It is a country that welcomes many tourists, and has warm weather and sun for most of the year.
Senegal is a destination located close to Europe. There is plenty of access to nature in its many national parks, protected nature reserves and a great wealth of flora and fauna. With more than 700 km of beach, it is ideal for people who are looking for sun to enjoy their retirement.
HDI ranking: 164/189 countries
HDI 0.51 = low
The human development index is based on 3 criteria health, education and longevity
Average journey times:
Paris – Dakar: 5 hours 24 mins
London – Dakar: 7 hours 45 mins
New York – Dakar: 8 hours 07mins
Los Angeles – Dakar: 12 hours 24 mins
Sydney – Dakar: 21 hours 23 mins
Currency and cost of living:
5000 CFA: EUR 7.63 / USD 8.62
Big Mac Index: USD 2.4
Restaurant Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course: CFA 18 199,46 +
Market – Milk (regular, 1 liter): CFA 1 028,00
Basic Utilities (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment in Dakar: CFA 79 262,82
Monthly Rent for Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre of Dakar: CFA 296 875,00
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre of Dakar: CFA 5 946 208,72
How can you live in Senegal – residency requirements:
Apply for a residence card that is obtained after 3 years of presence while you have applied for a registration card entitling you to a residence permit from a former. Possibility of being covered by the CFE.
Housing in Senegal: There are all kinds of housing in Dakar. The most sought after and safest neighborhoods are Plateau, Fann, Ouakam, Point E, Mermoz, Almadies. For housing, it takes at least 100,000 FCFA for a house up to 1.5 million FCFA for the most luxurious. Neighborhoods are cheaper but less secure. In Saint-Louis, there is no residential area.
It is preferable to target the lease (on which you specify the rental period, the amount of the rent can not be revised, the charges included and excluded, the specific inventory, the amount of the deposit and its repayment period ) by the police authorities or a notary. The deposit must not exceed one month’s rent. You can stay either near the center, or in the neighborhoods of Sor or Vauvert (houses with gardens). The duration of the leases is one year. The rent is payable in advance (three months). Monthly charges represent approximately 40% of the rent. The buildings are kept at night by private guards.
Another option is to build your own residence after purchasing land.
How does one find housing in Senegal? The best solution is to talk to the elderly in the streets of the neighborhood you have chosen; they will be paid, but for a maximum of 20,000 FCFA you are sure not to miss the house of your dreams! In the most sought-after neighborhoods, it is advisable to contact real estate agencies.
Taxation: Taxable persons are those who have a tax domicile in Senegal (people who have a permanent residence in Senegal or who have a professional activity in Senegal). The tax is levied by a withholding tax. Each member of the household is taxed separately. Persons whose annual taxable income, after division by the number of shares they benefit, do not exceed the sum of 600,000 FCFA, are exempt from tax. The highest rate is 50% (for annual income). over 12.65 million FCFA). Allowances are possible (amounts used for the constitution of a retirement, professional expenses, mileage allowances …). A tax clearance is required before leaving the country.
Others taxes:
The standard rate of VAT is set at 18%, the reduced rate is 10%. A rate of 15% applies to the tourism industry. Net property income is taxed at the rate of 20%. “The Representative Tax for the Minimum Tax (TRIMF) is due by all natural persons residing in Senegal who receive salaries, allowances, emoluments, pensions and life annuities and who is not exempt from it.” The scale depends on one’s income.
Safety: There is a terrorist threat to West African countries. Particular vigilance is therefore required. It is recommended to avoid certain areas: parts of Casamance, the border with Mali and part of the border with Mauritania. Numerous roadside checkpoints are set up by police on the main roads of the country.
Criminal acts are most often carried out against property, rarely accompanied by physical violence. Pay attention in tourist areas.
Health and Social Security:
- How to benefit from coverage?
Contacting a health insurance plan is mandatory and covers all employees and their families. Coverage usually includes 40 or 80% of the costs of medical consultations, paramedical examinations, deliveries, cesarean section, hospitalization, surgery, dental care, generic drugs and specialties, eyewear. Self-employed workers may voluntarily join private health insurers. Pensioners are cared for in institutions managed by the Provident Fund Pension in Senegal.
- What quality of care in Senegal?
Health care is provided to the entire population at multiple levels. In the villages, they are health posts run by nurses, at the intermediate level they are health centers with doctors’ consultations, at the regional level they are specialized health centers, at the national level they are hospitals, services and national institutes including the CHU
The current care is satisfactory, but if you have a serious health problem, it is advisable to return to a first world country for more advanced medical care.
When you come to Senegal, it is strongly recommended to be vaccinated against yellow fever, hepatitis A and B, and to take an antimalarial treatment.
