MigrantoCost of living in Djibouti
Average monthly spending, by standard of living and against other countries
Monthly cost
DJF 30,700
what a typical person spends
Spending by standard of living
DJF 11,200richest 20%
DJF 98,800
Djibouti makes very little of what it consumes — almost everything arrives through its port, and the cost of bringing it in is baked into nearly every price. The economy runs on that port and the foreign bases and shipping that pass through it, which keeps the capital expensive in a way the country's size wouldn't predict. The gulf between how the comfortable and the struggling live is enormous, and what a life costs here depends entirely on which side of that line you're on.
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What it costs to live in Djibouti
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Cost of living in Djibouti
DJF 11,200/mo
vs DJF 142,000 in your country
Take-home
DJF 50,800
vs DJF 213,000 in your country
Potential savings
DJF 39,600
more than in your country
Standard of living
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How living costs in Djibouti compare
For the region, Djibouti runs expensive — a tiny country that imports nearly everything and sells its location, so prices climb where its neighbors' don't. On a world scale it stays cheaper than most places, though the heavy import bill narrows that gap, and daily life costs more than its low global standing alone would suggest.
Data source: household consumption 2024 (World Bank), International Comparison Program 2021 (World Bank), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in Djibouti?
A typical person in Djibouti spends about DJF 30,700 a month — around DJF 369,000 a year — on housing, groceries, transport and other everyday costs. It's a nationwide average across different regions, cities and types of housing.
What is the cost of living in Djibouti in US dollars?
The cost of living in Djibouti is about $173 a month, or roughly $2,076 a year per person.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Djibouti?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about DJF 11,200 a month per person, a typical one around DJF 30,700, and a comfortable life around DJF 44,800. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
Is the average salary in Djibouti enough to live on?
Yes, with room to spare. Average spending is about DJF 30,700 a month, while the average take-home pay in Djibouti is about DJF 127,000. For more on incomes, see salaries in Djibouti.
Is Djibouti an expensive country to live in?
No. Djibouti is more expensive than 29% of countries worldwide and ranks 14th of 53 in Africa by cost of living.
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Living in Djibouti
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