Senegal, Dakar

Overview

Senegal, Dakar Dakar is the capital and largest city of Senegal. Dakar is the westernmost city on the African mainland and is a major regional port.

Senegal is in Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania. The climate is tropical, hot and humid with a rainy season (May to November) and a dry season (December to April).

The official language is French. It is widely spoken in towns and slightly less frequently in rural areas. Wolof is spoken by the majority of the population, particularly in urban areas, and is increasingly used in the business world. English is becoming more widely spoken. The main religion is Islam.

The economy of Senegal is predominantly rural with limited natural resources and gains most of its foreign exchange from fish, phosphates, groundnuts, tourism, and services.

Expatriate business dress is relatively formal. Senegal is officially a secular state, however more than 90% of the population is Muslim. Expatriate women should therefore dress conservatively by covering their legs and arms.

The security risk for expatriates in Senegal is low overall, but medium for Casamance. Risks include petty theft, violent protest action, and in the south of Casamance risks also include bandits, separatist groups and landmines. Other risks include the low driving standards and poor road conditions.

The currency of Senegal is the CFA Franc BCEAO (XOF). While ATMs are available in Dakar not all international cards are accepted. Major credit cards are accepted at larger establishments.

Medical facilities are reasonable in Dakar but limited in the rest of the country. Malaria and other tropical diseases are common. Occasional outbreaks of cholera have been reported.

The population of Dakar is 2.5 Million (2018 est.), while the inflation rate (CPI) is 1.1% for Senegal as at April 2018.

For a single Expat, the personal income tax rate in Senegal is progressive up to 40%.

Cost Of Living

The cost of living for expatriates / professional migrants in Dakar as at 1 April 2018 is high in comparison to other places in the world.

In Dakar, the cost of each basket, based on local prices, compared to the international average, is categorized follows (Exact cost of living percentages only available in personalised reports):
1) Alcohol (where available) & Tobacco: Low
2) Clothing: Very High
3) Communication: High
4) Education: High
5) Furniture & Appliances: High
6) Groceries: Very High
7) Healthcare: Average
8) Household Accommodation: Very Low
9) Miscellaneous: Very High
10) Personal Care: High
11) Recreation & Culture: Very High
12) Restaurants Meals Out and Hotels: Average
13) Transport: High

Dakar is for example 45.2% more expensive than Houston TX for groceries, -7.4% cheaper for household costs than Kuala Lumpur, and 34.7% more expensive for transport costs than Dubai.

Dakar is ranked as a extreme hardship location.

The hardship premium for Dakar for an expat from Perth, is for example 30%, i.e. host location (Dakar) premium of 40% minus home (Perth) location premium of 10%.

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The cost of living for expatriates / professional migrants in Dakar as at 1 April 2018 is high in comparison to other places in the world.

Dakar is ranked as a extreme hardship location.