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: $1,318 in Dakar versus $135 in Ziguinchor.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,218 in Dakar versus $330 in Ziguinchor.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,117 in Dakar versus $526 in Ziguinchor.

Living in Dakar is roughly 877% more expensive than in Ziguinchor, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 F CFA 3,114

$8.86 F CFA 5,083

-38.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.2 F CFA 29.9K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.20 F CFA 5,849

Cappuccino

$4.37 F CFA 2,509

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

$0.89 F CFA 511

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 F CFA 620

$0.43 F CFA 246

151.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 F CFA 1,551

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 F CFA 2,584

Milk (1 liter)

$2.57 F CFA 1,474

$1.95 F CFA 1,120

31.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 F CFA 385

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 F CFA 927

$1.29 F CFA 741

25.58%

Eggs

$2.76 F CFA 1,582

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.68 F CFA 7,271

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.44 F CFA 5,416

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.61 F CFA 6,088

Apples (1kg)

$2.80 F CFA 1,603

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 F CFA 1,137

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 F CFA 1,481

Tomato (1kg)

$2.14 F CFA 1,227

$1.74 F CFA 997

22.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.54 F CFA 882

$1.74 F CFA 998

-11.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 F CFA 771

$1.80 F CFA 1,031

-25.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 F CFA 614

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 F CFA 468

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.55 F CFA 892

Wine (Bottle)

$17.02 F CFA 9,762

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 F CFA 648

$0.90 F CFA 516

25.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 F CFA 1,282

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 F CFA 208

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.0 F CFA 45.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 F CFA 1,478

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.80 F CFA 1,607

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.55 F CFA 10.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.78 F CFA 1,021

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

$36.9K F CFA 21.2M

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

$50.1K F CFA 28.7M

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

$140 F CFA 80.1K

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

$9.57 F CFA 5,488

$13.26 F CFA 7,608

-27.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.00 F CFA 28.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 F CFA 31.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.51 F CFA 12.3K

Cinema Ticket

$8.75 F CFA 5,019

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

$268 F CFA 153.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,349 F CFA 4.2M

$2,621 F CFA 1.5M

180.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 F CFA 39.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.58 F CFA 25.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 F CFA 60.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 F CFA 73.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$931 F CFA 533.8K

$437 F CFA 250.4K

113.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 F CFA 211.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 F CFA 1.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$933 F CFA 534.8K

$224 F CFA 128.5K

316.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,047 F CFA 2.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 F CFA 828.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$420 F CFA 241.0K

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ziguinchor: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $931 in Dakar and $437 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 877% in total monthly costs ($1,318 vs $135 including rent). Ziguinchor is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,977 in Dakar and $202 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: $931 in Dakar versus $437 in Ziguinchor. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 499% higher in Dakar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,318 per month in Dakar versus $135 in Ziguinchor – a 877% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $135 in Ziguinchor versus $1,318 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 877% less than in Dakar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.