Money and Costs
Currency
Communauté Financière Africaine Francs (XOF)
Daily Costs
Budget: less than CFA40,000
- Hotel room: CFA12,000
- Pâte in a maquis: CFA1200
- Local beer: CFA600
- Zemi-john ride: CFA400
Midrange: CFA40,000–60,000
- Hotel room: CFA25,000
- Two-course dinner: CFA5000
- Drink in a bar: CFA1800
- Intercity bus ride: CFA7500
Top End: more than CFA60,000
- Hotel room: CFA45,000
- Two-course meal: CFA12,000
- Cocktail: CFA2500
- 4WD with driver, per day: CFA56,000
Bargaining
Bargaining is common in Benin, though delving into negotiations over the cost of a plate of street food would be in poor taste.
Money
The currency in Benin is the West African CFA franc. The best foreign currency to carry is euros, which are easily exchanged at banks, hotels or bureaux de change.
Exchange Rates
| Australia | A$1 | CFA452 |
| Canada | C$1 | CFA440 |
| Europe | €1 | CFA656 |
| Japan | ¥100 | CFA538 |
| New Zealand | NZ$1 | CFA415 |
| United Kingdom | £1 | CFA774 |
| United States | US$ | CFA600 |
For current exchange rates, see www.xe.com.
Tipping
Tipping is generally not necessary except at upmarket restaurants, where around 10% extra should be given for good service.