditioning most of the time, avoid expat neighborhoods entirely, rarely eat out, and accept longer commutes since affordable housing is far from central Abidjan.
What lifestyle do I get with $2,000/month in Ivory Coast in 2026?
As of early 2026, a budget of $2,000 per month (around 1.2 million XOF) in Ivory Coast gives you a comfortable upper-middle retiree lifestyle in Abidjan with access to decent housing, regular air conditioning, and the ability to dine out weekly without stress.
On $2,000 per month in Ivory Coast, you can afford a solid one-bedroom or modest two-bedroom apartment in neighborhoods like Cocody Angré, Riviera Palmeraie, or parts of Bingerville, with rents typically running 400,000 to 600,000 XOF ($670 to $1,000 USD or 630 to 950 EUR).
At this budget level in Ivory Coast, you can enjoy a gym membership, fiber internet, occasional taxi rides instead of always taking SOTRA buses, and weekend trips to nearby beach towns like Grand-Bassam without worrying too much about the bill.
The main limitation at $2,000 per month in Ivory Coast is that you will still need to be careful with healthcare costs since one unexpected hospitalization could strain your budget, so private health insurance becomes essential rather than optional.
What lifestyle do I get with $3,000/month in Ivory Coast in 2026?
As of early 2026, a budget of $3,000 per month (around 1.8 million XOF) in Ivory Coast gives you an expat-comfort lifestyle with the freedom to live in popular international neighborhoods and enjoy regular restaurants, taxis, and weekend getaways.
On $3,000 per month in Ivory Coast, you can afford a nicer two-bedroom or well-furnished one-bedroom in sought-after expat zones like Zone 4 in Marcory, Biétry, Riviera 3 or 4, or II Plateaux, where rents typically run 800,000 to 1.2 million XOF ($1,300 to $2,000 USD or 1,250 to 1,900 EUR).
At this budget level in Ivory Coast, you can dine at popular Abidjan restaurants several times per week, use ride-hailing apps like Yango regularly instead of public transit, take weekend trips to Grand-Bassam or Assinie, and hire a household helper a few days per week to handle cleaning and cooking.
The key upgrade from $2,000 to $3,000 per month in Ivory Coast is location and security, since you can now live in gated compounds with guards, reliable water pressure, and backup generators, which dramatically improves daily comfort during power cuts or water shortages.
What lifestyle do I get with $5,000/month in Ivory Coast in 2026?
As of early 2026, a budget of $5,000 per month (around 3 million XOF) in Ivory Coast gives you a very comfortable high-end Abidjan lifestyle, while $10,000 per month (around 6 million XOF) puts you firmly in the luxury expat category with premium housing, staff, and frequent international travel.
At $5,000 per month in Ivory Coast, you can rent a large three-bedroom apartment or a villa in prestigious areas like Riviera Golf, Cocody Danga, Vallon in II Plateaux, or M'Badon, with rents running 1.5 to 2.5 million XOF ($2,500 to $4,200 USD or 2,400 to 4,000 EUR), while at $10,000 per month you can access the most exclusive villas and duplexes with private pools and full staff quarters.
At the $5,000 to $10,000 per month range in Ivory Coast, you gain access to premium private hospitals like Clinique La Providence or Polyclinique Internationale Sainte Anne-Marie, full-time domestic staff (driver, cook, housekeeper), memberships at the Golf Club d'Abidjan, and the financial cushion to handle medical emergencies, currency fluctuations, or sudden trips home without stress.
How much for a "comfortable" retirement in Ivory Coast in 2026?
As of early 2026, the target monthly budget for a comfortable retirement in Ivory Coast is around 1.5 million XOF, which equals roughly $2,500 USD or about 2,400 EUR, and this provides a good balance between quality of life and financial security.
To stay safe in Ivory Coast, you should add a buffer of 20% on top of your comfortable budget, which means planning for around $3,000 USD (1.8 million XOF or 2,850 EUR) per month to absorb electricity spikes during hot season, rent increases at renewal time, imported goods inflation, and unexpected healthcare costs.
A comfortable retirement budget in Ivory Coast covers things that a basic budget cannot, including regular air conditioning use, private health insurance with good hospital access, dining out weekly, occasional domestic help, a gym membership, and enough flexibility to handle visa renewal costs and administrative fees without cutting into your daily living expenses.
