Cost of Living Comparison Between Dakar and Ziguinchor Cost of Living Comparison Between Dakar and Ziguinchor

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,470 in Dakar versus $158 in Ziguinchor.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,312 in Dakar versus $356 in Ziguinchor.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Dakar versus $554 in Ziguinchor.

Living in Dakar is roughly 832% more expensive than in Ziguinchor, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Dakar is 7% above, Ziguinchor is 89% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.22 F CFA 2,943

$6.86 F CFA 3,869

-23.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.8 F CFA 31.5K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.44 F CFA 6,446

Cappuccino

$3.56 F CFA 2,006

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.25 F CFA 707

$0.92 F CFA 518

35.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 F CFA 501

$0.42 F CFA 237

111.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 F CFA 1,470

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 F CFA 2,467

Milk (1 liter)

$2.85 F CFA 1,604

$2.00 F CFA 1,130

42.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 F CFA 434

$0.33 F CFA 186

133.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 F CFA 996

$1.37 F CFA 771

29.20%

Eggs

$2.54 F CFA 1,431

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.81 F CFA 10.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.26 F CFA 5,220

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.35 F CFA 6,395

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 F CFA 1,886

$2.46 F CFA 1,386

36.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 F CFA 1,136

Oranges (1kg)

$2.97 F CFA 1,674

Tomato (1kg)

$1.87 F CFA 1,054

$1.77 F CFA 996

5.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 F CFA 784

$1.74 F CFA 982

-20.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 F CFA 556

$1.76 F CFA 993

-43.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 F CFA 642

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 F CFA 378

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 F CFA 1,225

Wine (Bottle)

$18.05 F CFA 10.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 F CFA 911

$0.94 F CFA 532

72.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 F CFA 1,897

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 F CFA 215

$0.26 F CFA 146

46.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.3 F CFA 45.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 F CFA 1,270

$1.83 F CFA 1,032

22.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.25 F CFA 1,267

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.99 F CFA 10.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.68 F CFA 946

$1.76 F CFA 992

-4.55%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$52.4K F CFA 29.5M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$49.8K F CFA 28.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$213 F CFA 119.9K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.99 F CFA 6,756

$13.09 F CFA 7,377

-8.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.19 F CFA 26.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.17 F CFA 26.0K

$22.45 F CFA 12.7K

105.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.08 F CFA 13.6K

Cinema Ticket

$8.72 F CFA 4,916

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$330 F CFA 186.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K F CFA 6.1M

$2,689 F CFA 1.5M

300.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 F CFA 33.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.50 F CFA 26.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.6 F CFA 50.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 F CFA 56.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$841 F CFA 474.1K

$439 F CFA 247.2K

91.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 F CFA 250.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,781 F CFA 1.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$957 F CFA 539.4K

$200 F CFA 112.8K

378.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,987 F CFA 2.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,582 F CFA 891.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$352 F CFA 198.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.75

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Dakar: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ziguinchor: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $841 in Dakar and $439 in Ziguinchor. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Dakar vs Ziguinchor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dakar and Ziguinchor differ by about 832% in total monthly costs ($1,470 vs $158 including rent). Ziguinchor is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,205 in Dakar and $237 in Ziguinchor to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $841 in Dakar versus $439 in Ziguinchor. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 384% higher in Dakar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,470 per month in Dakar versus $158 in Ziguinchor – a 832% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $158 in Ziguinchor versus $1,470 in Dakar, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ziguinchor but tight or insufficient in Dakar. The gap between the two cities makes Ziguinchor the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Ziguinchor gentler on the wallet – expenses run 832% less than in Dakar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.