How Sierra Leone compares across key indices
Cost of Living
29 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
81/100
Healthcare
34/100
Quality of Life
89/200
How far your money goes in Sierra Leone
Cost of Living
29
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
22
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
29
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
31
100 = NYC dining
How safe residents feel in Sierra Leone - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
81/100
Crime Index
25/100
Lower is better
0 point drop from day to night
Sierra Leone has 14 cities with Freedom Abroad estimates. Monthly costs for a single person range from $580 in Njala to $743 in Freetown. Njala leads on safety, scoring 85/100. Njala ranks highest for quality of life at 98/200.
Njala
$580/mo
Njala
85/100
Njala
98/200
Freetown
44/100
| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freetown | $743 | 77/100 | 94/200 | 44/100 | 92 |
| Bo | $619 | 82/100 | 96/200 | 34/100 | 83 |
| Kenema | $612 | 82/100 | 97/200 | 33/100 | 83 |
| Koidu | $608 | 83/100 | 97/200 | 33/100 | 82 |
| Makeni | $597 | 84/100 | 97/200 | 32/100 | 81 |
| Waterloo | $583 | 85/100 | 98/200 | 30/100 | 79 |
| Njala | $580 | 85/100 | 98/200 | 30/100 | 78 |
| Lunsar | $580 | 85/100 | 98/200 | 30/100 | 78 |
| Port Loko | $580 | 85/100 | 98/200 | 30/100 | 78 |
| Goderich | $580 | 85/100 | 98/200 | 30/100 | 78 |
| Kabala | $580 | 85/100 | 98/200 | 30/100 | 78 |
| Segbwema | $580 | 85/100 | 98/200 | 30/100 | 78 |
| Bumpe | $580 | 85/100 | 98/200 | 30/100 | 78 |
| Mile 91 | $580 | 85/100 | 98/200 | 30/100 | 78 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Verified school profiles for families comparing language model, grade range, credentials, and admissions next steps in Sierra Leone. Tuition appears only when published in verified public sources.
4
Verified records
1
Cities covered
1
Credential signals
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.
Healthcare system overview for Sierra Leone
Recommended PartnerReal coverage for real life abroad. Not travel insurance. Not hoping for the best.
A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
Air quality, water, and environmental conditions in Sierra Leone
Pollution Index
86/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
43.2ug/m3
Unhealthy for sensitive
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Common questions about living in Sierra Leone, answered with data
Sierra Leone has a cost of living index of 29 relative to New York City (100). It is significantly cheaper than the US. Monthly costs for a single person start around $608 in Koidu and reach $743 in Freetown.
Koidu is the most affordable city in Sierra Leone in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $608 for a single person including rent. Kenema is the next most affordable at $612/mo.
Sierra Leone has a safety index of 81/100, making it very safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Koidu scores highest on safety at 83/100.
Koidu ranks highest for quality of life in Sierra Leone, scoring 97/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $608/mo for a single person.
Sierra Leone scores 34/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it limited in some areas by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Yes. Sierra Leone's cost of living is roughly 71% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 78% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
Sierra Leone has a pollution index of 86/100 (lower = cleaner). Pollution can be a concern in urban areas. Research specific cities before committing, as rural and coastal areas typically fare better.
Your pre-departure checklist for Sierra Leone
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Cost of Living
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Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources
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