The verdict in three sentences
Learning HTML and CSS is still, in 2026, the cheapest entry point to a first web income in Senegal: with a computer, VS Code and 12 well-guided hours, you code a multi-page responsive showcase website. In Saint-Louis, a landing page bills at roughly 75,000 to 150,000 FCFA to a local business, a 4 to 5 page showcase site 150,000 to 300,000 FCFA. An online course at 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR or 88 USD) therefore pays for itself with the first small contract, while a bootcamp costs 10 to 30 times more.
What a first website earns in Saint-Louis
Saint-Louis has hundreds of shops, hotels in the North district, restaurants on the Langue de Barbarie, private schools and firms that only have a Facebook page. Many want a clear page, fast on mobile, to put in their Instagram bio and on Google Maps. The rates below are 2026 orders of magnitude for a beginner front-end developer, with no guarantee of clients.
| Service | Beginner price in Saint-Louis or Dakar (2026) | Delivery time | Required level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landing page for a restaurant or hotel | 75,000 to 150,000 FCFA | 2 to 4 days | HTML and CSS |
| 4 to 5 page showcase site | 150,000 to 300,000 FCFA | 1 to 2 weeks | HTML and CSS |
| Responsive redesign of an old site | 100,000 to 200,000 FCFA | 1 week | HTML and CSS |
| Monthly content update | 15,000 to 30,000 FCFA per month | 2 h | HTML |
| Site with interactive booking form | 250,000 to 450,000 FCFA | 2 to 3 weeks | Plus JavaScript |
| Same site billed by an agency | 400,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA | 3 to 6 weeks | Team |
The gap with agencies explains why a serious beginner finds a place: they serve the small budgets agencies do not handle.
Bootcamp, university, free or online: comparing costs
| Option | 2026 price | Duration | Real project delivered | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bootcamp in Dakar | 500,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA | 3 to 6 months | Yes | Cost, moving or commuting from Saint-Louis |
| University course (UFR SAT) | Included in tuition | One semester | Rarely | Theoretical, little deployment |
| Free YouTube tutorials, freeCodeCamp | 0 FCFA (excluding data) | Unlimited | Rarely | Scattered, no feedback |
| Private tutoring | 5,000 to 10,000 FCFA per hour | Variable | Depends on the tutor | Uneven quality |
| Kolonell Academy, level 2 Beginner | 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR) | 12 h | Yes, an SME site online | You must code yourself |
| Full Kolonell track, 5 levels | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 (about 535 EUR) | 119 h | Yes, up to full-stack | Longer |
The HTML and CSS course: build and lay out a real website, taught in French, is level 2 Beginner, at 50,000 FCFA for 12 hours in 5 modules and 25 lessons: semantic HTML, forms and accessibility, CSS fundamentals, layout with Flexbox, Grid and responsive design, then maintainable CSS, performance and deployment on Netlify or GitHub Pages, checked with Lighthouse. One of the projects is the landing page of a fictional Dakar restaurant, reusable as a template for your first clients.
In what order to follow the levels
If you have never written a tag, start with level 1 of the Web development track. The 5 levels cost 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA bought separately.
| Level | Content | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Beginner | Discover code: how a website works | 25,000 FCFA | 6 h |
| 2 Beginner | HTML and CSS: build a real site | 50,000 FCFA | 12 h |
| 3 Intermediate | JavaScript: lively, interactive sites | 75,000 FCFA | 16 h |
| 4 Intermediate | React and Next.js: modern web apps | 100,000 FCFA | 24 h |
| 5 Advanced | Full-Stack JavaScript Developer | 200,000 FCFA | 61 h |
Allow 3 to 4 hours a week for 3 to 4 weeks for level 2, which fits well between two exam periods.
Mini case study
Ibrahima, 22, an applied mathematics undergraduate at Gaston-Berger University, has a laptop and 4 free hours a week.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
- Cost of levels 1 and 2: 25,000 plus 50,000, i.e. 75,000 FCFA, paid with Orange Money.
- Training time: 18 hours, about 5 weeks.
- First contract: landing page for a guesthouse on Saint-Louis island at 100,000 FCFA, built in 3 days.
- Second contract: 4-page site for a private school in Sor at 180,000 FCFA.
- 3-month result: 280,000 FCFA earned minus 75,000 FCFA of training, i.e. 205,000 FCFA net, and the first contract alone already pays back the course.
These amounts are a realistic scenario, not a promise: landing the first two clients means canvassing in person with a sample site on your phone.
FAQ
Do I need to be good at maths to learn HTML and CSS?
No, HTML and CSS are about structure and layout, not calculation. What you mostly need is rigor and 3 to 4 hours a week.
Is a phone enough?
No, you need a computer with VS Code and Google Chrome, both free. A second-hand laptop at 120,000 or 150,000 FCFA is plenty.
Will the site really be online?
Yes, the last module publishes the site on Netlify or GitHub Pages for free, then checks it with Lighthouse. A .sn or .com domain then costs about 10,000 to 20,000 FCFA a year.
Are HTML and CSS enough to make a living?
For landing pages and simple showcase sites, yes, as a side income. Sites with Wave payments, a back office or booking require JavaScript and the next levels.
Is there a certificate?
Yes, a Kolonell Academy certificate is issued after the 12 hours. Your best argument is still the live site you show the client.
Take the next step. Enroll in HTML and CSS: build and lay out a real website: 12 hours online, taught in French, 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR), Kolonell Academy certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? 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.
