Cost of Living in The Gambia

A major consideration when moving to a new country is the cost of living. It can either be a blessing for your bank account if everyday purchases become significantly cheaper, or it can present challenges if the cost of living increases. For many, The Gambia offers a welcome financial relief with its low cost of living.

The official language in The Gambia is English, which makes it easier for those moving from the United Kingdom to settle in. For this informative overview, we are focusing on someone relocating from the UK.

The national currency is the Gambian Dalasi (GMD). As of 2025, the exchange rate is approximately £1 = 97.80 dalasis. This means 1 dalasi equals around £0.010. Whether this proves advantageous or not depends on the cost of goods and services, which we will explore in more detail. We will begin by examining the major expenses involved when relocating to The Gambia, followed by a closer look at the costs of everyday essentials such as food, transport and utilities.

Major costs of living in the Gambia (Rent, property, bills)

When making the move you will either look into buying or renting a property. 

Here at Blue Ocean Properties, we have three-bedroom properties available to purchase from as little as £35,000 (approximately 3,272,500 GMD). For this price, you could own a beautiful three-bedroom home with two bathrooms, including en-suite facilities in the larger bedrooms. To purchase a property of a similar size in the North West of England, you would typically need to spend around £130,000, while in London, prices start from £400,000 and can rise significantly higher. Choosing The Gambia offers exceptional value for money, making it an attractive option for buyers seeking affordability without compromising on space or comfort.

 
Utilities on average cost around 1,875 Dalasi a month for 1 person in a small apartment & roughly 5000 for 2 people in a larger property. This includes the cost of heating, electricity, and Gas. This equates to £80 a month for your utility bills, wherein the U.K you can spend over £140 a month on the same usage, making your savings last much longer allowing you to enjoy yourself more in other areas.
 
If you want to have WiFi at your property it costs a lot more than it typically would elsewhere in the world, especially compared to the U.K where internet is easily accessible and installed, the Gambia doesn’t have the same capability so it will cost around 6000 Dalasi for your monthly internet subscription which is around £60 a month. This may seem expensive but when you make so many savings elsewhere, it doesn’t affect your monthly spend.
 
When shopping in everyday life you will be grabbing essentials that you can’t go without, we take a look at several popular products that you may be purchasing on a regular basis. Then you can compare it to life in the U.K.

Cost of everyday essentials in the Gambia

• 1 litre of milk = 169 GMD (£1.73)
• A loaf of bread = 47 GMD (£0.48)
• Beer (500ml) = 156 GMD (£1.59)
• 500g chicken = 127 GMD (£1.30)
• Fast food (McDonald’s meal) = 309 GMD (£3.16)
• Eating lunch out (including drink) = 500 GMD (£5.11)
• 1 litre of petrol = 53 GMD (£0.54)

The main change in your spending that will benefit your bank is the price of petrol. A full tank in the UK can cost around £71.50 based on £1.30 per litre with a 55 litre tank. Whereas in The Gambia you could fill the same size tank for just £29.85 based on 53 Dalasi per litre or £0.54 saving you around £41.65 per fill. If you fill up twice a month that is a saving of £83.30 monthly enough to cover most of your internet costs just from fuel savings alone. If you do not drive public transport is incredibly affordable. A monthly pass typically costs around 2,500 Dalasi which is just £25.58.

Cost of entertainment & enjoyment in the Gambia

Everyone needs some time to relax. The Gambia is full of life and energy and has endless ways for you to kick back at the end of the day or the weekend. Expats moving to the Gambia will find a country that is home to a vibrant culture characterized by public wrestling matches, heaving marketplaces, and energetic music.
 
We will run through the costs of typical activities to do in the Gambia.

Dinner for two

Wanting to go for an evening meal with your partner or friend? You can get a standard meal for two for around 883 Dalasi, which is only £14! A standard meal for one in the U.K is roughly around the same price, meaning you can either save more money or eat out twice as much without spending more than you’re used to. Want to splash out and celebrate a birthday, or go for a romantic date. You can get an Italian dinner for two in the expat area, including the appetizers, mains, wine, and dessert for only £22! (1417 Dalasi). You can expect to pay around £50-£60 for the equivalent in the U.K. This means you can splash out and live life a little more lavishly in the Gambia without having to worry about large spends.

Get active with a Gym membership

A gym membership is always good to have, no matter your age it’s always great to stay active, fit & healthy. To join a gym in the business district it will cost around £28 a month or 1750 Dalasi.

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