Moving to Ouagadougou

In our series of short blogs on moving between different international locations, we highlight cost of living and other major differences likely to be experienced.
Today we look at moving to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso from Cotonou in Benin. In Cotonou people speak French (official) Fon, Ge, Bariba, Yoruba and Dendi. In Ouagadougou people speak French, indigenous languages.

Cotonou is the economic capital of Benin, as well as its largest city. Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic center of the nation. It is also the country's largest city.
Cotonou is Benin's largest city and houses many of its government and diplomatic services. The city is a major port, and is also home to an airport and a railway that links to Parakou.
Ouagadougou's primary industries are food processing and textiles.

The overall cost of living rank in Cotonou is 169 out of 300 global locations, which equates it with middle cost of living locations. An expatriate moving from Cotonou to Ouagadougou which has an overall cost of living rank of 136, which equates it with middle cost of living locations, will experience a change in cost of living of 4.9%.
In terms of the hardship people are likely to experience, assessed in global terms, Ouagadougou is ranked as an extreme hardship location with a hardship index of 40% compared to Cotonou with a hardship index of 40% which is an extreme hardship location.

Source: http://www.xpatulator.com as at July 2011.

Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou - Cost of Living

The economy of Burkina Faso is one of the poorest in the world. More than 80 percent of the population relies on subsistence agriculture, with only a small fraction directly involved in industry and services.


Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic center of the nation. It is also the country's largest city. Ouagadougou's primary industries are food processing and textiles.
Ouagadougou has an overall cost of living index which equates it with middle cost of living locations. The overall cost of living index is comprised of the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services across all 13 Basket Groups.


The latest cost of living rank for each of the 13 Basket Groups is now available.
Read More

Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou Cost of Living April 2010

Country Full Name: Burkina Faso.

Location: Burkina Faso is in Western Africa, north of Ghana.

Country Climate: Tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers.

Country Terrain: Mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast.

Major Languages: French, indigenous languages.

Major Religions: Indigenous beliefs, Islam, Christianity.

Country Population: 14.0 million (2008 est.) 14.4 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Burkina Faso is one of the poorest in the world. More than 80 percent of the population relies on subsistence agriculture, with only a small fraction directly involved in industry and services.

Currency: CFA Franc (XOF).

Country Inflation: 10.7% (2008 est.) 3.8% (2009 est.).

City: Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic center of the nation. It is also the country's largest city.

City Economy: Ouagadougou's primary industries are food processing and textiles.

Cost of Living: Ouagadougou has an overall cost of living index which equates it with high cost of living locations. The overall cost of living index is comprised of the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services across all 13 Basket Groups. Ouagadougou is currently ranked 90 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

for more cost of living information on Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou