Cost Of Living For a Single Person in Senegal 2024

Average monthly spending for a single person or individual in Senegal

How much money does an individual need in a month to survive in Senegal?

A single person in Senegal spends around 240,000 XOF per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a single individual can survive with a monthly budget as low as 34,000 XOF or as high as 1.6M XOF. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Single person expenditure to income ratio in Senegal

Analysing the how affordable it is for an individual to live in Senegal

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Individuals usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a single individual ranges between 70% to 80%.

Individuals in Senegal spend around 77% of their monthly income. Some individuals spend as low as 72% of their income while some as high as 86%.

How do individuals spend their money in Senegal?

We asked thousands of individuals about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for individuals

Individuals in Senegal typically spend from 18% to 42% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 30% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 87,000 XOF with expenditure ranging from 12,000 XOF to 580,000 XOF. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for individuals

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Senegal ranges from 4% to 13% of total expenses with 8% being the average for most individuals. The average monthly cost of utilities is 15,000 XOF with 2,000 XOF and 97,000 XOF being the upper and lower limits for a single person.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for individuals

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a single person resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a single person would expect to spend from 2,700 XOF to 130,000 XOF in a month on commuting with 19,000 XOF being the norm for most individuals. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 11%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for individuals

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical person in a month in Senegal is 39,000 XOF. The cost of groceries can range between 5,400 XOF to 260,000 XOF. Individuals spend on average about 19% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 13% and 24% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for individuals

Individuals in Senegal allocate 6% to 16% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 12%. The range of medical expenses range from 3,100 XOF to 150,000 XOF with 22,000 XOF being the norm for most individuals.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for individuals

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 1,700 XOF to 81,000 XOF with 12,000 XOF being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 6% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most individuals.

Education and schooling expenditure for individuals

Spending on education can vary drastically between different individuals. On average, education constitutes 1% of the monthly expenditure of individuals with 0.00% and 3% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 4,800 XOF per month with 680 XOF being the minimum spent amount and 32,000 XOF being the maximum.

What percentage of individuals in Senegal are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of individuals that reported their ability to save money

Almost 58% of surveyed individuals in Senegal said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 42% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do individuals manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for individuals

Interpretation and Analysis

Individuals that are able to save money can put anywhere from 12% to 31% of their monthly income to their savings, with 20% being the average for most individuals. The average monthly amount of money that individuals can put aside is 74,000 XOF with 8,300 XOF and 500,000 XOF being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Senegal

Reasons that make it difficult for individuals to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Senegal. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 5% of the individuals said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 8% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 14% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 11% of individuals blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 20% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 13% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for individuals in Senegal

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Senegal

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked individuals one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Senegal?

Around 49% of surveyed individuals think that living in Senegal is affordable with proper budgeting while 51% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Senegal

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked individuals how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options54%

Few low-cost options46%

Based on the survey, 54% of the individuals living in Senegal have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 46% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Individuals

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked individuals of Senegal whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes46%

No54%

Based on the survey, 54% of the individuals living in Senegal said that they don't have an emergency fund while 46% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Senegal

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy44%

We asked individuals in Senegal whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 56% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 44% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether single people of Senegal have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 55% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 45% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance55%

Easily manages finances45%

Financial goals of individuals in Senegal

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Senegal, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 8% of individuals said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 41% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 10% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 7% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 18% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 7% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 7% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 13% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Senegal

Percentage of individuals who are in debt

According to the survey, 33% of the individuals in Senegal have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 67% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Senegal

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 31% of a single person's monthly income in Senegal goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Senegal pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 17% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 14% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 16% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 11% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Senegal

9% of debtors in Senegal confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 29% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 16% of people and personal loans rose at 42%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Senegal.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Senegal

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked individuals of Senegal how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Senegal

