Renting an apartment in Dakar: neighbourhoods and rents in 2026

Almadies, Mermoz, Point E, Ouakam or Liberté: rents by neighbourhood in Dakar in 2026, what to budget on top of rent and how to sign safely.

The Remoters editorial team

Published on

7 December 2023

Updated on

6 October 2026

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To rent an apartment in Dakar, the neighbourhood matters more than anything: it sets the rent, the commute time and the level of services in the building. Rents range from about 150,000 FCFA per month for a modest home in Liberté 6 or Grand Yoff to more than 1,000,000 FCFA for an upmarket seafront apartment in Almadies or Ngor.

Per square metre, the gaps are just as clear. According to the Au Sénégal guide (April 2026), a home rents for between 7,000 and 18,000 FCFA per square metre per month in Almadies and Ngor, against 3,000 to 6,500 FCFA in the SICAP, Liberté, Amitié and Sacré-Cœur neighbourhoods, and 2,000 to 4,500 FCFA in Médina.

If you are French and coming for more than three months, also plan for your residence permit: under three months, you are exempt from a visa; beyond that, a resident card is mandatory and is applied for in Senegal, at the prefecture for your place of residence.

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Dakar's neighbourhoods and their rents

The monthly ranges below are for a whole apartment; the prices per square metre come from the Au Sénégal guide of April 2026.

Almadies and Ngor: the upmarket seafront

At the western tip of the peninsula, these are the most sought-after neighbourhoods, with upmarket residences, restaurants, hotels and embassies. Expect 350,000 to 1,000,000 FCFA per month, or 7,000 to 18,000 FCFA per square metre. Residences often include security, a generator and sometimes a swimming pool.

Plateau: the business centre

The administrative and economic centre, very lively by day and quieter in the evening. Rents here are among the highest in the city: 6,000 to 15,000 FCFA per square metre. Handy if you work in a ministry, a bank or an embassy.

Fann Résidence, Mermoz and Point E: residential and central

Fann Résidence and Fann Mermoz, along the western corniche, have villas, secure residences and international schools (6,000 to 13,000 FCFA per square metre). Mermoz, between the corniche and the VDN, is well supplied with shops and schools (3,000 to 7,000 FCFA). Point E, very central, sits between 4,500 and 8,000 FCFA per square metre. For an apartment, expect 250,000 to 600,000 FCFA per month in Mermoz and Point E, and 200,000 to 500,000 FCFA in Fann, near Cheikh Anta Diop University.

SICAP, Liberté, Amitié and Sacré-Cœur: central and affordable

These neighbourhoods, among Dakar's first modern housing developments, remain popular for their central location and their access to the BRT. Rents range from 3,000 to 6,500 FCFA per square metre, and from 150,000 to 350,000 FCFA per month for an apartment in Liberté 6 or Grand Yoff.

Ouakam and the Mamelles: between price and ocean views

A former village turned urban neighbourhood, Ouakam is close to Almadies. Expect 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA per month, or 2,800 to 8,000 FCFA per square metre. The Mamelles mix villas and apartment buildings, with ocean views.

Yoff, Hann Maristes: for a moderate budget

Along the ocean, Yoff rents for between 3,000 and 6,000 FCFA per square metre. Together with Hann Maristes, these are interesting options for a moderate budget.

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Budget: what to plan for on top of rent

Move-in costs: security deposit, advance rent and any agency fees, often between half a month and one month's rent. The amounts requested vary by landlord: have them put in black and white in the lease.
Electricity and water: SENELEC bills and water are generally at your expense. Power cuts remain frequent: a building with a generator, or a backup water tank, changes daily life.
Security: often included in upmarket residences. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends using reliable, permanent security, day and night, where you stay.
Internet: check the building's fibre coverage before signing if you work from home.

Included services explain a good part of the rent gaps between two apartments in the same neighbourhood: always compare like for like.

Transport: a criterion in your choice

The BRT, electric buses on an 18.3 km dedicated lane between Petersen and the Guédiawaye prefecture, links central Dakar to the northern suburbs. A ticket costs 400 FCFA within a single zone and 500 FCFA for all zones. A home near a station can spare you from paying more to live near your work. If you drive, test the route at rush hour.

Renting without nasty surprises

Arrive with a temporary solution: a few weeks in a short-term furnished rental lets you see several neighbourhoods before committing.
Visit at different times: in the evening, for noise and street lighting; during the rainy season, from July to October, because violent storms can raise water levels and block streets, including in Dakar: spot the access routes that flood.
Prepare your application: passport, employment contract or proof of income, and references from a previous landlord if you have any.
Insist on a written lease stating the rent, duration, utilities, deposit and what is included (security, generator, maintenance). Ask whether it will be registered with the tax authorities.
Pay nothing before you have visited and met the owner or their representative. A listing far below neighbourhood prices, an owner you cannot meet or a request for a deposit from a distance should raise a red flag.
Do a detailed inventory with photos, signed by both parties, to get your deposit back when you leave.

On safety, robberies with assault and burglaries can occur in Dakar, by day as well as by night, and attacks on pedestrians are reported on the Corniche road at nightfall: take this into account for the location of your home and your walking routes.

Finding your apartment in Dakar from abroad

The Dakar market is still little digitalised and negotiation is often done on the spot. A Remoters home finder based in Dakar can search for you according to your workplace and budget, visit apartments, check the building's services, put your application together and review the lease before signing. The first conversation and the quote are free.