Living in Dakar
Senegal · tropical
Dakar is a big city of roughly 1,100,000 people right by the sea in Senegal. The climate is tropical. It keeps a balanced mix of locals and visitors and is considered very safe. A typical month of living costs around $1,000. Healthcare is reasonable, and the internet is generally reliable. People come here for live music, swimming, food and eating out.
Worth knowing: Train Express Régional to Diamniadio and the new airport. Starlink and satellite internet cannot be used in this country.
Dakar at a glance: cost, climate, safety
Who tends to love living in Dakar
- Making a budget stretch further
- Feeling safe day to day
- A genuinely good food scene
- Raising a family
- Anyone into live music
- Anyone into swimming
All parameters
💉 Childhood vaccines: Recommended, never required
No national law requires a child to be vaccinated here. The schedule is an offer, not a duty.
If you skip them: Nothing. No national law requires it.
Exemptions: Not needed: there is no mandate to be exempt from.
Source: Georgetown AMP EID, survey of national legislation, 2024
📈 Popularity & prices: Growing
Accommodation prices have moved about +26% in the last 5 years.
Estimates, for orientation only.
🔭 Where this place is heading
Today’s data. Tap a year to see where it is heading.
⚠️ The downsides of living in Dakar
- •Yellow fever risk, vaccination is required or recommended.
- •Malaria is present, mostly in rural areas and the wet season.
- •Tap water isn't reliably drinkable, budget for filtered or bottled.
Health, air (WHO PM2.5), water & crime figures are rough country-level estimates, verify for your case.
Where is Dakar?
₿ Spend Bitcoin around Dakar
Open the Bitcoin merchant maps for this area, cafés, shops and ATMs that accept Bitcoin.
Merchants: BTC Map, from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Events and meetups: Club Orange.
Questions, answered
How much does it cost to live in Dakar, Senegal?
A typical month in Dakar costs around $1,000, covering rent and everyday expenses for one person. It is an estimate meant for comparing places, not for budgeting exactly.
Is Dakar, Senegal safe?
Arcadia rates personal safety in Dakar at 4 out of 5, which is good.
What is the internet like in Dakar?
Internet in Dakar is rated 3 out of 5 for remote work, which is reasonable. Starlink is available in this country.
What is the weather like in Dakar?
Dakar has a tropical climate. It is on the coast.
Is healthcare good in Dakar?
Healthcare in Dakar is rated 3 out of 5 overall, which is reasonable. Public healthcare is 3/5 and private healthcare 2/5.
How easy is it to move to Senegal?
Arcadia rates the ease of getting residency in Senegal at 3 out of 5, which is reasonable. The place page lists the visa routes that apply and which depend on your passport.
Is Dakar actually right for you?
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