Dakar vs Los Ángeles Cost of Living Comparison
Executive summary: Dakar leads on CPI (25.5 vs 42.5, NYC=100), Dakar leads on rent index, and Los Ángeles leads on purchasing power. Validate neighbourhood rents before relocating — city-wide winners can reverse at district scale.
Overall Cost Winner
Dakar
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Salary (348% gap, Los Ángeles ahead); Purchasing Power (185% gap, Los Ángeles ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $341 lower in Dakar than in Los Ángeles (~58% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $341 (favoring Dakar).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Dakar | CPI 25.5 vs 42.5 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Dakar | Rent index 15.3 vs 24.3 (lower is better) |
| Food | Dakar | Groceries index 34.6 vs 45 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Dakar | One-way ticket 264.49 vs 730.07 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Dakar | Utilities (85m²) 18482.4 vs 46170 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Dakar | Internet 13698.72 vs 29393 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Dakar | Restaurant index 25 vs 47.9 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Los Ángeles | Avg net salary 3392640 vs 756449.6 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Los Ángeles | PP index 57.6 vs 20.2 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Salary: Los Ángeles leads with a 348% gap.
Avg net salary 3392640 vs 756449.6 (higher is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Dakar — Lower housing / rent index (59% gap).
- Families: Dakar — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Dakar; purchasing power favors Los Ángeles.
- Remote Workers: Dakar — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Dakar (~67% gap).
- Budget Living: Dakar — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Dakar is the overall cost winner on CPI (~67% lower everyday-cost index than Los Ángeles).
- Housing: Dakar leads on rent index (59% gap).
- Food / groceries: Dakar is lower (30% gap).
- Purchasing power: Los Ángeles scores higher (185% gap).
- Largest category gap: Salary (348%), favoring Los Ángeles.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$341 cheaper in Dakar.
Analysis
Detailed breakdown uses only paired indices: CPI 25.5/42.5, rent 15.3/24.3, purchasing power 20.2/57.6. Category winners can diverge — a city may win rent while losing CPI. No GDP, climate, or industry claims are invented for either city.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-20
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.