How much for a "luxury" retirement in Ivory Coast in 2026?
As of early 2026, the target monthly budget for a luxury retirement in Ivory Coast is between 3.6 and 4.8 million XOF, which equals roughly $6,000 to $8,000 USD or about 5,700 to 7,600 EUR, and this level allows you to live without financial compromise.
A luxury retirement budget in Ivory Coast covers premium housing in the best neighborhoods (1.5 to 2.5 million XOF or $2,500 to $4,200 USD per month), full-service lifestyle with driver and domestic staff, top-tier private healthcare and comprehensive international insurance, and frequent travel both within West Africa and back to your home country.
The most popular neighborhoods among luxury retirees in Ivory Coast include Riviera Golf, Cocody Ambassades, II Plateaux Vallon, and the exclusive parts of Biétry and Zone 4 in Marcory, where you find secure compounds, modern infrastructure, and proximity to international schools, embassies, and premium medical facilities.
The main advantage of a luxury budget in Ivory Coast beyond comfort is resilience, since you can absorb any shock (a major health event, currency depreciation, or family emergency back home) without needing to downgrade your housing or lifestyle, which provides peace of mind that is hard to put a price on.
We have made this infographic to give you a quick and clear snapshot of the property market in Ivory Coast. It highlights key facts like rental prices, yields, and property costs both in city centers and outside, so you can easily compare opportunities. We’ve done some research and also included useful insights about the country’s economy, like GDP, population, and interest rates, to help you understand the bigger picture.
What are the real monthly expenses for retirees in Ivory Coast in 2026?
What is a realistic monthly budget breakdown by category in Ivory Coast?
A realistic monthly budget breakdown for a comfortable retiree in Ivory Coast in 2026 looks roughly like this: rent ($900 or 860 EUR), utilities ($200 or 190 EUR), internet and mobile ($60 or 57 EUR), food ($420 or 400 EUR), transport ($150 or 145 EUR), healthcare ($250 or 240 EUR), leisure ($250 or 240 EUR), and admin costs ($90 or 86 EUR), totaling around $2,300 to $2,500 USD.
Housing costs typically represent the largest share of a retiree's monthly budget in Ivory Coast, usually between 35% and 40% of total expenses, which means around 550,000 XOF ($920 USD or 875 EUR) for a comfortable one-bedroom in a decent Abidjan neighborhood like Cocody or Riviera Palmeraie.
Food and groceries in Ivory Coast usually take up about 15% to 20% of a retiree's monthly budget, which works out to 250,000 to 350,000 XOF ($420 to $580 USD or 400 to 555 EUR) depending on how often you eat local dishes versus imported products.
The budget category that varies most depending on personal lifestyle choices in Ivory Coast is utilities, because air conditioning usage can swing your electricity bill from 50,000 XOF ($83 USD) per month with minimal cooling to over 200,000 XOF ($335 USD) if you run the AC heavily during the hot season.
What fees surprise foreigners most after moving to Ivory Coast?
The top three hidden fees that surprise foreigners in Ivory Coast are residency paperwork costs (repeated translations, legalizations, and document updates that add up quickly), local property-related taxes like the taxe de voirie and taxe d'hygiène that appear even when you think you are just renting, and electricity bill volatility when you underestimate how much air conditioning actually costs.
When first arriving in Ivory Coast, foreigners should budget for one-time setup and administrative fees totaling 150,000 to 400,000 XOF ($250 to $670 USD or 240 to 635 EUR), which covers visa processing, resident card application, apartment deposits (often two to three months rent), utility connection fees, and the inevitable document translations and photos required for official paperwork.
What's the average rent for a 1-bedroom or a 2-bedroom in Ivory Coast in 2026?
As of early 2026, the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Abidjan, Ivory Coast is around 270,000 XOF ($450 USD or 430 EUR) outside the city center and around 450,000 XOF ($750 USD or 715 EUR) in central locations, while two-bedroom apartments typically run 30% to 50% higher depending on the neighborhood.
For a one-bedroom in Ivory Coast, rents range from as low as 150,000 XOF ($250 USD or 240 EUR) in budget neighborhoods like Yopougon or Abobo to over 1,000,000 XOF ($1,670 USD or 1,590 EUR) in premium expat zones like Biétry or II Plateaux Vallon.
