Cost Of Living For a Student in Benguela 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: AOA
Average monthly spending for students in Benguela
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Benguela?
Students in Benguela spend around 190,000 AOA per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 28,000 AOA or as high as 1.2M AOA. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Benguela
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
| 380 AOA | 750 AOA | 1,300 AOA |
Restaurant meal for one
| 1,200 AOA | 1,800 AOA | 3,700 AOA |
Fine dining meal for one
| 2,500 AOA | 3,700 AOA | 15,000 AOA |
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
| 500 AOA | 750 AOA | 1,500 AOA |
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
| 1,900 AOA | 2,500 AOA | 5,000 AOA |
Average car 1-day rental
| 1,800 AOA | 2,400 AOA | 3,600 AOA |
Average car price
| 940,000 AOA | 1.9M AOA | 2.5M AOA |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
| 2,400 AOA | 3,600 AOA | 7,200 AOA |
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
| 1,100 AOA | 7,400 AOA | 50,000 AOA |
Internet and cable
| 1,900 AOA | 3,800 AOA | 5,000 AOA |
Mobile phone charges
| 1,500 AOA | 2,500 AOA | 7,500 AOA |
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
| 940 AOA | 1,300 AOA | 1,900 AOA |
One month gym membership
| 2,900 AOA | 3,600 AOA | 7,200 AOA |
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
| 2,100 AOA | 3,000 AOA | 4,500 AOA |
Woman dress
| 2,000 AOA | 2,800 AOA | 9,000 AOA |
Woman shoes
| 1,900 AOA | 2,600 AOA | 6,000 AOA |
Men's shoes
| 1,600 AOA | 2,000 AOA | 4,000 AOA |
Men suit
| 1,800 AOA | 2,200 AOA | 12,000 AOA |
Regular t-shirt
| 900 AOA | 1,200 AOA | 3,600 AOA |
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 30,000 AOA | 45,000 AOA | 120,000 AOA |
1-bedroom apartment
| 45,000 AOA | 72,000 AOA | 180,000 AOA |
2-bedroom apartment
| 60,000 AOA | 90,000 AOA | 240,000 AOA |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
1-bedroom apartment
2-bedroom apartment
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 38,000 AOA | 47,000 AOA | 63,000 AOA |
Double Bed
| 25,000 AOA | 38,000 AOA | 47,000 AOA |
Single Bed
| 22,000 AOA | 29,000 AOA | 38,000 AOA |
Living Room
| 42,000 AOA | 54,000 AOA | 190,000 AOA |
Dining Table
| 19,000 AOA | 25,000 AOA | 47,000 AOA |
Sofa or Couch
| 25,000 AOA | 34,000 AOA | 75,000 AOA |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 25,000 AOA | 38,000 AOA | 75,000 AOA |
Fridge or Freezer
| 22,000 AOA | 34,000 AOA | 47,000 AOA |
Washing Machine
| 29,000 AOA | 42,000 AOA | 75,000 AOA |
Stove or Cooker
| 27,000 AOA | 34,000 AOA | 47,000 AOA |
Mobile Phone
| 31,000 AOA | 38,000 AOA | 54,000 AOA |
Laptop or Computer
| 34,000 AOA | 42,000 AOA | 75,000 AOA |
How do students spend their money in Benguela?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost15%
15% of total expenses on average (10% to 21%)
| LOW | $7.9 6,700 AOA |
| AVERAGE | $53 45,000 AOA |
| HIGH | $350 300,000 AOA |
| Per Month |
Students in Benguela typically spend from 10% to 21% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 15% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 45,000 AOA with expenditure ranging from 6,700 AOA to 300,000 AOA. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities7%
7% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $1.3 1,100 AOA |
| AVERAGE | $8.8 7,400 AOA |
| HIGH | $58 50,000 AOA |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Benguela ranges from 5% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 7,400 AOA with 1,100 AOA and 50,000 AOA being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel3%
3% of total expenses on average (3% to 9%)
| LOW | $2.3 1,900 AOA |
| AVERAGE | $15 13,000 AOA |
| HIGH | $100 87,000 AOA |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 1,900 AOA to 87,000 AOA in a month on commuting with 13,000 AOA being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 3% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 9%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost24%
24% of total expenses on average (18% to 28%)
| LOW | $6.6 5,600 AOA |
| AVERAGE | $44 37,000 AOA |
| HIGH | $290 250,000 AOA |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Benguela is 37,000 AOA. The cost of groceries can range between 5,600 AOA to 250,000 AOA. Students spend on average about 24% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 18% and 28% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare10%
10% of total expenses on average (7% to 13%)
| LOW | $2 1,700 AOA |
| AVERAGE | $13 11,000 AOA |
| HIGH | $88 74,000 AOA |
| Per Month |
Students in Benguela allocate 7% to 13% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 10%. The range of medical expenses range from 1,700 AOA to 74,000 AOA with 11,000 AOA being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping2%
2% of total expenses on average (1% to 6%)
| LOW | $1.6 1,400 AOA |
| AVERAGE | $11 9,300 AOA |
| HIGH | $73 62,000 AOA |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 1,400 AOA to 62,000 AOA with 9,300 AOA being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 1% to 6% of total expenses with an average of 2% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling18%
18% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $6.2 5,300 AOA |
| AVERAGE | $42 35,000 AOA |
| HIGH | $280 240,000 AOA |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 35,000 AOA per month with 5,300 AOA being the minimum spent amount and 240,000 AOA being the maximum.
