Complete Guide to Settling in Lomé, Togo

Settling in Lomé: A Practical Guide

Coastal avenue and palm trees along the marina and Atlantic ocean in Lomé

Lomé is a rapidly developing city with a cosmopolitan atmosphere, direct sea access, and a relatively affordable cost of living for West Africa.

Why Lomé?

Relative stability: Togo is one of the most stable countries in West Africa
Geographic position: A regional hub between Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger
Strategic port: The only deep-water port in West Africa
Cost of living: Moderate compared to other African capitals
International connections: Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport, Asky Airlines' regional hub

Visa and entry requirements

⚠️ Visa rules vary by nationality. Always check with the Togolese Embassy in your country.

ECOWAS nationals: Free movement without a visa

Other nationalities:

Tourist visa: obtained on arrival or via e-Visa
Residence permit: for extended stays
Work permit: mandatory for paid employment

Housing in Lomé

Popular districts for expatriates:

Nyékonakpoé: 4th arrondissement, lively historic district, close to the French Lycée, rents $850-1,700 for good-quality housing
La Caisse (Résidence du Bénin): privileged, secure district popular with diplomats and international staff
Tokoin: residential, close to Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital
Hédzranawoé: near the international airport

Indicative rent ranges:

Type	Approximate price
Downtown studio	~110,000 – 170,000 FCFA/month (≈€170-260)
Furnished apartment	from ~200,000 FCFA/month (≈€300)
Villa / upscale seafront district	up to over 2,000,000 FCFA/month (≈€3,000+)

These ranges are indicative and vary greatly depending on neighborhood, quality, and proximity to the sea. Sources: Expat.com, Combien-coute.net (2025).

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Cost of Living

Currency: XOF — CFA Franc BCEAO (fixed peg to the euro: 1 EUR = 655.957 FCFA)

The cost of living in Lomé remains generally moderate, particularly attractive for people coming from Europe, the United States, or Canada, according to several expat guides.

Essential services

Healthcare

Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital (Amoutivé, Golfe 4 commune): the country's main teaching hospital, former site of Lomé's airport (1931-1945)
Saint-Joseph Hospital (Golfe 2): a reference facility
Private clinics: several available in Lomé (variable quality)
Health insurance: strongly recommended for expatriates

Education

University of Lomé: founded in 1970 (as the University of Benin, renamed in 2001), the country's main public institution of higher education, in the Sagbado area
French Lycée of Lomé: located in Nyékonakpoé, the reference school for the French-speaking expatriate community
Saint-Joseph College: founded in 1948, one of the capital's historic schools

Documents and identity

National Identity Card (CNI): issued by the DGDN (not ONI) — 5,000 FCFA, valid 5 years
Togolese passport: applications now online via services.dgdn.gouv.tg — 30,000 FCFA, valid 5 years

See the detailed guides: National Identity Card, Togolese Passport

Banking

Several banks present: Ecobank, Orabank, BTCI, UBA
Mobile money widely used (Flooz, TMoney) — even accepted for online administrative procedures (passport)

Transport in Lomé

Motorcycle taxis (zémidjans): the main mode of transport, widely available
Shared taxis: serve fixed routes by neighborhood, prices negotiable
Bush taxis: connections to other cities in the country and neighboring countries, notably from the Agbalépédogan station

Culture and social life

Lomé offers:

An active cultural scene
Varied restaurants (African, French, Lebanese cuisine), particularly around Nyékonakpoé and Tokoin
Accessible beaches (Lomé sits directly on the Atlantic Ocean), notably at Baguida — Togo's first colonial capital (1884-1893) — and Avépozo
Iconic markets: the Adawlato Grand Market (Assigamé, inaugurated 1967) and the Akodesséwa Fetish Market, the world's largest voodoo market
The Festival des Divinités Noires (Festival of Black Deities) — an annual celebration of voodoo traditions held every December in Aného and Glidji (about 45 km southeast of Lomé), not in Ouidah, which is in Benin

Useful resources

CFE Togo (business registration): cfetogo.tg
API-ZF (investment, free zone)
OTR (taxation): otr.tg
CNSS (social security): cnss.tg
DGDN (identity, passport): dgdn.gouv.tg
Service Public Togo (official procedures portal): service-public.gouv.tg

This guide is based on publicly available information, verified September 11, 2026. Always check with the relevant institutions before starting any procedure.