Senegal has no single national cost calculator or standard lump-sum budget that fits every household. The National Agency of Statistics and Demography (ANSD) tracks prices through the Harmonised Consumer Price Index (IHPC), while the Household Living Conditions Survey (EHCVM) measures household consumption. The 2021/22 EHCVM recorded annual consumption per person of 868,671 FCFA in Dakar, 550,578 FCFA in other urban areas, 697,989 FCFA across urban areas, 402,240 FCFA in rural areas and 542,706 FCFA nationally. The annual poverty threshold was 369,666 FCFA and the extreme-poverty threshold was 196,233 FCFA. These are historical statistical measures, not recommended 2026 budgets or guaranteed minimum income levels. ANSD's 2025 price index recorded inflation of 1.4%, with food up 2.2%, restaurants and accommodation up 2.2%, household goods and services up 2.5%, health up 1.8%, transport up 1.5% and housing, water, electricity and gas up 1.0%. Prices in the second quarter of 2026 were 1.0% higher than in the second quarter of 2025. A household budget should therefore record the date and location of every price estimate and allow for changes in prices, supply and exchange conditions. Housing is usually the largest fixed cost for tenants. Common terms include loyer for rent, bail à usage d'habitation for a residential lease, caution for a deposit, commission d'agence for an agency commission and surface corrigée for a corrected floor-area measure. Decree No. 2023-382 provides rent reductions from 1 March 2023: 15% for monthly rent up to 300,000 FCFA, 10% for rent from 300,001 to 500,000 FCFA and 5% above 500,000 FCFA. For rent up to 500,000 FCFA, an agency commission may not exceed half a month's rent. Enforcement, particularly in Dakar, has been uneven, and the framework was under review in 2025. ANSD's 2024 Dakar monthly benchmarks were 88,631 FCFA for a studio, 138,844 FCFA for a modern standard apartment, 90,977 FCFA for a courtyard apartment with an indoor toilet, 31,694 FCFA for one without an indoor toilet, 156,124 FCFA for a detached masonry house with an indoor toilet and 102,664 FCFA for one with an outdoor toilet. These figures are Dakar benchmarks, not national tariffs. Owner-occupied or family accommodation can reduce rent, but maintenance, utilities and basic services still require money. The Ministry of Commerce, CONAREL, communes, landlords and agencies may each be relevant depending on the rent issue. Water access and billing differ between urban, peri-urban and rural areas. SEN'EAU provides services within its delegated urban and peri-urban area, SONES manages water infrastructure and ONAS handles wastewater. The state sets tariffs by official order, with special arrangements reported for areas including Louga, Saint-Louis and Matam, and Diembéring and Basse Casamance. A tariff increase announced in 2024 was suspended. Billing is based on actual consumption and is usually issued every two months. In 2025, an ordinary connection included a 5,764 FCFA estimate, at least eight days for measurement, 89,792 FCFA excluding tax for a simple connection of up to five metres and at least 15 days for construction. Longer connections, road crossings and additional work require a quotation. Social connections apply only to residential buildings with a 15-millimetre meter. In rural areas, forages, standpipes, household concessions and ASUFOR water-user associations may serve as alternatives; a budget should include the time, distance and transport cost of collecting water. Electricity costs depend on the supply system, tariff category and consumption. SENELEC and the Commission de Régulation du Secteur de l'Énergie (CRSE) provide the national framework. From 1 January 2026, the DPP tariff was 82.00 FCFA per kWh for 0-150 kWh, 136.49 FCFA for 151-250 kWh and 159.36 FCFA above 250 kWh. The DMP tariff was 111.23, 143.54 and 158.46 FCFA per kWh across the same consumption bands. Under Woyofal prepaid electricity, consumption in the third band is charged at the second-band rate. A Woyofal connection cost 4,689 FCFA for monophasé service and 5,950 FCFA for triphasé service. Rural concessions may use providers such as ERA or COMASEL. In the 2026 ERA service areas of Kaffrine, Tambacounda and Kédougou, the rate was 82 FCFA per kWh, with minimum monthly recharges of 984, 1,804, 3,608 or 5,494 FCFA depending on the tariff band, plus a 429 FCFA table charge. Power interruptions can create extra costs for lighting, batteries, charging and solar or other backup equipment. Cooking energy varies by region and by access to gas, charcoal or wood. ANSD's September 2025 price observations for a six-kilogram butane cylinder were 2,892 FCFA in Dakar, 3,027 in Diourbel, 3,086 in Kaolack, 3,529 in Kolda, 3,125 in Saint-Louis and 3,025 in Thiès. Rural households may rely more on gas, charcoal or wood and should include transport, storage and equipment costs. In the observed regions, petrol was 990 FCFA per litre and diesel was 755 FCFA per litre. Food costs depend on household size, meals, protein and fresh-food consumption, self-supply, location and season. ANSD's September 2025 regional observations, listed for Dakar, Diourbel, Kaolack, Kolda, Saint-Louis and Thiès, respectively, were 427, 416, 450, 380, 300 and 450 FCFA per kilogram for local broken rice; 506, 515, 579, 591, 600 and 565 FCFA for imported fragrant rice; 4,045, 3,915, 4,000, 3,325, 4,000 and 4,000 FCFA for beef with bone; 568, 550, 576, 635, 447 and 538 FCFA for local onions; 1,107, 1,096, 1,129, 1,300, 1,074 and 1,072 FCFA for one litre of loose cooking oil; and 600, 603, 605, 600, 637 and 624 FCFA for loose sugar. Market, boutique and wholesale prices can differ. Harvest cycles, import dependence, Ramadan and Tabaski can also change food spending. Transport costs combine formal services with local and informal options. Dakar Dem Dikk, Sénégal Dem Dikk and TER operate alongside cars rapides, Ndiaga Ndiaye vehicles, taxis, motorcycles and horse-drawn carts, whose prices and availability vary by