---
title: "Living in Yamoussoukro as a digital nomad: cost, safety, visa, internet"
url: https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/yamoussoukro
description: "Côte d'Ivoire's official capital, with a vast basilica and very little bustle"
dataset: 2026.11.2 (2026-11-09)
license: CC BY 4.0
---

# Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire

Yamoussoukro scores 39.5/100 for digital nomads under balanced weights, ranking 1441 of 1501 cities. There is no open cost-of-living figure yet; expect no dedicated nomad visa, and a measured median download speed of 8.7 Mbps.

Yamoussoukro became Côte d'Ivoire's official capital in 1983 and was rebuilt as Félix Houphouët-Boigny's showpiece, with one of the world's largest churches, the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, and broad boulevards that see little traffic. Most government and business life stayed in Abidjan, about 3 hours away by motorway, so services, coworking and social life are thin.

Known for: Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, Wide, empty boulevards, Crocodile lake by the presidential palace, About 3 hours from Abidjan.

## Scores (balanced weights, 0–100)

| Factor | Score |
| --- | --- |
| Overall | 39.5 |
| Cost of living | — |
| Safety | 38 |
| Healthcare | 42 |
| Internet | 44 |
| Visa ease | 42 |
| Getting there & around | 11 |
| Climate | 75 |
| Air quality | 41 |
| Quality of life | 23 |

## The numbers behind the scores

| Metric | Value | Level | As of | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly cost, one person | — | country | 2026-09 | [^2] |
| Central 1-bedroom rent | — | city | 2026-09 | [^3] |
| Outskirts 1-bedroom rent (basis of the monthly total) | — | city | 2026-09 | [^3] |
| Homicide rate (per 100k) | 11 | country | 2021 | [^4] |
| Political stability (0–100) | 53.1 | country | 2025 | [^5] |
| UHC service coverage (0–100) | 46 | country | 2023 | [^6] |
| Life expectancy (years) | 65.3 | country | 2023 | [^7] |
| Median download (Mbps) | 8.7 | city | 2024 | [^8] |
| Median upload (Mbps) | 5.9 | city | 2024 | [^8] |
| Starlink residential service | Available | country | 2026-10 | [^9] |
| Nomad visa | none listed | country | 2026-07 | [^10] |
| Entry for US / EU / UK passports | eTA required (online, before travel) / eTA required (online, before travel) / eTA required (online, before travel) | country | 2026-02 | [^11] |
| Non-stop destinations (ABJ) | 41 | city | 2026-10 | [^12] |
| Restaurants within 3 km of the centre (OpenStreetMap) | 114 | city | 2026-11 | [^16] |
| Walkability / transit (1–5) | 2 / 1 | editorial | 2026-09 | [^13] |
| Comfortable months | 9 of 12 | city | 2001–2020 | [^14] |
| Annual mean PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 31.4 | city | 2023 | [^15] |
| Human Development Index | 0.582 | country | 2023 | [^17] |
| English proficiency band | very-low | country | 2024 | [^18] |

## Tax on income from abroad

**Pay from abroad is taxed at 0%–32%; tax on foreign investment income exists in law but its annual return is suspended.** Côte d'Ivoire taxes residents on worldwide income. Since the 2024 reform a single salary tax (ITS) of 0% to 32% applies to pay from a foreign employer, which you calculate and pay yourself. Freelancers pay 25% on profit, or 5% of turnover under the small-business regime. Foreign pensions pay ITS above CFA 320,000 a month. Foreign dividends, rent and gains fall under a general income tax whose return is suspended. No wealth tax.

| Question | Answer |
| --- | --- |
| How residents are taxed | worldwide income |
| Remote work for foreign clients or employers | taxed (0%–32% progressive on monthly salary; 25% on freelance profit or 5% of turnover under the Entreprenant regime) |
| Investments and pensions from abroad | taxed (0%–32% on foreign pensions above CFA 320,000 a month; 18% on foreign interest; other foreign income under IGR at 2%–36%, return suspended) |
| Wealth | no wealth tax; inheritance tax applies |
| Tax resident after | home or ties test |
| Top income tax rate | 32% |

Residency: There is no day-count test. The salary tax (ITS) applies to people "domiciled" in Côte d'Ivoire, a term the Code does not define for that tax (CGI Article 115). The general income tax (IGR) applies to people with a habitual residence there: you have a home at your disposal as owner, usufructuary or tenant on a lease (or successive leases) covering at least one continuous year, or, without such a home, Côte d'Ivoire is your place of principal stay (Article 237). Someone who signs a one-year lease is therefore resident from the start, and a nomad who makes Abidjan their main base can be resident on the principal-stay test even with short rentals. Someone who arrives during the year is taxed under the IGR only on income from the day of arrival (Article 256). Treaties override these rules where they apply.