Other Expenses20%
20% of total expenses on average (14% to 26%)
| LOW | $4.9 4,200 AOA |
| AVERAGE | $33 28,000 AOA |
| HIGH | $220 190,000 AOA |
| Per Month |
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Low-cost alternatives in Benguela
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options49%
Few low-cost options52%
Based on the survey, 49% of the students living in Benguela have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 52% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Benguela
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Benguela
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
| 380 AOA | 750 AOA | 1,300 AOA |
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Benguela is approximatly 750 AOA with meal cost ranging from 380 AOA to 1,300 AOA. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
| 1,200 AOA | 1,800 AOA | 3,700 AOA |
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 1,200 AOA and 3,700 AOA with 1,800 AOA being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Benguela.
Fine dining meal for one price
| 2,500 AOA | 3,700 AOA | 15,000 AOA |
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 2,500 AOA to 15,000 AOA with the average cost being 3,700 AOA for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Benguela.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Benguela is around 500 AOA. Price ranges between 310 AOA and 750 AOA depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Benguela is 300 AOA. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 380 AOA and the minimum being 250 AOA depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 250 AOA on average with 190 AOA and 380 AOA being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Benguela is between 430 AOA and 780 AOA depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 550 AOA.
Pack of beef price
| 500 AOA | 750 AOA | 1,500 AOA |
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 750 AOA. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Benguela costs around 280 AOA on average with prices rangeing between 200 AOA and 390 AOA depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 75 AOA to 190 AOA. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 180 AOA on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 5,600 AOA to 250,000 AOA with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes39%
No61%
Based on the survey, 61% of the students living in Benguela said that they don't have an emergency fund while 39% said that they do.
Affordable living in Benguela
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Benguela?
Around 42% of surveyed students think that living in Benguela is affordable with proper budgeting while 58% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Financial Literacy in
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy41%
We asked student guardians and parents in Benguela whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 59% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 41% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 57% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 43% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance57%
Easily manages finances43%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Benguela
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Benguela
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 30,000 AOA | 45,000 AOA | 120,000 AOA |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 45,000 AOA | 72,000 AOA | 180,000 AOA |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 60,000 AOA | 90,000 AOA | 240,000 AOA |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 72,000 AOA | 120,000 AOA | 330,000 AOA |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 140,000 AOA | 360,000 AOA | 720,000 AOA |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 120,000 AOA | 180,000 AOA | 510,000 AOA |
House monthly rent cost
| 140,000 AOA | 360,000 AOA | 720,000 AOA |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 180,000 AOA | 450,000 AOA | 720,000 AOA |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Benguela ranges between 30,000 AOA and 120,000 AOA, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 45,000 AOA to 180,000 AOA. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 60,000 AOA and 240,000 AOA per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 72,000 AOA to 330,000 AOA. The average rent of a townhouse in Benguela is around 180,000 AOA while house rental costs can be as high as 360,000 AOA per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 180,000 AOA to 720,000 AOA per month.
Apartment and house prices in Benguela
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
1-bedroom apartment price
2-bedroom apartment price
3-bedroom apartment price
Townhouse price
| 51M AOA | 120M AOA | 450M AOA |
| $61,000 | $140,000 | $530,000 |
House price
| 60M AOA | 360M AOA | 510M AOA |
| $71,000 | $420,000 | $610,000 |
Villa price
| 72M AOA | 400M AOA | 600M AOA |
| $85,000 | $470,000 | $710,000 |
The average price of a studio apartment in Benguela can range from 6M AOA to 18M AOA depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 7.2M AOA to 45M AOA. A villa can cost you 400M AOA on average with prices ranging from 72M AOA to 600M AOA.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Benguela will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 24 | x65 monthly income | 167 |
Property prices in Benguela can be x65 to x167 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x65 multiples of the average monthly salary in Benguela.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Benguela is around 25%. This means that people pay 25% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 16% to 34% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
22% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
| 560 AOA | 7,200 AOA | 72,000 AOA |
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Benguela
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Benguela
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
| 1,100 AOA | 7,400 AOA | 50,000 AOA |
Internet and cable cost
| 1,900 AOA | 3,800 AOA | 5,000 AOA |
Mobile phone bill and charges
| 1,500 AOA | 2,500 AOA | 7,500 AOA |
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 7,400 AOA. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 1,900 AOA to 5,000 AOA with 3,800 AOA being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 2,500 AOA but can range between 1,500 AOA and 7,500 AOA depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Benguela is around 6.4%. This means that people pay 6.4% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3.7% to 10% depending on salary and location.
