Senegal
West Africa's most stable welcome: music, Atlantic beaches and a French-influenced kitchen.
Cheaper. The exchange rate moved +4.5%; local prices rose +1.4%.
- Lean
- $35
- Comfort
- $189
Ranked 15 of 99.
The short answerIn US dollars, as of November 12, 2026
Senegal is 6.6% cheaper for US-dollar travelers than a year ago, after adjusting for inflation. A mid-range day costs about $80 per person, excluding international flights. The US State Department advisory is Level 1 (normal precautions), and it ranks 15 of 99 on the Trip Arbitrage Index with a score of 68 out of 100.
What your money buys there
30 monthsThe dashed line is what a currency converter shows. The solid line is the same thing after prices in both countries are taken into account. When they part, the solid one is telling the truth.
How the score is built
- Dislocation ×0.36
- 60
- Price floor ×0.30
- 64
- Safety ×0.20
- 100
- Ease ×0.14
- 50
Real price drop vs last year and vs the five-year norm
How low the daily cost is in absolute terms
From the current travel advisory
How well set up the country is for visitors
The full reading
| Real change, 3 months | +4.6% | Is the move still going, or already reversing? |
|---|---|---|
| Real change, 12 months | +6.6% | The headline: what your money buys versus a year ago. |
| Exchange rate alone, 12 months | +4.5% | What a currency converter would tell you. |
| Local inflation, 12 months | +1.4% | How much of that the destination's own prices took back. |
| Versus five-year average | +2.9% | Cheap or dear against its own recent history. |
| Advisory | Level 1 | Normal precautions |
| Ease of travel | 3.0 / 5 | Rough edges |
- Dakar's music and art scene
- Île de Gorée and Saint-Louis
- The Sine-Saloum delta
Dakar is expensive by regional standards, and transport outside it is slow.
The CFA franc is pegged to the euro, so it moves exactly as the euro does.
When to go
November is peak season- Janpeak
- Febpeak
- Marpeak
- Aprpeak
- Mayshoulder
- Junoff
- Juloff
- Augoff
- Sepoff
- Octshoulder
- Novpeak
- Decpeak
Safety and ease
- US State Department
- Level 1: Normal precautions · updated November 30, 2025
- Read the full advisory ↗
- Advisories are often regional. A country-wide level can hide both safe areas and no-go zones, and other governments may judge differently.
- Tourism infrastructure
- Rough edges · 3.0 / 5
Head to head
- Senegal vs Morocco$71a day there
- Senegal vs Ghana$79a day there
- Senegal vs Nigeria$121a day there
Senegal, in five questions
Answers are generated from the index reading of November 12, 2026, in US dollars. To cite: “Trip Arbitrage (triparbitrage.com), reading of November 12, 2026.”
- How much does it cost per day to travel in Senegal?
- As of November 12, 2026, a day in Senegal costs about $35 on a lean budget, $80 mid-range and $189 in comfort, per person, excluding international flights. These are modeled estimates, updated daily for local inflation and the exchange rate.
- Is Senegal cheaper to visit than a year ago?
- Yes. Over the past 12 months the exchange rate moved +4.5% for US-dollar holders while prices in Senegal rose +1.4%, a net real change of +6.6% in purchasing power. Against its own five-year average, Senegal is 2.9% cheaper.
- Is Senegal safe to travel to right now?
- The US State Department rates Senegal at Level 1: Normal precautions. Dakar is expensive by regional standards, and transport outside it is slow. Advisories are often regional and other governments may differ, so read the full advisory before booking.
- When is the cheapest time to visit Senegal?
- The shoulder months, when the weather is workable and prices ease, are May, October. The best conditions, and the highest prices, come in November, December, January, February, March, April. November is peak season.
- How easy is Senegal to travel around?
- Senegal scores 3.0 out of 5 for ease of travel (rough edges), a measure of transport, lodging, payments, wayfinding and access to healthcare. West Africa's most stable welcome: music, Atlantic beaches and a French-influenced kitchen.
Elsewhere in Africa
Reading of November 12, 2026. In US dollars, Senegal reads +6.6% over twelve months in real terms with a mid-range day near $80. Costs are modeled, not quoted: see the method.