For a two-bedroom in Ivory Coast, rents range from around 250,000 XOF ($420 USD or 400 EUR) in outer areas to 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 XOF ($2,500 to $3,350 USD or 2,400 to 3,180 EUR) for modern furnished units in high-demand neighborhoods like Zone 4 or Riviera Golf.
The neighborhoods that offer the best value for retirees seeking affordable rent in Ivory Coast include Angré in Cocody, Riviera Palmeraie, and parts of Bingerville, where you can find decent quality housing in the 300,000 to 500,000 XOF ($500 to $835 USD or 480 to 795 EUR) range with reasonable access to services and clinics.
By the way, we've written a blog article detailing what are the latest rent data in Ivory Coast.
What do utilities cost monthly in Ivory Coast in 2026?
As of early 2026, the total monthly utilities cost for a typical retiree apartment in Ivory Coast ranges from 50,000 to 200,000 XOF ($85 to $335 USD or 80 to 320 EUR), with the wide range depending almost entirely on how much you use air conditioning.
In Ivory Coast, electricity is the biggest utility expense and can run from 30,000 to 150,000 XOF ($50 to $250 USD or 48 to 240 EUR) monthly depending on AC usage, while water from SODECI typically costs 10,000 to 25,000 XOF ($17 to $42 USD or 16 to 40 EUR), and gas for cooking runs around 5,000 to 15,000 XOF ($8 to $25 USD or 8 to 24 EUR) per month.
Internet and mobile phone service in Ivory Coast typically costs around 35,000 to 50,000 XOF ($60 to $85 USD or 55 to 80 EUR) per month for a decent fiber connection plus a mobile plan with enough data for regular use.
What's the monthly food and transportation budget for one person in Ivory Coast in 2026?
As of early 2026, the combined monthly food and transportation budget for one person in Ivory Coast ranges from 170,000 to 550,000 XOF ($285 to $920 USD or 270 to 875 EUR) depending on whether you eat local food and take public transit or prefer imported groceries and taxis.
The realistic monthly grocery budget for a single retiree cooking at home in Ivory Coast ranges from 150,000 to 250,000 XOF ($250 to $420 USD or 240 to 400 EUR) if you focus on local markets and produce, or 300,000 to 400,000 XOF ($500 to $670 USD or 480 to 635 EUR) if you regularly buy imported products from supermarkets.
Dining out regularly in Ivory Coast instead of cooking at home adds roughly 100,000 to 200,000 XOF ($170 to $335 USD or 160 to 320 EUR) per month to your food budget, since a meal at an inexpensive local restaurant costs around 3,000 to 5,000 XOF while a mid-range restaurant meal runs 10,000 to 20,000 XOF.
Monthly transportation costs in Ivory Coast range from 20,000 to 40,000 XOF ($33 to $67 USD or 32 to 64 EUR) if you rely mostly on SOTRA buses and shared taxis, up to 100,000 to 200,000 XOF ($170 to $335 USD or 160 to 320 EUR) if you use ride-hailing apps frequently or own a scooter or car with fuel and maintenance costs.
Get fresh and reliable information about the market in Ivory Coast
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Can I retire in Ivory Coast if I want to buy property in 2026?
What's the average home price in Ivory Coast in 2026?
As of early 2026, the average home price in Abidjan, Ivory Coast is around 1,300,000 XOF per square meter ($2,170 USD or 2,065 EUR) in city center locations and around 392,000 XOF per square meter ($655 USD or 625 EUR) in areas outside the center, which means an 80 square meter apartment can range from roughly 31 million XOF ($52,000 USD) to 104 million XOF ($173,000 USD).
Home prices in Ivory Coast range widely from around 25 million XOF ($42,000 USD or 40,000 EUR) for a basic apartment in outer neighborhoods like Yopougon or Abobo, to over 200 million XOF ($335,000 USD or 320,000 EUR) for premium properties in exclusive areas like Riviera Golf or Cocody Ambassades.
For retirees in Ivory Coast, apartments in developing but accessible neighborhoods like Angré, Bingerville, or Riviera Palmeraie often offer the best value, combining reasonable prices per square meter with improving infrastructure and proximity to healthcare facilities, which matters more than prestige for most retirees.
Please note that you will find all the information you need in our pack about properties in Ivory Coast.
What down payment do foreigners usually need in Ivory Coast in 2026?
