The verdict in three sentences
For a 120 person-day business application, a European SME pays about 60,000 to 90,000 EUR in France, 36,000 to 54,000 EUR in Eastern Europe and 24,000 to 42,000 EUR with a dedicated team in Dakar. A time difference of 0 to 2 hours and French or English as working languages make Dakar closer, day to day, than many nearshore vendors. Quality depends less on the city than on three contract points: a named project manager, deliveries every two weeks and code you own from day one.
Daily rates compared in 2026
The average daily rates below apply to senior profiles (4 to 8 years of experience) billed by a services company, not lone freelancers. They include supervision and tooling.
| Region | Senior developer daily rate | Project manager daily rate | Offset from Paris | Working language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France (Paris, Lyon, Nantes) | 500 to 750 EUR | 650 to 900 EUR | 0 h | French |
| Eastern Europe (Poland, Romania) | 300 to 450 EUR | 400 to 550 EUR | 0 to 1 h | English |
| Portugal, Spain | 350 to 500 EUR | 450 to 600 EUR | 0 to 1 h | English, sometimes French |
| North Africa (Tunis, Casablanca) | 250 to 400 EUR | 350 to 500 EUR | 0 to 1 h | French |
| Dakar | 200 to 350 EUR | 300 to 450 EUR | 1 to 2 h (0 h in winter for London) | French, English |
| India, Southeast Asia | 150 to 300 EUR | 250 to 400 EUR | 3.5 to 6 h | English |
Senegal is on GMT all year: 1 hour behind Paris in winter, 2 hours in summer, and aligned with London in winter. A daily 9:30 am meeting in Paris lands at 7:30 or 8:30 am in Dakar, which remains comfortable for an organised team.
Total cost of a 120-day project
The daily rate alone does not make the budget. You need to add client-side management time, any travel and a contingency margin.
| Item | France | Eastern Europe | Dakar |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120 days of development | 60,000 to 90,000 EUR | 36,000 to 54,000 EUR | 24,000 to 42,000 EUR |
| SME-side management (0.2 FTE over 6 months) | 6,000 EUR | 7,500 EUR | 7,000 EUR |
| Travel (kickoff workshop, acceptance) | 0 to 500 EUR | 1,500 to 3,000 EUR | 1,500 to 3,000 EUR |
| Recommended contingency | 10% | 15% | 15% |
| Estimated total cost | 72,600 to 106,200 EUR | 51,800 to 74,200 EUR | 37,400 to 60,000 EUR |
| Saving versus France | baseline | 29 to 30% | 43 to 48% |
Management is slightly heavier outside France, hence the 15% margin. But a French-speaking team sharply reduces losses from translating specifications, which often take 5 to 10% of the time with Eastern European vendors working for French clients.
The clauses that protect quality
A successful offshore team is judged on its contract framework and rituals, not on a sales promise.
| Clause or ritual | What to require | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Code ownership | IP assignment and Git repository on your side from day 1 | Code hosted only by the vendor |
| Deliveries | 2-week sprints with a demo | First demo after 2 months |
| Point of contact | Named project manager, reachable during your hours | Contacts changing at every exchange |
| Quality | Code review, automated tests, 60% coverage target | No tests and no staging environment |
| Reversibility | Documentation and handover written into the contract | No exit clause |
| Data | EU hosting, GDPR data processing agreements | Production data copied onto local laptops |
Mini case study
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Claire, CFO of an 80-employee industrial SME near Lyon, wants an app to manage maintenance jobs at client sites, estimated at 120 days. Three quotes: 84,000 EUR in Lyon, 48,000 EUR in Poland, 33,600 EUR with a dedicated team in Dakar (average daily rate of 280 EUR).
Adding management, travel and 15% contingency, the Dakar project comes to about 48,800 EUR, against 99,000 EUR in Lyon. The saving reaches 50,200 EUR, equal to a year of ongoing maintenance and two new modules. She requires 2-week sprints, a Git repository on her side and a daily 15-minute meeting at 9 am. After 6 months, the app is in production, 4 days behind schedule.
FAQ
Does a Dakar team master modern technologies?
Yes, senior teams routinely work with React, Next.js, Node.js, Laravel, Flutter and on AWS or Azure. Ask for 2 verifiable references and a paid 2 to 3 day technical test before committing.
How do invoicing and VAT work?
Services invoiced by a Senegalese company to an EU business fall under the VAT reverse-charge mechanism in the client's country. Payment is by bank transfer in euros, usually at 30 days.
Should we plan a trip to Dakar?
It is recommended for the kickoff workshop: 2 to 3 days on site, for 1,500 to 3,000 EUR all in. The Paris to Dakar flight takes about 5.5 hours, with no significant jet lag.
What if a developer leaves the team?
The contract should provide a replacement within 10 working days at no extra cost, with a handover overlap. A team of 3 or more people limits this risk.
Can we start small?
Yes, with a scoping phase and a first feature over 15 to 20 days, about 4,000 to 7,000 EUR. You judge quality on real code before committing to the 120 days.
Let's scope your project. Send us your functional needs and timeline, and we will assemble a dedicated team in Dakar at 200 to 350 EUR a day with a fixed budget for your 120 days. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
