Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the Central African Republic and the United States

Name: United States
Address: US

For one person, living is cheaper in the Central African Republic: $422 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $27,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

131

Cost of Living Index in the United States
Learn more

United States Living Index

Jump to prices

🇨🇫 Central African Republic

$422

/mo nomad

🇺🇸 United States

$2,734

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the Central African Republic and in the United States

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the Central African Republic and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $422 in the Central African Republic versus $2,734 in the United States.

Central African Republic $422
United States $2,734

Estimated couple costs with rent: $670 in the Central African Republic versus $3,985 in the United States.

Central African Republic $670
United States $3,985

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $919 in the Central African Republic versus $5,235 in the United States.

Central African Republic $919
United States $5,235

Internal cost variation is higher in the United States: monthly costs span $979 to $5,160, compared to $424–$424 in the Central African Republic. City choice carries more weight in the United States.

Living in the Central African Republic costs about 85% less than in the United States on average.

The Central African Republic (69% below) and the United States (101% above) straddle the global median.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.03 $20.03

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 $80.0

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.80 $11.80

Cappuccino

$5.55 $5.55

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

$2.66 $2.66

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 FCFA 1,015

$2.17 $2.17

-20.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 FCFA 1,972

$6.12 $6.12

-45.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.00 FCFA 2,947

$7.94 $7.94

-37.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$5.03 FCFA 2,964

$1.04 $1.04

383.65%

White Bread (500g)

$4.37 FCFA 2,574

$3.59 $3.59

21.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.24 FCFA 2,497

$4.52 $4.52

-6.19%

Eggs

$5.04 FCFA 2,966

$4.28 $4.28

17.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.43 FCFA 4,965

$13.22 $13.22

-36.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.40 FCFA 4,948

$12.60 $12.60

-33.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.51 FCFA 2,067

$17.60 $17.60

-80.06%

Apples (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

Oranges (1kg)

$6.82 FCFA 4,019

$4.44 $4.44

53.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 FCFA 2,994

$4.77 $4.77

6.50%

Potato (1kg)

$4.15 FCFA 2,444

$2.97 $2.97

39.73%

Onion (1kg)

$6.08 FCFA 3,579

$3.15 $3.15

93.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 FCFA 1,465

$2.20 $2.20

13.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 FCFA 1,480

$2.35 $2.35

6.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 FCFA 2,548

$10.98 $10.98

-60.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.69 FCFA 6,885

$15.05 $15.05

-22.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.99 FCFA 3,531

$2.06 $2.06

190.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.29 FCFA 2,526

$3.79 $3.79

13.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.4 $59.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 $1.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.84 $29.84

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.60 FCFA 1,532

$1.02 $1.02

154.90%

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

$28.8K $28.8K

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

$26.2K $26.2K

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

$218 $218

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

$62.5 $62.5

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.5 $74.5

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.86 $41.86

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.81 $22.81

Cinema Ticket

$14.70 $14.70

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

$1,489 $1,489

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.3K $25.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 $54.3

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.71 $42.71

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 $94.1

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,376 FCFA 810.6K

$1,659 $1,659

-17.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,348 $1,348

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,682 $2,682

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,169 $2,169

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,351 FCFA 795.9K

$3,283 $3,283

-58.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,599 FCFA 941.9K

$2,482 $2,482

-35.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$847 FCFA 498.6K

$4,296 $4,296

-80.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

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

Last update for the Central African Republic: October 25, 2026

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Central African Republic

–

United States

$1.3K 49.3%

Groceries & Markets

Central African Republic

–

United States

$415 15.2%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Central African Republic

–

United States

$355 13%

Eating Out

Central African Republic

–

United States

$328 12%

Clothing & Footwear

Central African Republic

–

United States

$137 5%

Getting Around

Central African Republic

–

United States

$80 2.9%

Sport & Entertainment

Central African Republic

–

United States

$71 2.6%

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,353 in the Central African Republic, $1,620 in the United States. Capital cities: $1,353 in Bangui vs $2,768 in Washington, DC.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 20% higher in the United States.

Good to know

🇨🇫 Central African Republic

🇺🇸 United States

🕒 Local time

10:29 10:29 AM

05:29 5:29 AM

5 h behind the Central African Republic

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

5,152,421

340,110,988

💱 Currency

Central African CFA Franc XAF Fr

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 XAF = 1.7 USD

1,000 XAF = 1.53 EUR

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to XAF – Central African CFA Franc Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🌐 Central African CFA Franc (Fr)

Central African CFA Franc exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 589 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.7 USD). 1 EUR = 656 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.53 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

USD to XAF in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Central African Republic United States 11,120 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight

From you

Central African Republic
United States

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Central African Republic vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $422 per month in the Central African Republic and $2,734 in the United States, there’s a 548% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 in the United States and $1,353 in the Central African Republic. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.

It depends on what you’re after: the Central African Republic wins on affordability; the United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.