Lomé: what to see and whether to move there

What the city lives on and who it suits

Lomé is the capital of Togo on the Gulf of Guinea coast, right on the border with Ghana, with about 2 million people in the metro area. The city's main asset is its deep-water port, one of the largest in West Africa, which serves landlocked Sahel countries. It also hosts regional offices of banks and logistics companies, a big market, and phosphates matter in the national economy.

Lomé suits professionals in logistics, ports, banking and international organisations, entrepreneurs working with the Sahel and people looking for a small capital by the ocean. The official language is French, and Ewe and other local languages are spoken daily.

Neighbourhoods: where newcomers settle

• The centre and beachside areas: banks, hotels and coastal restaurants.
• Bè and surroundings: lively residential areas with markets.
• Areas near the port and the newer part of the city: offices and new buildings, convenient for logistics staff.
• Agoè: northern districts, cheaper and closer to the airport.

Cost of living

At local prices a one-bedroom flat in the centre averages about $125 a month, about $80 outside the centre, and a three-bedroom flat in the centre about $840. Housing for foreigners with security, a generator and air conditioning costs much more than local housing. The currency is the West African CFA franc, about 585 francs per dollar on 6 October 2026, pegged to the euro.

Practicalities: climate, health, transport

Climate. Tropical: two rainy seasons, April-July and September-October, and a dry wind from the Sahara from December to February. Health. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for entry, malaria protection should be planned in advance, and complex cases go to Accra or Europe. Transport. People get around by motorbike taxi and taxi, and Accra in Ghana is about 3 hours by car.

Entry and legal status

• the visa is obtained online as an electronic visa before travelling;
• work requires a contract with a local company and a work permit;
• for business you register a company through the business formalities centre, with documents in French;
• Togo belongs to the common business law system of French-speaking Africa and the West African monetary union.

What to see

The Grand Market in the centre, where cloth traders and famous businesswomen have run trade for generations, the Akodessewa fetish market, beaches along the coast and Lake Togo with the village of Togoville. In the northern mountains is the land of the Tammari with clay tower-houses, a World Heritage site.

Work and business

The main employers of foreigners are the port and terminals, logistics and transport to the Sahel, regional banks, telecoms and international organisations. Exporters in the free zone receive tax benefits. The business language is French, and English helps in work with Ghana and Nigeria.

Getting there and money

Lomé's international airport is the base of a major pan-African airline, convenient for flights across West and Central Africa and to Europe. There are no direct flights from Russia. Payments are mostly in cash, mobile wallets are popular, and cards are accepted in hotels and supermarkets.

Healthcare and communications

Healthcare is limited: private clinics handle basic cases, and complex ones go to Accra, Abidjan or Europe, so insurance with evacuation is needed. Mobile and internet service works in the city, and remote workers install home internet and backup power.

Renting and housing

Foreigners rent houses and flats with security, a generator and a water tank, most often in the centre near the coast and in newer districts. Leases usually run for a year, and owners often ask for several months in advance. Before signing, check water and power supply and agree who pays for security.

Is the city worth considering

The pluses are calm by regional standards, the ocean, the port with logistics jobs, a French-speaking environment and proximity to Ghana. The minuses are malaria, limited healthcare and a small job market outside the port and banks. Lomé suits contract work and business with the region.