Nouakchott - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
There’s a decent pool of help, many that surprisingly speak English from places like Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. Lots also from Senegal. It seems rare to have a local Mauritanian helper. A nanny or a housekeeper runs about $300 a month. Many also have gardeners that make about $100 a month but they will come multiple times a week, wash your car, and often clean your pool. - Jan 2023
Household help for cooking/cleaning, gardening/pool maintenance, and nannies are available. Options will be abundant if you speak French. American diplomats pay much higher than other expats- usually $200-$350 for full time housekeeper/cook or nanny depending on their skills and experience . Fewer families have drivers, but there are options if you want to pursue that. - Aug 2021
Maids average a month 3,000 MRU and gardener 4,000 MRU (comes daily). - Aug 2021
We had a gardener for 2200 MRU/month for one visit per week which was very affordable. Household help is readily available and there is a pool of experienced staff who have worked at residences for other personnel. - Sep 2020
It can be challenging to find someone who cooks. We hire a cook/housekeeper/nanny and a gardener. - Apr 2019
I brought a nanny with me and am glad I did but I understand that most people use non-Mauritanians as domestic workers (folks from other West African countries). - May 2016
Good and inexpensive. - Dec 2015
Housekeepers earn about US$200 a month. - Apr 2014
Readily available at US$250 a month and up for full time. - Aug 2011
Reasonable. - Dec 2009
