Moving to Benin from New York

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from New York to Benin? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from New York to Benin, and you’d need to navigate life in French.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Benin compared to New York.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

NY
29.9%
BJ
9.6%

Benin performs significantly better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

NY
89.7%
BJ
34.0%

New York performs better than Benin across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

NY
4.4%
BJ
1.4%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

NY
$91,992
BJ
$3,800

New York generally does better on employment & economy, though Benin leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

NY
77.7 yrs
BJ
62.2 yrs

New York performs better than Benin across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Albany Rain: 39.4 in/yr (1000 mm)
58° / 39°F

Avg. annual high / low

Porto-novo Rain: 47.0 in/yr (1194 mm)
None° / None°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Albany Porto-novo
Jan–Mar 37°/19°F (2°/-7°C)
Apr–Jun 68°/47°F (20°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 78°/58°F (26°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Albany Porto-novo
Jan 31°/15°F (-0.8°/-9.7°C)
Feb 35°/17°F (1.4°/-8.2°C)
Mar 44°/26°F (6.9°/-3.5°C)
Apr 58°/37°F (14.6°/2.9°C)
May 69°/47°F (20.8°/8.4°C)
Jun 78°/56°F (25.5°/13.6°C)
Jul 82°/61°F (27.9°/16.3°C)
Aug 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.5°C)
Sep 72°/52°F (22.3°/10.9°C)
Oct 60°/40°F (15.4°/4.2°C)
Nov 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.3°C)
Dec 36°/21°F (2.1°/-6.0°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN) Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Benin. To live, work, or study long-term in Benin, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Benin's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Benin

Visa Online (e-Visa)
United States passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Benin.
Benin passport

Benin passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Benin passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Benin?

From major Benin cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in New York and Benin are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Benin compared to New York?

Benin performs significantly better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Benin compared to New York?

The average high temperature in Porto-novo is None°F, compared to 58°F in Albany. Porto-novo receives around 47.0 in of rainfall per year, while Albany gets 39.4 in.

What language do they speak in Benin?

The official language in Benin is French. In New York, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

BJ
Population 19,378,102 13,754,688
Currency United States Dollar ($) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages English French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +229
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911