Remote work: Salary is taxable when the earner is domiciled in Côte d'Ivoire, even if the work is done abroad or the employer is foreign (CGI Article 115). Ordinance 2023-719 merged the old salary tax, national contribution and IGR on salaries into one ITS on gross pay with no flat deduction (DGI note 00026 of 3 January 2024). Monthly bands (Article 119 bis): up to CFA 75,000 nil, 16% to 240,000, 21% to 800,000, 24% to 2,400,000, 28% to 8,000,000 and 32% above. A family reduction is then subtracted, up to CFA 44,000 a month at 5 shares (Article 120). A foreign employer does not withhold, so you must calculate the tax yourself and pay it to your local tax office on the same schedule as employer withholding (Article 121). Article 115 also reaches pay for work done in Côte d'Ivoire by people who are not domiciled there, subject to treaties, but the self-payment rule is written for domiciled earners, so how a short-stay visitor would pay is unclear. Freelancers with foreign clients earn non-commercial profits (BNC), taxed at 25% of net profit where the profession is carried on (Articles 85, 86 and 90), and may also owe the business licence (patente). With turnover between CFA 5,000,001 and 50,000,000 the Entreprenant regime applies instead (see regimes). Social security (CNPS) for people paid from abroad was not reviewed.

Investments: Pensions are taxable under the ITS when the recipient is domiciled in Côte d'Ivoire, even if paid from abroad (CGI Article 115); the first CFA 320,000 a month is exempt, the rest follows the 0%–32% bands, and retirees over 70 get 75% off the tax (Articles 116 and 120). You calculate and pay it yourself (Article 122). Interest pays the 18% tax on income from debts (IRC), and when the debtor is outside Côte d'Ivoire the Code makes the creditor declare it (Articles 192, 193 and 196); how strictly this is applied to foreign bank interest is not confirmed. The withholding taxes on dividends (IRVM, 17% for individuals since 2025, 12% on BRVM-listed shares) only cover companies with their seat in Côte d'Ivoire (Articles 180–183). Foreign dividends, foreign rent and gains on shares fall only under the general income tax (IGR, Article 243), with a scale of 2% up to 36% above CFA 50,000,000 a year, capped at one third of net income (Article 251). But the annual IGR return has been suspended "until the global reform" of the tax (Article 255, still in the 2026 Code), and the 2025 IRVM increases were made "until the IGR reform is implemented", so in practice IGR is not assessed on these items for now. If it is reinstated, foreign investment income would become taxable. Treaties can change the result.

On the nomad visa: Côte d'Ivoire has no digital nomad or remote-work visa. Most visitors need a biometric visa, usually the e-visa applied for online and enrolled at Abidjan airport; a 2018 government guide gives it as 3 months, multiple entry, while nationals of ECOWAS countries and a few others are exempt. Check current rules before travelling. No visa carries a tax regime: the domicile and habitual-residence tests apply.

Schemes for newcomers:

- **Taxe d'État de l'Entreprenant (TEE)** (no fixed end): One tax of 5% of turnover (4% for trade) replaces the business licence, profit tax and VAT (Articles 72 and 77). Above CFA 50,000,000 and up to 200,000,000 the micro-enterprise regime applies instead: 6% of turnover, 4% for members of an approved management centre (CGA), with an option for the 25% profit tax for liberal professions (Articles 71 bis and 71 ter). Who qualifies: Individuals and companies with annual turnover, all taxes included, between CFA 5,000,001 and 50,000,000 (CGI Article 73). Article 73 lists no exclusion for liberal professions, but whether a given remote freelance activity qualifies should be checked with the DGI.

