Cost of Living Comparison Between Afghanistan and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Afghanistan and United States

Name: United States
Address: US

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $237 per month in Afghanistan vs $2,642 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $329 per month in Afghanistan vs $3,857 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $420 per month in Afghanistan vs $5,072 in United States, rent included.

The cost of living in Afghanistan is roughly 91% lower than in United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Afghanistan sits 82% below the global median, while United States is 98% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.18 ؋143

$19.63 $19.63

-88.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.84 ؋647

$75.4 $75.4

-86.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.53 ؋232

$11.57 $11.57

-69.49%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 ؋187

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.13 ؋469

Cappuccino

$0.90 ؋59.0

$5.22 $5.22

-82.76%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ؋25.14

$2.49 $2.49

-84.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 ؋8.49

$2.06 $2.06

-93.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.13 $7.13

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 ؋46.89

$1.09 $1.09

-34.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.21 ؋13.79

$3.56 $3.56

-94.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 ؋113

$4.74 $4.74

-63.71%

Eggs

$1.60 ؋105

$4.34 $4.34

-63.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.74 ؋246

$12.68 $12.68

-70.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.41 ؋224

$12.28 $12.28

-72.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.80 ؋381

$16.60 $16.60

-65.06%

Apples (1kg)

$0.60 ؋39.74

$5.16 $5.16

-88.37%

Banana (1kg)

$0.83 ؋54.4

$1.70 $1.70

-51.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 ؋49.02

$4.45 $4.45

-83.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 ؋33.64

$4.80 $4.80

-89.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 ؋30.59

$2.93 $2.93

-83.96%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ؋26.00

$3.09 $3.09

-87.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.32 ؋21.24

$2.22 $2.22

-85.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ؋19.47

$2.25 $2.25

-86.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.82 ؋120

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ؋45.11

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ؋98.9

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.19 ؋144

$9.90 $9.90

-77.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ؋19.88

$2.46 $2.46

-87.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.08 ؋794

$64.6 $64.6

-81.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 ؋95.8

$3.77 $3.77

-61.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 ؋42.02

$1.71 $1.71

-62.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 ؋111

$30.08 $30.08

-94.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 ؋64.9

$0.96 $0.96

3.13%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$8,783 ؋577.3K

$29.9K $29.9K

-70.59%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.5K ؋2.3M

$26.1K $26.1K

35.59%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$74.7 ؋4,913

$210 $210

-64.43%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.65 ؋963

$56.3 $56.3

-73.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$148 ؋9,707

$72.9 $72.9

102.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.75 ؋641

$45.39 $45.39

-78.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.32 ؋218

$21.60 $21.60

-84.63%

Cinema Ticket

$2.43 ؋160

$14.04 $14.04

-82.69%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$23.76 ؋1,562

$1,377 $1,377

-98.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,445 ؋95.0K

$22.4K $22.4K

-93.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.90 ؋914

$52.7 $52.7

-73.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.40 ؋1,275

$42.41 $42.41

-54.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$33.36 ؋2,193

$91.8 $91.8

-63.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.07 ؋1,911

$114 $114

-74.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$81.9 ؋5,384

$1,765 $1,765

-95.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$53.1 ؋3,488

$1,462 $1,462

-96.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$182 ؋11.9K

$2,849 $2,849

-93.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$103 ؋6,743

$2,369 $2,369

-95.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$606 ؋39.8K

$3,364 $3,364

-81.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$341 ؋22.4K

$2,665 $2,665

-87.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$256 ؋16.8K

$4,378 $4,378

-94.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.22

6.51

149.16%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Afghanistan: July 12, 2026

Last update for United States: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $38.00 in Afghanistan vs $1,635 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $85.0 in Kabul and $1,625 in Washington, MI.

Average salary: $221 in Afghanistan vs $4,500 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 4203% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 1117% more in United States.

Public transport is 257% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 1936% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Afghanistan vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Afghanistan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 876% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Afghanistan, contributing to the overall 876% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Afghanistan, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Afghanistan is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.