For one person, living is cheaper in Chad: $1,074 a month against $2,701 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $19,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Chad 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 Chad and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,074 per month in Chad vs $2,701 in the United States, rent included.
Chad $1,074
United States $2,701
A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chad vs $3,980 in the United States, rent included.
Chad $1,430
United States $3,980
A family of three spends $1,787 per month in Chad vs $5,258 in the United States, rent included.
Chad $1,787
United States $5,258
🌍
The cost of living in Chad is roughly 60% lower than in the United States on average.
📊
Chad sits 20% below the global median, while the United States is 100% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Chad
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.73FCFA 5,089
$19.92$19.92
-56.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$81.0$81.0
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$12.07$12.07
-
Cappuccino
$0.81FCFA 472
$5.55$5.55
-85.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89FCFA 518
$2.67$2.67
-66.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86FCFA 504
$2.09$2.09
-58.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.32FCFA 767
$5.96$5.96
-77.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75FCFA 1,019
$7.76$7.76
-77.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chad
United States
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.69FCFA 2,152
$1.05$1.05
251.43%
White Bread(500g)
$0.35FCFA 206
$3.55$3.55
-90.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.38FCFA 1,971
$4.64$4.64
-27.16%
Eggs
$2.01FCFA 1,171
$4.18$4.18
-51.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.32FCFA 1,937
$12.76$12.76
-73.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.64FCFA 3,870
$12.63$12.63
-47.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.51FCFA 2,046
$17.22$17.22
-79.62%
Apples(1kg)
$4.76FCFA 2,775
$5.15$5.15
-7.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08FCFA 1,214
$1.64$1.64
26.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.49FCFA 1,455
$4.46$4.46
-44.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41FCFA 1,403
$4.98$4.98
-51.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.62FCFA 947
$2.84$2.84
-42.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.57FCFA 915
$3.09$3.09
-49.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52FCFA 304
$2.19$2.19
-76.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.15FCFA 1,254
$2.27$2.27
-5.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.03FCFA 599
$10.61$10.61
-90.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.81FCFA 4,554
$14.71$14.71
-46.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13FCFA 657
$2.10$2.10
-46.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72FCFA 1,001
$3.82$3.82
-54.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Chad
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.42FCFA 245
$2.35$2.35
-82.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$85.1FCFA 49.6K
$64.1$64.1
32.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45FCFA 262
$3.57$3.57
-87.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.41FCFA 240
$1.85$1.85
-77.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.06FCFA 2,950
$30.19$30.19
-83.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30FCFA 758
$1.07$1.07
21.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.8KFCFA 6.9M
$35.3K$35.3K
-66.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$11.0KFCFA 6.4M
$25.9K$25.9K
-57.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chad
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$42.11FCFA 24.6K
$217$217
-80.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.14FCFA 14.7K
$61.4$61.4
-59.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$418FCFA 243.5K
$74.4$74.4
461.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chad
United States
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$45.08$45.08
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$23.07$23.07
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$14.79$14.79
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chad
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$1,480$1,480
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$25.5K$25.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chad
United States
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.53FCFA 14.9K
$53.0$53.0
-51.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.59FCFA 19.6K
$42.75$42.75
-21.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$42.68FCFA 24.9K
$94.3$94.3
-54.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.7FCFA 49.4K
$115$115
-26.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chad
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,722FCFA 1.0M
$1,678$1,678
2.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$84.6FCFA 49.3K
$1,313$1,313
-93.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$254FCFA 148.1K
$2,649$2,649
-90.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$168FCFA 98.1K
$2,183$2,183
-92.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$186FCFA 108.2K
$3,374$3,374
-94.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$181FCFA 105.5K
$2,661$2,661
-93.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chad
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$343FCFA 200.2K
$4,404$4,404
-92.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
6.55
-46.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chad: October 11, 2026
Last update for the United States: October 10, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chad
$485 45.2%
United States
$352 13% ↓ 27.3%$132
🛒Groceries & Markets
Chad
$235 21.8%
United States
$411 15.2% ↑ 75.2%$176
🍽Eating Out
Chad
$97 * 9%
United States
$327 12.1% ↑ 238%$230
🚌Getting Around
Chad
$89 8.3%
United States
$86 3.2% ↓ 3.4%$3
🏠Accommodation & Living
Chad
$85 7.9%
United States
$1.3K 48.6% ↑ 1452%$1.2K
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Chad
$84 7.8%
United States
$137 5.1% ↑ 63.8%$54
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Chad
- * 0%
United States
$75 2.8%
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chad
$510 28.5%
United States
$414 7.9% ↓ 18.9%$96
🛒Groceries & Markets
Chad
$538 30.1%
United States
$942 17.9% ↑ 75%$404
🍽Eating Out
Chad
$205 * 11.5%
United States
$1.1K 20.3% ↑ 421%$860
🚌Getting Around
Chad
$179 10%
United States
$177 3.4% ↓ 1.2%$2.2
🏠Accommodation & Living
Chad
$168 9.4%
United States
$2.2K 41.5% ↑ 1198%$2K
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Chad
$187 10.4%
United States
$305 5.8% ↑ 63.8%$119
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Chad
- * 0%
United States
$172 3.3%
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $858 in Chad vs $1,609 in the United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,716 in N'Djamena and $2,730 in Washington, DC.
💰Average salary: $347 in Chad vs $4,533 in the United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 88% higher in the United States.
⭐Public transport is 59% more expensive in Chad.
⭐Salaries are 1206% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the 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
Chad vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chad more expensive than the United States?
Chad is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 152% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,609 versus $858 in Chad.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Chad or in the United States?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Chad, but in the United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Chad or to the United States?
Chad 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.