Official sources: [Code général des impôts de la Côte d'Ivoire 2026 (official online edition)](https://cgici.com/) (Direction générale des Impôts (DGI), Côte d'Ivoire (official CGI edition at cgici.com, linked from dgi.gouv.ci), read 2026-10-28); [CGI 2026, Articles 117 to 120 bis (ITS base, scale and family reduction)](https://cgici.com/V2026/page-326.html) (Direction générale des Impôts (DGI), Côte d'Ivoire (official CGI edition at cgici.com, linked from dgi.gouv.ci), read 2026-10-28); [CGI 2026, Articles 255 and 256 (IGR declaration and arrival year)](https://cgici.com/V2026/page-69.html) (Direction générale des Impôts (DGI), Côte d'Ivoire (official CGI edition at cgici.com, linked from dgi.gouv.ci), read 2026-10-28); [Note de service n° 00026/MFB/DGI/DLCD du 3 janvier 2024 (réforme des ITS)](https://www.dgi.gouv.ci/assets/documents/DOCTRINE%20FISCALE%202024/IMPOTS%20DIRECTS/IMPOT%20SUR%20LES%20TRAITEMENTS%2C%20SALAIRES%2C%20PENSIONS%20ET%20RENTES%20VIAGERES/N%C2%B0%2000026%20MFB%20DGI%20DLCD%20DU%2003%20JAN%202024%20Pr%C3%A9cisions%20relatives%20aux%20am%C3%A9nagements%20...%20des%20salari%C3%A9s.pdf) (Direction générale des Impôts (DGI), Côte d'Ivoire, read 2026-10-28); [Informations essentielles relatives au visa d'entrée en Côte d'Ivoire (2018)](https://sftp.225invest.ci/CEPICI/EDBI/DOCUMENTS/Informations_essentielles_Visa_02102018.pdf) (Ministère de l'Économie et des Finances and CEPICI (investment promotion centre), read 2026-10-28).

Not yet reviewed by a person. General information, not tax advice. US citizens are taxed by the US wherever they live.

## Climate (2001–2020 normals)

| Month | Mean °C | Rain mm | Humidity % | Comfortable |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Jan | 27.4 | 14 | 49 | yes |
| Feb | 28.8 | 53 | 59 | no |
| Mar | 28.2 | 102 | 72 | no |
| Apr | 27.6 | 125 | 78 | yes |
| May | 26.9 | 149 | 82 | yes |
| Jun | 25.6 | 197 | 86 | no |
| Jul | 25 | 119 | 85 | yes |
| Aug | 25.4 | 91 | 80 | yes |
| Sep | 25.7 | 141 | 82 | yes |
| Oct | 26.1 | 150 | 83 | yes |
| Nov | 26.5 | 73 | 79 | yes |
| Dec | 26.7 | 25 | 63 | yes |

## Airports and nonstop flights

| Airport | IATA | Nonstop destinations | International | From US airports |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport | ABJ | 41 | 36 | 1 |

Unique destinations across all airports: 41, of which 36 international (Wikipedia, 2026-10).

## Similar cities

- [Dodoma](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/dodoma) (43.4) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/dodoma-vs-yamoussoukro)
- [Kisangani](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/kisangani) (31.2) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/kisangani-vs-yamoussoukro)
- [Luanda](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/luanda) (42.4) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/luanda-vs-yamoussoukro)
- [Lubumbashi](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/lubumbashi) (33.9) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/lubumbashi-vs-yamoussoukro)
- [Entebbe](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/entebbe) (43.2) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/entebbe-vs-yamoussoukro)

## FAQ

### How much does it cost to live in Yamoussoukro as a digital nomad?

We do not have a reliable monthly cost figure for Yamoussoukro yet.

### Is Yamoussoukro safe for digital nomads?

Yamoussoukro scores 38/100 on safety. Côte d'Ivoire records 11 homicides per 100,000 people per year (WHO, 2021) and a political-stability score of 53.1/100 (World Bank WGI). Both figures are national, so neighbourhood-level risk can differ.

### Does Côte d'Ivoire have a digital nomad visa?

No dedicated digital nomad visa was listed for Côte d'Ivoire as of 2026-07. Visitors from the US need an electronic travel authorisation (eTA), bought online before the trip.