As of early 2026, foreigners buying property in Ivory Coast typically need a down payment of at least 20% of the purchase price, which means around 6 to 21 million XOF ($10,000 to $35,000 USD or 9,500 to 33,500 EUR) for properties in the 31 to 104 million XOF range.
Foreigners in Ivory Coast often face stricter lending requirements than locals, with many banks requiring higher down payments or simply not offering mortgages to non-residents at all, which is why many foreign retirees end up paying cash or arranging financing from their home country instead.
We have a document entirely dedicated to the mortgage process in our pack about properties in Ivory Coast.
You can also read our latest update about mortgage and interest rates in Ivory Coast.
What's the all-in monthly cost to own in Ivory Coast in 2026?
As of early 2026, the all-in monthly cost to own a typical property in Ivory Coast (excluding mortgage payments if you finance) runs around 80,000 to 160,000 XOF ($135 to $270 USD or 125 to 255 EUR) for property taxes, maintenance, and insurance on a 30 to 50 million XOF apartment.
The all-in monthly ownership figure in Ivory Coast includes property tax (impôt sur le patrimoine foncier) calculated on rental value, local municipal levies like the taxe de voirie and taxe d'hygiène, building maintenance or sinking fund contributions, and basic property insurance, which together add up to roughly 1% to 1.5% of property value per year.
Typical monthly property tax in Ivory Coast runs around 30,000 to 80,000 XOF ($50 to $135 USD or 48 to 125 EUR) depending on assessed rental value, while maintenance fees or building charges (for apartments in managed compounds) add another 25,000 to 75,000 XOF ($42 to $125 USD or 40 to 120 EUR) per month.
The hidden ownership cost that catches new buyers off guard in Ivory Coast is the combination of local municipal taxes (taxe de voirie, taxe d'hygiène, taxe d'assainissement) that appear on top of property tax, plus the cost of generator fuel and maintenance if your building has unreliable electricity, which many do.
By the way, we also have a blog article detailing the property taxes and fees in Ivory Coast.
Is buying cheaper than renting in Ivory Coast in 2026?
As of early 2026, buying property in Ivory Coast can be cheaper than renting in many outside-center Abidjan neighborhoods, where a 30 million XOF property ($50,000 USD) might rent for 300,000 XOF ($500 USD) per month, giving a gross rent-to-price ratio of around 12%, which favors buying if you plan to stay long-term.
The typical break-even point in Ivory Coast where buying becomes clearly cheaper than renting is around 7 to 10 years, accounting for transaction costs (notary fees, registration taxes), ongoing ownership expenses, and the opportunity cost of tying up your capital in property.
The key factors that make buying more attractive than renting for retirees in Ivory Coast include the relatively high rent-to-price ratios outside premium expat zones, the stability of owning your home without rent increases, and the protection against currency fluctuations if your income is in a foreign currency, but these advantages only materialize if you verify clear property title through a notary and avoid the overpriced "expat-only" submarket where prices are inflated.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Ivory Coast versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
What visas, taxes, and healthcare costs should I plan for in Ivory Coast in 2026?
What retirement visa options exist in Ivory Coast in 2026?
As of early 2026, Ivory Coast does not offer a dedicated retirement visa program, so most foreign retirees enter using the official e-visa (around $100 USD or 95 EUR) and then apply for a Carte de Résident (resident card) through ONECI, which costs approximately 50,000 to 100,000 XOF ($85 to $170 USD or 80 to 160 EUR) in official fees plus document preparation costs.
To qualify for residency in Ivory Coast, retirees must provide proof of pension income (a pension slip is explicitly required on the resident card checklist), a recent police background certificate, proof of accommodation, and other documents that must be translated and sometimes legalized, though there is no specific minimum income threshold published.
The typical annual visa and residency renewal cost in Ivory Coast runs around $300 to $700 USD (180,000 to 420,000 XOF or 285 to 665 EUR) when you factor in renewal fees, updated documents, translations, photos, transport to offices, and the occasional need to re-obtain time-sensitive paperwork like police certificates or residence confirmations.
The most common visa mistake foreign retirees make in Ivory Coast is underestimating the "document freshness" requirement, since many required documents like police records and residence certificates have expiration dates, meaning you may need to obtain them multiple times if your application process is delayed or if renewal timing does not align perfectly.
Do I pay tax on foreign income in Ivory Coast in 2026?
