For one person, living is cheaper in Djibouti: $2,068 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $8,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Djibouti 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 Djibouti and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $2,068 per month in Djibouti vs $2,734 in the United States, rent included.
Djibouti $2,068
United States $2,734
A couple spends around $3,229 per month in Djibouti vs $3,985 in the United States, rent included.
Djibouti $3,229
United States $3,985
A family of three spends $4,389 per month in Djibouti vs $5,235 in the United States, rent included.
Djibouti $4,389
United States $5,235
📏
The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($979–$5,160) than in Djibouti ($2,069–$2,069), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Djibouti is roughly 24% lower than in the United States on average.
📊
Both Djibouti and the United States are pricier than the global median – Djibouti by 52%, the United States by 101%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Djibouti
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.60DJF 1,711
$20.03$20.03
-52.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.3DJF 13.1K
$80.0$80.0
-8.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.52DJF 2,765
$11.80$11.80
31.53%
Cappuccino
$3.45DJF 615
$5.55$5.55
-37.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86DJF 331
$2.66$2.66
-30.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68DJF 299
$2.17$2.17
-22.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.84DJF 1,219
$6.12$6.12
11.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.21DJF 1,463
$7.94$7.94
3.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Djibouti
United States
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.85DJF 509
$1.04$1.04
174.04%
White Bread(500g)
$9.42DJF 1,678
$3.59$3.59
162.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.79DJF 497
$4.52$4.52
-38.27%
Eggs
$5.84DJF 1,041
$4.28$4.28
36.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.73DJF 1,733
$13.22$13.22
-26.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$18.01DJF 3,209
$12.60$12.60
42.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.30DJF 2,192
$17.60$17.60
-30.11%
Apples(1kg)
$3.71DJF 661
$5.30$5.30
-30.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.20DJF 214
$1.69$1.69
-28.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.63DJF 468
$4.44$4.44
-40.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58DJF 281
$4.77$4.77
-66.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56DJF 279
$2.97$2.97
-47.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.69DJF 301
$3.15$3.15
-46.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$5.71DJF 1,017
$2.20$2.20
159.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54DJF 96.0
$2.35$2.35
-77.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94DJF 346
$10.98$10.98
-82.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.72DJF 3,692
$15.05$15.05
37.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39DJF 426
$2.06$2.06
16.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45DJF 615
$3.79$3.79
-8.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Djibouti
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.43DJF 77.0
$1.94$1.94
-77.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.59DJF 7,589
$59.4$59.4
-28.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.84DJF 506
$3.58$3.58
-20.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$5.59DJF 996
$1.88$1.88
197.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.15DJF 5,016
$29.84$29.84
-5.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.23DJF 398
$1.02$1.02
118.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KDJF 6.1M
$28.8K$28.8K
18.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3KDJF 5.9M
$26.2K$26.2K
27.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Djibouti
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$526DJF 93.6K
$218$218
141.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.11DJF 5,721
$62.5$62.5
-48.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.9DJF 10.7K
$74.5$74.5
-19.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Djibouti
United States
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$85.8DJF 15.3K
$41.86$41.86
105.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.63DJF 5,101
$22.81$22.81
25.52%
Cinema Ticket
$12.46DJF 2,219
$14.70$14.70
-15.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Djibouti
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$338DJF 60.3K
$1,489$1,489
-77.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,942DJF 1.6M
$25.3K$25.3K
-64.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Djibouti
United States
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.81DJF 7,628
$54.3$54.3
-21.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.91DJF 3,547
$42.71$42.71
-53.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121DJF 21.6K
$94.1$94.1
28.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.1DJF 9,819
$114$114
-51.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Djibouti
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$675DJF 120.2K
$1,659$1,659
-59.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$472DJF 84.2K
$1,348$1,348
-64.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$999DJF 178.0K
$2,682$2,682
-62.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,263DJF 225.0K
$2,169$2,169
-41.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.6KDJF 2.2M
$3,283$3,283
283.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,183DJF 1.1M
$2,482$2,482
149.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Djibouti
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,790DJF 497.1K
$4,296$4,296
-35.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.07
6.55
99.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Djibouti: October 26, 2026
Last update for the United States: October 25, 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
Djibouti
$618 29.9%
United States
$355 13% ↓ 42.5%$263
🏠Accommodation & Living
Djibouti
$472 22.8%
United States
$1.3K 49.3% ↑ 185%$875
🛒Groceries & Markets
Djibouti
$455 22%
United States
$415 15.2% ↓ 8.7%$40
🍽Eating Out
Djibouti
$230 11.1%
United States
$328 12% ↑ 42.9%$98
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Djibouti
$111 5.4%
United States
$71 2.6% ↓ 35.6%$39
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Djibouti
$108 5.2%
United States
$137 5% ↑ 27.4%$30
🚌Getting Around
Djibouti
$75 3.6%
United States
$80 2.9% ↑ 6.7%$5
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Djibouti
$650 14.8%
United States
$417 8% ↓ 35.8%$232
🏠Accommodation & Living
Djibouti
$1.3K 28.8%
United States
$2.2K 41.4% ↑ 71.8%$906
🛒Groceries & Markets
Djibouti
$1K 23.4%
United States
$953 18.2% ↓ 7.4%$76
🍽Eating Out
Djibouti
$808 18.4%
United States
$1.1K 20.3% ↑ 31.5%$254
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Djibouti
$250 5.7%
United States
$165 3.2% ↓ 33.9%$85
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Djibouti
$239 5.5%
United States
$305 5.8% ↑ 27.4%$66
🚌Getting Around
Djibouti
$151 3.4%
United States
$164 3.1% ↑ 8.6%$13
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $672 in Djibouti vs $1,620 in the United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $672 in Djibouti and $2,768 in Washington, DC.
💰Average salary: $2,785 in Djibouti vs $4,549 in the United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 141% higher in the United States.
⭐Public transport is 47% more expensive in the United States.
⭐Salaries are 63% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.
Djibouti→United States12,610 km≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
Djibouti
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
Djibouti vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Djibouti or the United States?
Djibouti is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 24% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Djibouti or in the United States?
Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 versus $672 in Djibouti.
Which country is better for expats: Djibouti or the United States?
Djibouti is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.