Djibouti - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Most people have a housekeeper. Families with children often have a full-time housekeeper/nanny, while families without children or singles usually hire someone on a part-time basis to help keep the dust under control. Help is not very expensive (under $1k per month for full time), but most only speak French/Somali. It's quite difficult to find household help who speak English well. - May 2022
Local Djiboutian help is great quality and price but likely speak French and Somali. - Sep 2020
Household help is inexpensive. Don't expect top notch cleaning service but help is available and you'll have more leisure time if you hire them. - Apr 2018
Household help is available, but the really good people get snatched up quickly. Many houses seem to rotate the same nannies/cleaning ladies/cooks. We have an Ethiopian woman who cooks/cleans once per week for $140/mo. Americans tend to pay their household staff much more than French expats. Many Embassy personnel also employ day guards to sweep up outside/wash cars/keep an eye out. I do not know the costs for day guards or nannies. - Jun 2016
Ours is US$250/mo. That may go up soon but probably not much. - Aug 2015
Housekeepers are easy to find. Expect to pay at least $14/day plus transport fees. Currently the Americans pay significantly more than the French, who pay significantly more than locals. - Feb 2013
Help is expensive in Djibouti. Availability is hit or miss. There are not a lot of English-speaking housekeepers. - Apr 2010
Domestic help is very available, moderately priced (We paid $200/mo for all-day help three days a week) and of variable quality. We really loved our housekeeper and she did a great job without a lot of prodding. She would shop for us at the local market, wash the veggies and fruits, iron when needed, do the household laundry, and do the regular cleaning. She also took excellent care of our two dogs. It was also possible to find household help that would cook, but I did not know anyone whose cook did much more than basic dishes. - Aug 2008
Low quality and very expensive. - Apr 2008
