Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Cotonou

Accommodation

$8-25 per night

Basic guesthouses, budget hotels, shared rooms in local neighborhoods

Food & Dining

$5-15 per day

Street food, local markets, traditional Beninese dishes from roadside vendors, occasional simple restaurants

Transportation

$3-8 per day

Shared taxis (zemidjan motorcycle taxis), public buses, walking for short distances

Activities

$2-10 per day

Free beach access, local markets, walking tours, occasional museum visits, cultural sites

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

Use zemidjan motorcycle taxis for short distances instead of private taxis (usually 70% less expensive)

Stay in neighborhoods like Akpakpa or Cadjehoun rather than beachfront areas (generally 40-60% lower accommodation costs)

Shop at Dantokpa Market for souvenirs instead of hotel gift shops (typically 50-70% savings)

Take shared taxis between cities rather than private transport (usually 80% cheaper)

Visit free cultural sites and beaches before paying for organized tours

Negotiate prices at markets and for services - initial prices are often 30-50% higher than final

Only eating at hotel restaurants and tourist-focused establishments (typically costs 2-3x more than local options)

Taking private taxis everywhere instead of using shared transport and zemidjan (can increase transport costs by 300-400%)

Not negotiating prices for services, tours, and market purchases (often paying 40-60% more than necessary)

Staying only in beachfront tourist areas without exploring local neighborhoods (accommodation typically 50-100% more expensive)