For meals, transport, tips - whats the safe amount to carry in Gambia ? Trying to plan a daily budget for a month long trip
I found Gambia’s charm in its affordability compared to Senegal next door. I spent most days eating at local markets - grilled fish or rice dishes for about $For longer trips, I often shared a taxi with locals, spending under $Western-style food and cocktails in Kololi definitely pushed my budget up, sometimes $20 for dinner and drinks. I’d say if you want to live like locals, $25-30 daily works. But for someone expecting sit-down restaurants, private taxis, and regular tips, budget $50. It’s flexible depending on your style.
For Gambia, think of expenses in layers. Local meals - $2-4, tourist restaurants - $8-1Shared taxis are very cheap, but expect to spend $3-4 daily if you’re moving around. Tips are small, about 20-50 dalasi in restaurants or for guides. So a very safe number is $30 per day for basic meals and rides, but closer to $45 if you’re eating at beachside restaurants and occasionally booking private tours. Extra excursions like visiting river communities or taking a pirogue boat ride can add $10-15. That’s worth budgeting weekly.
When I went for a month, I aimed at $40-50 per day and found it comfortable. Restaurant meals with fish and rice dishes are $4-8, and nicer tourist spots might charge $1A taxi ride across town is about $2-3, while hiring a driver for a day to explore villages is $25-30. Tipping 5-10% in restaurants is appreciated but not expected. If you plan to chill at Senegambia Beach hotels and occasionally eat Western food, keep around $50 per day. You’ll be surprised how much fresh juice and seafood you can get.
I travelled around Gambia for a few weeks and honestly, it’s one of the easier African countries to keep costs low. Street food like domoda or benachin is usually under $2, and filling. Local shared taxis cost around 20-40 dalasi (less than $1), though private cabs charge a lot more. Tipping isn’t a big culture thing, but leaving 10 dalasi here and there helps. For a budget traveller, $20-25 daily is safe, including some extra for drinks at beach bars in Kololi. Add more if you want comfortable transport or tourist restaurants.