While Senegal remains classified as a low-income nation, Dakar’s cost of living ranks among the highest on the continent. This stark reality has been highlighted by a trending video comparing everyday product prices between Dakar and Paris, resurfacing amid fresh inflation concerns.

Originally posted by French TikToker Simon Labas in December 2025, the video has reignited debates across TikTok and X as Senegalese citizens grapple with surging expenses, including fuel. The timing couldn’t be more critical, with recent government adjustments to fuel prices adding to public frustration.

Price gaps that defy expectations

The video lays bare striking disparities. A kilogram of whole chicken costs 2,610 F CFA in Dakar, compared to 2,300 F CFA in Paris. Similarly, Elle & Vire butter retails at 2,990 F CFA in Dakar versus 1,990 F CFA in the French capital. Cooking oil, a staple in Senegalese diets, follows the same pattern: 6,990 F CFA in Dakar versus 6,000 F CFA in Paris.

Differences become even more pronounced for non-essential items. A box of Chocapic cereals costs 5,250 F CFA in Dakar—over double the 1,990 F CFA price tag in France. An equally glaring example is the Soupline fabric softener, priced at 9,990 F CFA in Dakar compared to 5,600 F CFA in Paris. These revelations have left many Senegalese viewers stunned.

The crisis extends beyond groceries. Housing and fuel prices, both recently hiked by authorities, further strain household budgets. This isn’t an isolated issue: a 2024 ranking by Countryeconomy placed Senegal as Africa’s second most expensive country to live in, trailing only Ivory Coast.