Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Benin

Accommodation

$8-25 per night

Basic guesthouses, budget hotels, simple rooms with shared facilities, local family-run lodges

Food & Dining

$5-15 per day

Street food, local markets, traditional dishes at neighborhood eateries, self-prepared meals

Transportation

$3-12 per day

Shared taxis (bush taxis), local buses, motorcycle taxis (zemidjans) for short distances, walking

Activities

$2-10 per day

Free cultural sites, local markets, beach access, occasional museum entries, self-guided exploration

Eat at local markets and street food stalls instead of tourist restaurants (typically 60-80% cheaper)

Use shared bush taxis and public transport instead of private taxis (saves 70-85% on transportation costs)

Stay in local guesthouses outside main tourist areas (generally 40-60% less expensive)

Visit during the dry season shoulder months for better accommodation rates (typically 20-35% savings)

Book tours directly with local guides rather than through hotels (usually 30-50% less expensive)

Buy bottled water in bulk from local shops rather than hotels or tourist areas (saves 200-300%)

Negotiate prices for longer stays at guesthouses (often 15-25% discount for 4+ nights)

Only eating at hotel restaurants and tourist areas (typically costs 150-250% more than local options)

Taking private taxis for all transportation instead of learning the shared taxi system (increases transport costs by 300-400%)

Not carrying small denomination CFA francs for local purchases (leads to overpaying and poor exchange rates)

Booking accommodation only in Cotonou without exploring cheaper options in smaller towns (missing 40-60% savings opportunities)