As of early 2026, if you become tax resident in Ivory Coast (generally by living there more than 183 days per year), your foreign income may be subject to Ivorian taxation under the country's General Tax Code, though the specific treatment depends on income type and any applicable tax treaty with your home country.
In Ivory Coast, foreign pensions, investment income, and rental income from abroad can potentially be taxed if you are resident, while Social Security benefits from countries like the United States may have specific treaty protections, but there is no blanket exemption for all foreign income, so each income stream needs individual analysis.
Ivory Coast has tax treaties with France and several other countries, primarily former French colonies and EU members, which may reduce or eliminate double taxation on certain income types, but retirees from the United States, Canada, or the UK should verify treaty status since coverage varies significantly.
The single most important tax rule foreign retirees should understand before moving to Ivory Coast is that becoming tax resident triggers potential Ivorian tax obligations on worldwide income, so you should consult with a local tax advisor (budget around $200 to $500 for an initial consultation) before establishing residency rather than assuming your foreign pension or investment income will be untaxed.
What health insurance do retirees need in Ivory Coast in 2026?
As of early 2026, foreign retirees in Ivory Coast typically need private health insurance, which costs roughly 90,000 to 420,000 XOF ($150 to $700 USD or 145 to 665 EUR) per month depending on coverage level, age, and whether you want international evacuation coverage for serious medical events.
Foreigners in Ivory Coast can access public healthcare facilities, but quality and wait times vary significantly, so most retirees prefer private clinics and hospitals in Abidjan like Polyclinique Internationale Sainte Anne-Marie or Clinique Procréa, which require either insurance or substantial out-of-pocket payment.
The realistic total annual healthcare budget for a retiree in Ivory Coast including insurance premiums, routine doctor visits, medications, and a buffer for unexpected costs ranges from 2 to 6 million XOF ($3,300 to $10,000 USD or 3,200 to 9,500 EUR), with the higher end applying to older retirees or those with chronic conditions requiring regular specialist care.
Buying real estate in Ivory Coast can be risky
An increasing number of foreign investors are showing interest. However, 90% of them will make mistakes. Avoid the pitfalls with our comprehensive guide.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Ivory Coast, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can … and we don't throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why It's Authoritative | How We Used It |
|---|---|---|
| European Central Bank (ECB) | Official reference rate publisher for the euro area. | We used it to anchor EUR/USD conversions in January 2026. We then converted CFA francs to USD using the fixed CFA-to-euro peg. |
| Numbeo | Large, transparent city-level price database with clear methodology. | We used it as our main price basket for food, transport, utilities, and rent. We stress-tested results against official tariffs and real listings. |
| CIE (Compagnie Ivoirienne d'Électricité) | National electricity distributor publishing official customer tariffs. | We used it to estimate realistic electricity bills based on kWh pricing. We used it to validate Numbeo's utility figures against actual tariff reality. |
| Ministry of Transport (Côte d'Ivoire) | Government ministry publishing official public transport information. | We used it to ground public transport budgeting in official fare data. We used it to keep transport estimates realistic for retirees. |
| SNEDAI | Officially recognized e-visa platform for Côte d'Ivoire. | We used it to frame entry costs and official visa channels. We used it to distinguish official from third-party visa services. |
| ONECI / Carte de Résident Portal | National identification and residency card system. | We used it to anchor the residency pathway foreigners actually use. We used it to avoid vague retirement visa claims. |
| DGI (Direction Générale des Impôts) | Official publication of Côte d'Ivoire's General Tax Code. | We used it to frame taxes affecting retirees like income and property taxes. We used it to keep tax guidance grounded in legal sources. |
| Service Public Côte d'Ivoire | Official government portal for administrative procedures. | We used it to quantify property tax exposure using published rate logic. We used it to build the ownership cost comparison. |
| Keur-Immo | Real estate marketplace with many current verifiable listings. | We used it to reality-check rent ranges beyond index numbers. We used it to anchor neighborhood examples with actual asking rents. |
| MD Immobilier | Established broker showing live inventory with neighborhood tags. | We used it to model expat-standard rents in Zone 4, II Plateaux, and Riviera. We used it as a high-end cross-check for luxury budgets. |
| SIB (Société Ivoirienne de Banque) | Major local bank publishing its own lending conditions. | We used it to anchor a realistic down payment assumption of 20%. We used it to model foreigner financing expectations. |
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Ivory Coast compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.
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