Rent Cost in Senegal

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

29,000 XOF

44,000 XOF

120,000 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$48

$73

$190

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

44,000 XOF

70,000 XOF

180,000 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$73

$120

$290

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

59,000 XOF

88,000 XOF

230,000 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$97

$150

$390

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

70,000 XOF

120,000 XOF

320,000 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$120

$190

$530

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

140,000 XOF

350,000 XOF

700,000 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$230

$580

$1,200

Townhouse monthly rent cost

120,000 XOF

180,000 XOF

500,000 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$190

$290

$830

House monthly rent cost

140,000 XOF

350,000 XOF

700,000 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$230

$580

$1,200

Villa monthly rent cost

180,000 XOF

440,000 XOF

700,000 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$290

$730

$1,200

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Senegal ranges between 29,000 XOF and 120,000 XOF, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 44,000 XOF to 180,000 XOF. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 59,000 XOF and 230,000 XOF per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 70,000 XOF to 320,000 XOF. The average rent of a townhouse in Senegal is around 180,000 XOF while house rental costs can be as high as 350,000 XOF per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 180,000 XOF to 700,000 XOF per month.

Apartment and house prices in Senegal

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

5.9M XOF

8.8M XOF

18M XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$9,700

$15,000

$29,000

1-bedroom apartment price

7M XOF

12M XOF

44M XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$12,000

$19,000

$73,000

2-bedroom apartment price

12M XOF

35M XOF

70M XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$19,000

$58,000

$120,000

3-bedroom apartment price

39M XOF

59M XOF

180M XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$65,000

$97,000

$290,000

Townhouse price

50M XOF

120M XOF

440M XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$83,000

$190,000

$730,000

House price

59M XOF

350M XOF

500M XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$97,000

$580,000

$830,000

Villa price

70M XOF

390M XOF

590M XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$120,000

$650,000

$970,000

The average price of a studio apartment in Senegal can range from 5.9M XOF to 18M XOF depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 7M XOF to 44M XOF. A villa can cost you 390M XOF on average with prices ranging from 70M XOF to 590M XOF.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Senegal can be x90 to x194 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x90 multiples of the average monthly salary in Senegal.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Senegal is around 29%. This means that people pay 29% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 19% to 39% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Senegal

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Senegal

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / A single person

2,000 XOF

15,000 XOF

97,000 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.4

$24

$160

Internet and cable cost

1,800 XOF

3,500 XOF

4,700 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.9

$5.8

$7.7

Mobile phone bill and charges

1,400 XOF

2,300 XOF

7,000 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.3

$3.9

$12

The average monthly energy and water consumption of individuals is around 15,000 XOF. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 1,800 XOF to 4,700 XOF with 3,500 XOF being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 2,300 XOF but can range between 1,400 XOF and 7,000 XOF depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Senegal is around 6%. This means that people pay 6% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3% to 10% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Senegal

Prices and cost of goods and services in Senegal

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

350 XOF

700 XOF

1,200 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.58

$1.2

$1.9

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Senegal is approximatly 700 XOF with meal cost ranging from 350 XOF to 1,200 XOF. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

1,200 XOF

1,800 XOF

3,500 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.9

$2.9

$5.8

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 1,200 XOF and 3,500 XOF with 1,800 XOF being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Senegal.

Fine dining meal for one price

2,300 XOF

3,500 XOF

14,000 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.9

$5.8

$23

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 2,300 XOF to 14,000 XOF with the average cost being 3,500 XOF for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Senegal.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

290 XOF

470 XOF

700 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.48

$0.77

$1.2

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Senegal is around 470 XOF. Price ranges between 290 XOF and 700 XOF depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

230 XOF

280 XOF

350 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.39

$0.46

$0.58

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Senegal is 280 XOF. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 350 XOF and the minimum being 230 XOF depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

180 XOF

230 XOF

350 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.29

$0.39

$0.58

A dozen eggs costs around 230 XOF on average with 180 XOF and 350 XOF being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

400 XOF

520 XOF

730 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.66

$0.85

$1.2

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Senegal is between 400 XOF and 730 XOF depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 520 XOF.

Pack of beef price

470 XOF

700 XOF

1,400 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.77

$1.2

$2.3

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 700 XOF. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

190 XOF

260 XOF

370 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.31

$0.43

$0.61

A bag of rice in Senegal costs around 260 XOF on average with prices rangeing between 190 XOF and 370 XOF depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

70 XOF

94 XOF

180 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.12

$0.15

$0.29

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 70 XOF to 180 XOF. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

130 XOF

160 XOF

270 XOF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.21

$0.27

$0.45

A bag of apples costs 160 XOF on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Senegal is around 27%. This means that individuals spend 27% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 19% to 33% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for individuals