Cote d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is located in West Africa surrounded by neighbor countries Ghana, Liberia and Guinea. Many might not have heard about the country however, once told that it is the Chelsea Striker Drogba and Kalou country of origin one should have a better idea. This is one of the countries where you still get to see armed UN army patrolling in their vehicles on the street. The country is unofficially divides into 2 parts, the Northern part and the Southern part. The Northern part of the country is still much influenced by the rebel while the ruling government has their capital, Abidjan in the south.
Cote d'Ivoire used to be French Colonial. Today, most of the people speak only French and their local African dialect. If you like to drink coffee, you need to know that Ivory Coast is the world largest cocoa producer. Besides, they are blessed by having the Oil & Gas production. Despite having the natural resources, the country is not as developed as their neighbor Ghana which was one the few African countries once ruled by the British. Due to political unstable, corruption, and lack of capable leader, the people are living in poverty. The basic infrastructure is not well maintain, poor air quality, inefficient airport management just to name a few. Being personally in Abidjan, it gives me the opportunity to see what my parents might have gone through 20-30 years ago. More details can be found from BBC website http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/country_profiles/1043014.stm#facts .
My local colleague told me that the middle class people spend around USD400-USD1000 (equivalent to CFA200, 000 – CFA500, 000, 1USD ==CFA500) a month for their normal living in the capital Abidjan. For example, my colleague, a family of 3 adults and 8 children spends around CFA200k-CFA 300k per month while my other colleague, a family of 2 adults and one children spends CFA400k to CFA450k per month. So, it is very subjective as it depends on the lifestyle you want to have however on average the household spending for the middle class should be within the range.
As told, fresh Engineer might get paid USD1000 as their starting salary which is quite high as compare to country like the Philippine and Indonesia which only having a range of USD300 to USD500. The rental in the city of Abidjan is not expensive as well. A 2 bedrooms apartment rental can be as low as CFA25, 000 to CFA75, 000 (USD50- USD150) per month, and the price for a 2 bedrooms apartment costs around CFA200Million (USD20, 000). It gives a 7.2% return p.a if the unit is able to rent at USD 150 per month. Having said that, one need to note that the minimum pay for the worker is only CFA35, 000 (USD70) per month, and if a worker is interested in buying the apartment it takes him/her 23 years of annual income to pay for the apartment ( without considering the loan interest rate). I was even told that the starting pay of the policeman is around CFA120, 000 (USD240) with other benefits like housing allowance, insurance coverage, hospitalisation benefits etc. To them, it is quite a good occupation, while doctor in Abidjan public hospital get paid around CFA200, 000 (USD400).
From the amount of pay, which is much higher than in Philippine and Indonesia, the people in Ivory Coast should have living a better quality of life but most of the people there are still living in poverty, the country is lack of infrastructure to attract foreign investor. These are all the consequences ofct of unstable politic condition, and lack of capable leader.
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