Short-stay apartment rentals in Dakar: a practical guide

Looking for a furnished apartment in Dakar for a week, a month or a full season, without booking a hotel? Short-stay rentals have grown fast across the capital, from small studios in Sacré-Cœur to serviced residences with a pool in the Almadies. Here is how to pick the right neighbourhood, read real FCFA prices and secure your booking. You can also browse real estate agencies and residences in Dakar to compare serious contacts.

Choosing a neighbourhood that fits your stay

Dakar is spread out, and crossing the city at rush hour can easily take over an hour. Start from where you will actually spend your days, not from the prettiest photo.

• Almadies, Ngor, Yoff: the coastal strip, restaurants, surf spots and a strong expat presence. Plenty of furnished residences with a caretaker and sometimes a pool.
• Plateau: ministries, banks and head offices. The obvious pick for a short business trip, denser and noisier during working hours.
• Point E, Mermoz, Sacré-Cœur, Fann: the central compromise for one to three month stays, with shops, clinics and universities close by.
• Liberté 6, Ouakam, VDN: family-sized flats, neighbourhood markets and rents more reasonable than on the corniche.
• Parcelles Assainies, Guédiawaye, Pikine, Keur Massar, Rufisque, Diamniadio: the gentlest budgets and a very Senegalese daily life, provided you accept longer commutes.

Prices, charges and deposits

Rates swing with the season, the surface area and above all the standing of the building. As an order of magnitude, a furnished studio in a central district often sits between 25,000 and 60,000 FCFA per night, while a two or three bedroom apartment in a secured residence near the ocean can go beyond 100,000 FCFA per night.

Weekly and monthly bookings follow a different logic. Discounts are standard, and a furnished one-bedroom often lands somewhere between 400,000 and 1,200,000 FCFA per month depending on the area and the services included. Outside the city centre, expect noticeably less.

Settle these points before paying:

• The deposit: for short stays it is often the equivalent of one or two nights, and up to a month for longer lets. Ask for a receipt and written refund conditions.
• Charges: water, electricity, internet, cleaning. Some rents are all inclusive, others bill electricity by meter, which adds up quickly with air conditioning.
• Backup power: a generator or inverter matters during outages, so check before signing.
• Security and parking, especially if you plan to rent a car.

Seasons that move the market

High season runs from November to February, when the weather is dry and mild, then peaks again in July and August with the return of the diaspora. Major sporting or cultural events and the Magal de Touba period also tighten availability. Book several weeks ahead for those windows. The rainy season, roughly July to October, brings heat, humidity and occasional flooded streets: upper floors and well drained streets are worth the extra cost.

Common traps to avoid

• Never pay in full before seeing the place, or, from abroad, before a live video tour and a written contract.
• Be wary of listings with no precise address, flawless photos and a price well below market.
• Do an inventory check with photos on arrival and departure.
• Test water pressure, air conditioning, mobile coverage and internet on day one.
• Ask whether an agent commission applies and how much, so no fee appears at checkout.
• Keep the emergency numbers handy: 17 for police, 18 for the fire brigade, 1515 for medical emergencies.

Recommended addresses on SeneFinder

• Appart.sn, Locations meublées à Ngor - Dakar - Sénégal : Dakar, furnished rentals.
• Senséjour : Dakar, accommodation and real estate.
• Location appartement meublé Dakar (Liberté 6) : Dakar, furnished apartment.
• Résidence THÉA by Ilios groupe : Dakar, residence.
• Keur Immo : Dakar, real estate agency.
• Carré d'Or Immobilier : Dakar, real estate agency.
• Dakar By Days : Dakar, stay rentals.
• Dakar Relocation et Services Immo : VDN, Dakar, real estate services.

To widen the search, see all addresses in this category or explore the Dakar directory neighbourhood by neighbourhood.

Useful tools

• Route planner to estimate travel time between your flat and your meetings.
• FCFA currency converter to compare rents in your own currency.
• Practical guide: emergency numbers, transport and everyday information.
• Planning a longer stay? Read our article on renting an apartment in Dakar and our guide for the diaspora settling in Dakar.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum stay for a short-term rental in Dakar?

Most furnished residences accept bookings from two or three nights, with higher minimums in high season. Rates improve significantly from one week, and even more on a monthly basis.

Do I need to pay a deposit for a furnished apartment?

Almost always. The deposit covers breakages and unpaid charges, and should be returned after the checkout inventory, ideally within a few days and against a receipt.

Is a short-stay apartment cheaper than a hotel in Dakar?

From one week onwards, a furnished apartment usually costs less than an equivalent hotel, especially for families or groups, since you cook on site and benefit from weekly or monthly discounts.