region. A TER journey between Dakar and Diamniadio costs 1,500 FCFA in second class or 2,500 FCFA in first class, and a Sama TER card costs 1,000 FCFA. Dakar Dem Dikk's AIBD service costs 6,000 FCFA. Examples of interurban fares from Dakar are 2,000 FCFA to Thiès, 2,500 to Mbour, 3,000 to Diourbel or Fatick, 4,000 to Louga, 12,000 to Kédougou and 13,000 to Kidira. A monthly estimate can be calculated from commuting days multiplied by travellers and transport segments. Rural households may spend less on rent but more on feeder travel, time and long-distance transport. Health spending can include consultations, medicines, laboratory tests, imaging, hospital treatment and transport for referrals. The health system includes the Ministry of Health and Social Action, health districts, public hospitals, pharmacies, Community-Based Health Insurance schemes, mutual health organisations and private providers. Health insurance coverage was 53.2% in 2022. A single current national fee schedule could not be established, so private prices, availability and referral distance can change the bill. Certain services are free or supported, including specified services for children under five, caesarean sections in suitable public facilities, dialysis in public units and Plan Sésame for people aged 60 and over. Plan Sésame covered 303,113 older people in 2024. A household should still reserve money for medicines, unavailable services, private treatment and regional referral transport. Mobile health campaigns are limited by time and location and do not replace regular access to care. Education spending depends on the institution and the learner's situation. Public schools, private schools, daaras, universities and vocational institutions can create different charges. There is no reliable nationwide current fee schedule covering all formal schools. Indirect costs often dominate: supplies, uniforms, books, transport, meals, examination charges, tutoring and, where necessary, accommodation. Communes are expected to provide school materials, but actual coverage varies locally. Private schools, preschools and daaras set costs according to the institution. For public higher education, CAMPUSEN processing becomes effective only after the relevant registration fees have been paid, and the amount depends on the university, UFR or study programme. Housing, campus meals, internet and transport add to university costs. Family finances can include support for children, older people and people with disabilities, food assistance, housing, school and health expenses, ceremonies and transfers between households. Relevant arrangements include the Registre National Unique (RNU), the Programme National de Bourses de Sécurité Familiale (PNBSF), bourses de sécurité familiale, mutual health organisations, Plan Sésame, family solidarity and tontines. Government information in 2023 stated that PNBSF payments were 35,000 FCFA per quarter for each affected household. Household transfers outside social contributions totalled 1,625.1 billion FCFA in 2022, showing that financial support between households is a significant part of the wider economy. A personal budget should reserve money for Tabaski, Korité, weddings, funerals, visits and support for relatives instead of treating these expenses as unexpected exceptions. Communication is widely used but still varies in price and access. EHCVM 2021/22 recorded mobile access in 99.3% of households and internet access in 46.8%. Main providers and services include Orange, Yas, Expresso, data passes, fibre and Box offers. Examples from Yas were 500 FCFA for 2 GB for 24 hours, 2,000 FCFA for 7 GB for 30 days and 5,000 FCFA for 12.5 GB for 30 days. Yas fibre at 50 Mbps was listed at 14,900 FCFA per month with 10,000 FCFA installation. Orange fibre at 60 Mbps with television was listed at 29,900 FCFA per month for 12 months and 34,900 FCFA afterwards, while an Orange Box Bi cost 35,000 FCFA once. Promotions, coverage and prices change, and rural households may need multiple SIM cards, charging costs or replacement devices where coverage is weaker. Leisure costs are mainly informal, community-based or locally organised rather than governed by a national tariff. Regional cultural centres, youth centres, sports clubs, museums, events, beaches and tourism activities may charge different amounts. Religious and community events, public spaces and some club or youth activities can be free or low-cost. A discretionary budget can cover admission, sports equipment, cinema, music, streaming, restaurants, excursions and seasonal cultural or religious events separately from rent, food, utilities and transport. A workable Senegal household budget has fixed monthly costs such as rent, water, electricity, communication, school or childcare payments and insurance or membership fees; variable costs such as food, transport, health and leisure; and annual reserves for school starts, Tabaski, Korité, ceremonies, repairs, illness, travel and replacing devices. Build separate scenarios for a single adult, a couple, households with children, households supporting an older or disabled person, tenants and owners, and households in Dakar, another urban area or a rural area. Keep an emergency reserve for price changes, supply interruptions and health referrals. Bank charges, borrowing costs and taxes may affect cash flow but belong to separate subjects from living costs.
Costs in Senegal
Household living costs in Senegal combine recurring payments such as rent, water, electricity, food, transport, communication and schooling with irregular health, family and repair expenses. Costs are generally higher in Dakar than in other urban and rural areas, while prices also vary by region and season. Senegal uses the West African CFA franc (FCFA), and a realistic budget should separate monthly spending from annual reserves. National household-consumption averages are historical statistical references, not a guaranteed 2026 minimum budget.
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