Cost of Living

Dakar, Senegal

Live cost-of-living data for Dakar — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
23/ 10077% cheaper than New York
-77% rent since Jul 2026
$226/mo
Median Income
52/100
Safety
25%
Income Tax
hot semi-arid
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
40/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$380/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$280/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$900/month
Food & Groceries
38/100
Milk (1 liter)$2.7/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.5/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.2/kg
Transportation
35/100
Monthly Transit Pass$25/month
One-Way Ticket$0.35/trip
Taxi (1 km)$2.2/km
Utilities
40/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$45/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$32/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$20/month
Healthcare
45/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$15/visit
Dentist Visit$40/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$8/course
Education
40/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$350/month
International Primary School (yearly)$8,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$350/course
Entertainment
40/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$8/ticket
Theater Ticket$20/ticket
Museum Entry$8/ticket
Clothing
35/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$45/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$30/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$70/pair
Personal Care
35/100
Haircut (Men)$12/cut
Haircut (Women)$25/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$4.5/bottle
Dining Out
38/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$9/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$35/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$8/meal
Childcare
40/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$450/month
Babysitter (per hour)$8/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$15/pack
Fitness & Sports
38/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$35/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$15/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$6/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

35 Mbps
Internet Speed
$75
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
65/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Almadies, Mermoz, Plateau

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dakar cheap to live in?

Dakar has a cost of living index of 23/100, where New York = 100. It is 77% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $840–$1,176 per month.

How much does rent cost in Dakar?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Dakar costs approximately $380/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $280/month.

Is Dakar good for digital nomads?

Dakar has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 35 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $75/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Dakar?

The median net monthly salary in Dakar is approximately $226 USD. The income tax rate is around 25%.

How does Dakar compare to New York for cost of living?

Dakar (cost index 23) is 77% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,925/month by moving from New York to Dakar.

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