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: $1,327 in Dakar versus $132 in Ziguinchor.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,194 in Dakar versus $328 in Ziguinchor.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,061 in Dakar versus $524 in Ziguinchor.

Living in Dakar is roughly 909% more expensive than Ziguinchor, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dakar 1% lower, Ziguinchor 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 F CFA 3,058

$8.68 F CFA 4,895

-37.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.3 F CFA 30.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.21 F CFA 5,755

Cappuccino

$4.43 F CFA 2,498

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

$0.86 F CFA 484

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 F CFA 615

$0.43 F CFA 240

153.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 F CFA 1,450

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 F CFA 2,457

Milk (1 liter)

$2.52 F CFA 1,423

$1.89 F CFA 1,064

33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.64 F CFA 360

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 F CFA 906

$1.35 F CFA 760

19.26%

Eggs

$2.88 F CFA 1,625

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.78 F CFA 7,209

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.50 F CFA 5,357

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.76 F CFA 6,069

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 F CFA 1,536

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 F CFA 1,121

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 F CFA 1,473

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 F CFA 1,174

$1.79 F CFA 1,007

16.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.50 F CFA 844

$1.74 F CFA 982

-13.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 F CFA 758

$1.72 F CFA 968

-22.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 F CFA 600

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 F CFA 460

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.61 F CFA 908

Wine (Bottle)

$15.38 F CFA 8,674

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 F CFA 667

$0.87 F CFA 490

35.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 F CFA 1,254

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 F CFA 204

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 F CFA 45.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 F CFA 1,514

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.83 F CFA 1,598

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.99 F CFA 10.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.71 F CFA 963

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

$36.1K F CFA 20.4M

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

$49.2K F CFA 27.8M

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

$138 F CFA 78.0K

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

$9.92 F CFA 5,597

$13.03 F CFA 7,348

-23.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.4 F CFA 28.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.4 F CFA 31.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.41 F CFA 12.1K

Cinema Ticket

$9.02 F CFA 5,086

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

$272 F CFA 153.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,169 F CFA 4.0M

$2,635 F CFA 1.5M

172.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 F CFA 38.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.93 F CFA 24.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 F CFA 58.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 F CFA 74.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$914 F CFA 515.2K

$434 F CFA 244.6K

110.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 F CFA 208.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 F CFA 1.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$938 F CFA 528.9K

$222 F CFA 125.0K

323.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,996 F CFA 2.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,491 F CFA 841.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$431 F CFA 243.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.25

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

Last update for Dakar: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ziguinchor: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $914 in Dakar and $434 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 909% in total monthly costs ($1,327 vs $132 including rent). Ziguinchor is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,991 in Dakar and $197 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: $914 in Dakar versus $434 in Ziguinchor. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 498% higher in Dakar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,327 per month in Dakar versus $132 in Ziguinchor – a 909% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $132 in Ziguinchor versus $1,327 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 909% less than in Dakar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.