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 $235 per month in Afghanistan vs $2,643 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $327 per month in Afghanistan vs $3,857 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $419 per month in Afghanistan vs $5,070 in United States, rent included.

Afghanistan is roughly 91% cheaper than United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Afghanistan sits 82% below the global median, while United States is 97% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.18 ؋138

$20.04 $20.04

-89.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.92 ؋630

$76.0 $76.0

-86.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.67 ؋233

$11.42 $11.42

-67.86%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 ؋180

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.25 ؋461

Cappuccino

$0.92 ؋58.5

$5.39 $5.39

-82.93%

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

$0.41 ؋26.04

$2.55 $2.55

-83.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 ؋8.89

$2.04 $2.04

-93.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 $6.14

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 $7.18

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 ؋47.82

$1.04 $1.04

-27.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.23 ؋14.62

$3.65 $3.65

-93.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 ؋106

$4.73 $4.73

-64.69%

Eggs

$1.52 ؋96.7

$4.38 $4.38

-65.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.76 ؋239

$12.76 $12.76

-70.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 ؋216

$12.42 $12.42

-72.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.84 ؋371

$16.41 $16.41

-64.41%

Apples (1kg)

$0.60 ؋38.26

$5.42 $5.42

-88.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 ؋53.5

$1.65 $1.65

-49.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.76 ؋48.03

$4.59 $4.59

-83.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 ؋29.91

$4.91 $4.91

-90.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.44 ؋27.80

$2.92 $2.92

-84.93%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ؋25.16

$3.13 $3.13

-87.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.32 ؋20.46

$2.26 $2.26

-85.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 ؋20.32

$2.30 $2.30

-86.09%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.87 ؋119

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ؋44.30

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 ؋92.4

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.24 ؋142

$9.89 $9.89

-77.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.10 $15.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 $3.66

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ؋19.16

$2.48 $2.48

-87.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.38 ؋786

$64.8 $64.8

-80.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.40 ؋88.7

$3.84 $3.84

-63.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 ؋41.51

$1.76 $1.76

-63.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.68 ؋107

$30.58 $30.58

-94.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 ؋65.6

$0.96 $0.96

7.29%

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

$8,556 ؋543.4K

$30.5K $30.5K

-71.93%

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

$36.8K ؋2.3M

$26.4K $26.4K

39.49%

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

$76.8 ؋4,875

$204 $204

-62.40%

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

$14.68 ؋932

$57.3 $57.3

-74.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$148 ؋9,381

$71.2 $71.2

107.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.78 ؋621

$46.67 $46.67

-79.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.21 ؋204

$22.12 $22.12

-85.49%

Cinema Ticket

$2.51 ؋159

$13.84 $13.84

-81.86%

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

$23.60 ؋1,499

$1,384 $1,384

-98.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,454 ؋92.3K

$22.7K $22.7K

-93.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.15 ؋898

$53.0 $53.0

-73.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.65 ؋1,248

$43.17 $43.17

-54.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$33.36 ؋2,119

$90.6 $90.6

-63.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.58 ؋1,878

$114 $114

-74.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$81.4 ؋5,169

$1,766 $1,766

-95.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.3 ؋3,260

$1,459 $1,459

-96.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$185 ؋11.7K

$2,832 $2,832

-93.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 ؋6,411

$2,411 $2,411

-95.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$631 ؋40.1K

$3,287 $3,287

-80.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$340 ؋21.6K

$2,650 $2,650

-87.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$270 ؋17.2K

$4,379 $4,379

-93.83%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for United States: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $38.00 in Afghanistan vs $1,637 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $85.0 in Kabul and $2,591 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $236 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 4208% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 1117% more in United States.

Public transport is 257% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 1807% higher in United States, giving United States stronger purchasing power.

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 885% 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 885% 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.