The Real Cost of Utilities and Bills in Libreville (As Told by a Sleep-Deprived Digital Nomad)
so here's the thing about living in libreville: it's like trying to budget while someone keeps changing the prices on you. one day your electricity bill is chill, the next it's like you've been running a bitcoin mine in your living room. i'm a digital nomad, which means i'm supposed to be flexible, but even i have my limits when it comes to surprise expenses.
let's start with rent. if you're looking for a decent one-bedroom in the city center, you're looking at around 200,000-300,000 cfa francs a month. that's about $330-$500 usd. not terrible if you're coming from new york, but in libreville, that's a chunk of change. and don't even get me started on utilities. electricity here is a wild card. one month it's 50,000 cfa, the next it's 150,000. and that's before you even think about water, internet, or the fact that your fridge might just decide to quit on you because the power's been out for 8 hours.
internet? oh, internet. you're looking at about 30,000-50,000 cfa for a decent connection. but "decent" here means it works most of the time, except when it doesn't. and when it doesn't, good luck getting anyone to fix it. i've spent more time on the phone with my provider than i have actually working.
food's another story. groceries are expensive because most things are imported. a liter of milk? 2,000 cfa. a loaf of bread? 1,000 cfa. and don't even think about buying cheese unless you're ready to sell a kidney. eating out is cheaper if you stick to local spots, but if you want something that reminds you of home, you're paying a premium.
here's a little table to break it down:
| Expense | Cost (CFA) | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bedroom) | 200,000-300,000 | $330-$500 |
| Electricity | 50,000-150,000 | $80-$250 |
| Water | 10,000-30,000 | $15-$50 |
| Internet | 30,000-50,000 | $50-$80 |
| Groceries (monthly) | 100,000-150,000 | $160-$250 |
and then there's the little things. transportation, for example. taxis are cheap, but they're also a gamble. you never know if the driver's going to take the scenic route or if the car's going to break down halfway to your destination. and if you're thinking about buying a car, just... don't. the roads here are a nightmare, and the cost of maintenance will make you question all your life choices.
i asked a local about it once, and they just laughed. "welcome to libreville," they said. "where nothing works the way it should, but we make it work anyway."
and you know what? they're right. despite all the chaos, there's something about this place that keeps you coming back. maybe it's the people, or the weather (which is always hot and humid, by the way), or the fact that you're never more than a short drive from the beach. whatever it is, it's worth it. even if your electricity bill is trying to kill you.
if you're thinking about moving here, do your research. check out tripadvisor for reviews, or hit up the libreville subreddit for some real talk from locals. and if you're feeling brave, take a look at yelp for some restaurant recommendations. just don't say i didn't warn you about the cheese.
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