### How fast is the internet in Yamoussoukro?

Measured median download speed in Yamoussoukro was 8.7 Mbps (upload 5.9 Mbps) across 6,316 M-Lab tests in 2024. Measured speeds run below advertised plan speeds everywhere, so compare cities rather than reading the number as a plan.

### Is Starlink available in Yamoussoukro?

Yes. Starlink's availability map lists residential service as available in Côte d'Ivoire (checked 2026-10), so a dish can serve as a backup line in Yamoussoukro. Check the exact address on starlink.com before ordering, since capacity varies by area.

### Which airports serve Yamoussoukro and how many nonstop flights are there?

Yamoussoukro is served by Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport (ABJ) with 41 nonstop destinations, of which 36 are international. 1 US airports have a nonstop link. Source: Wikipedia, 2026-10.

### When is the best time of year to be in Yamoussoukro?

The most comfortable months are Jan, Apr, May, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. Mean temperatures range from 77°F (25°C) in Jul to 84°F (29°C) in Feb (NASA POWER 2001–2020 climatology).

### Yamoussoukro or Dodoma: which is better for digital nomads?

Dodoma is the city with the closest factor profile to Yamoussoukro in this dataset. Which one wins depends on your weights; the comparison page puts every factor side by side with the numbers behind them.

## Plan a trip

[Plan a trip to Yamoussoukro](https://dashboard.navoy.io/trip/new?utm_source=nostos&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=plan_trip&utm_content=yamoussoukro&destination=Yamoussoukro%2C+C%C3%B4te+d%27Ivoire) on Navoy, the AI travel planner behind Nostos.

## Sources

[^1]: City population (latest census or official estimate), Wikipedia (citing national statistics offices). CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^2]: 2026 Cost of Living Index (country level), WhereNext. CC BY 4.0. https://getwherenext.com/data/cost-of-living-2026 (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^3]: Cost of Living Global 2026 (city rows), WhereToEmigrate. CC BY 4.0. https://github.com/0brien18/global-emigration-dataset (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^4]: Estimates of rates of homicides per 100 000 population, World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO data policy). https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/estimates-of-rates-of-homicides-per-100-000-population (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^5]: Worldwide Governance Indicators — Political Stability and Absence of Violence (score 0–100), World Bank. CC BY 4.0. https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/worldwide-governance-indicators (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^6]: UHC service coverage index, World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO data policy). https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/uhc-index-of-service-coverage (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^7]: Life expectancy at birth (years), both sexes, World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO data policy). https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/life-expectancy-at-birth-(years) (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^8]: M-Lab NDT statistics (city aggregates, 2024), Measurement Lab. CC0 1.0. https://statistics.measurementlab.net/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^9]: Starlink availability map, SpaceX (Starlink). Factual status cited from starlink.com. https://www.starlink.com/map (retrieved 2026-10-07)
[^10]: Digital Nomad Visas 2026, WhereToEmigrate. CC BY 4.0. https://github.com/0brien18/global-emigration-dataset (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^11]: Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations), Ilya Ilyankou (compiled from passportindex.org). MIT. https://github.com/ilyankou/passport-index-dataset (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^12]: Airport destinations (Wikipedia airline and destination tables), Wikipedia contributors; countries via Wikidata. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/ (retrieved 2026-09-24)
[^13]: Walkability and transit ratings (editorial), Navoy. CC BY 4.0. https://nostos.navoy.io/methodology (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^14]: NASA POWER climatology (2001–2020 monthly means), NASA Langley Research Center. Public domain (US Government). https://power.larc.nasa.gov/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^15]: SatPM2.5 satellite-derived annual PM2.5 (V6.GL.02.04), Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis. CC BY 4.0. https://sites.wustl.edu/acag/surface-pm2-5/ (retrieved 2026-10-07)
[^16]: OpenStreetMap restaurants (Overpass API), OpenStreetMap contributors. ODbL 1.0. https://overpass-api.de/ (retrieved 2026-10-02)
[^17]: Human Development Index (HDR 2025, HDI 2023), United Nations Development Programme. CC BY 3.0 IGO. https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/documentation-and-downloads (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^18]: EF English Proficiency Index 2024 (band), EF Education First. Proprietary; band cited as a fact with attribution. https://www.ef.com/epi/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)

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