COTONOU ou ABIDJAN : avec le même budget, vous n'aurez PAS la même vie en famille et en business
By Shaely
3,798 views
Abidjan or Cotonou: Where to settle in West Africa? 🇨🇮🇧🇯
Safety, cost of living, schools, business opportunities… In this video, we compare the two cities through the real-life experience of someone who had to make this choice. We draw on our 5 years of living and running a business in Benin to give you a concrete, data-driven, and straightforward perspective.
On the agenda:
Safety: why you feel safer in Cotonou (even at night) than in Paris
Housing budget: what 1 million FCFA (~€1500) can actually buy you in Cotonou… and what you're left with in Abidjan
Business: "Mature" market vs. "Fast-growing" market — where does the real opportunity lie?
Capital: Why €100,000 makes you "someone" in Cotonou, but almost "nothing" in Abidjan
Infrastructure, traffic, political stability, and family life
💡 *Our advice*: Don't go in blind. Analyze your market, do your research, and align your budget with your vision before making a decision.
Do you have a project to set up a business, establish a company, or invest in Benin?
We support you every step of the way, and this time we're offering you 3 ways to take things further:
📅 Discovery call
30 minutes to understand YOUR project, address your concerns, and provide concrete guidance.
👉🏾 https://uneturbanistaacotonou.podia.c...
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👥 The By Shaely Private Community
Join a network of entrepreneurs and investors established (or about to establish) themselves in Benin:
exchanges, feedback from the field, mutual support, and opportunities.
👉🏾 https://byshaely.com/communaute-prive...
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📍 Half-day Immersion Experience
Experience Benin from the inside, alongside us, on the ground.
⚠️ Available only from October 22nd to 31st, 2026 - limited spaces available.
👉🏾 https://uneturbanistaacotonou.podia.c...
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:20 Security: Cotonou vs. Abidjan
06:00 Cost of Living & Housing Budget
08:00 Schools & Education
09:20 Business Environment
11:40 Budget & Capital for Launching a Business
13:00 Political Stability
14:00 Infrastructure & Traffic
16:00 Our Recommendation
👉🏾 Do you have a project to relocate, start a business, or invest in Benin? Subscribe so you don't miss anything, and tell us in the comments: Cotonou or Abidjan, and why?
#Benin #Cotonou #Abidjan #WestAfrica #Expatriation #EntrepreneurshipInAfrica #InvestingInAfrica #Diaspora #SettlingInBenin #BusinessAfrica
19 Comments
Chacun aura une conclusion différente en fonction de la prise en compte individuelle de la montagne de critères qui seront soit des avantages soit des inconvénients (un inconvénient pour qqun peut être un avantage pour qqun d'autre et vice versa).
En conclusion il n'y a pas du blanc ou noir et tout se joue dans l'analyse des milliers de nuances mais l'important c'est d'y trouver son compte peu importe le point de chute final. ✌🏽
Aux différents critères énoncés dans la vidéo s'ajoutent les aspects identitaires et culturels, la volonté de prolonger ou non des habitudes occidentales, la qualité de la connexion internet, le coût de la main d'oeuvre locale, etc
COTONOU ou ABIDJAN : avec le même budget, vous n'aurez PAS la même vie en famille et en business
By Shaely
3,798 views
Abidjan or Cotonou: Where to settle in West Africa? 🇨🇮🇧🇯
Safety, cost of living, schools, business opportunities… In this video, we compare the two cities through the real-life experience of someone who had to make this choice. We draw on our 5 years of living and running a business in Benin to give you a concrete, data-driven, and straightforward perspective.
On the agenda:
Safety: why you feel safer in Cotonou (even at night) than in Paris
Housing budget: what 1 million FCFA (~€1500) can actually buy you in Cotonou… and what you're left with in Abidjan
Business: "Mature" market vs. "Fast-growing" market — where does the real opportunity lie?
Capital: Why €100,000 makes you "someone" in Cotonou, but almost "nothing" in Abidjan
Infrastructure, traffic, political stability, and family life
💡 *Our advice*: Don't go in blind. Analyze your market, do your research, and align your budget with your vision before making a decision.
Do you have a project to set up a business, establish a company, or invest in Benin?
We support you every step of the way, and this time we're offering you 3 ways to take things further:
📅 Discovery call
30 minutes to understand YOUR project, address your concerns, and provide concrete guidance.
👉🏾 https://uneturbanistaacotonou.podia.c...
----
👥 The By Shaely Private Community
Join a network of entrepreneurs and investors established (or about to establish) themselves in Benin:
exchanges, feedback from the field, mutual support, and opportunities.
👉🏾 https://byshaely.com/communaute-prive...
----
📍 Half-day Immersion Experience
Experience Benin from the inside, alongside us, on the ground.
⚠️ Available only from October 22nd to 31st, 2026 - limited spaces available.
👉🏾 https://uneturbanistaacotonou.podia.c...
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:20 Security: Cotonou vs. Abidjan
06:00 Cost of Living & Housing Budget
08:00 Schools & Education
09:20 Business Environment
11:40 Budget & Capital for Launching a Business
13:00 Political Stability
14:00 Infrastructure & Traffic
16:00 Our Recommendation
👉🏾 Do you have a project to relocate, start a business, or invest in Benin? Subscribe so you don't miss anything, and tell us in the comments: Cotonou or Abidjan, and why?
#Benin #Cotonou #Abidjan #WestAfrica #Expatriation #EntrepreneurshipInAfrica #InvestingInAfrica #Diaspora #SettlingInBenin #BusinessAfrica