For one person, living is cheaper in French Guiana: $2,350 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $4,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in the United States outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.
How much you'll spend in French Guiana 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 French Guiana and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $2,350 per month in French Guiana vs $2,734 in the United States, rent included.
French Guiana $2,350
United States $2,734
A couple spends around $3,835 per month in French Guiana vs $3,985 in the United States, rent included.
French Guiana $3,835
United States $3,985
A family of three spends $5,320 per month in French Guiana vs $5,235 in the United States, rent included.
French Guiana $5,320
United States $5,235
📏
The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($979–$5,160) than in French Guiana ($175–$2,355), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in French Guiana is roughly 14% lower than in the United States on average.
📊
Both French Guiana and the United States are pricier than the global median – French Guiana by 73%, the United States by 101%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
French Guiana
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.08€11.72
$20.03$20.03
-34.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110€98.9
$80.0$80.0
37.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60€9.49
$11.80$11.80
-10.17%
Cappuccino
$3.92€3.51
$5.55$5.55
-29.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38€3.03
$2.66$2.66
27.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87€2.57
$2.17$2.17
32.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.99€3.58
$6.12$6.12
-34.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.49€4.02
$7.94$7.94
-43.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
French Guiana
United States
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.02€3.60
$1.04$1.04
286.54%
White Bread(500g)
$4.05€3.62
$3.59$3.59
12.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.92€2.62
$4.52$4.52
-35.40%
Eggs
$7.34€6.57
$4.28$4.28
71.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$30.89€27.67
$13.22$13.22
133.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.55€14.83
$12.60$12.60
31.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$29.95€26.82
$17.60$17.60
70.17%
Apples(1kg)
$5.14€4.60
$5.30$5.30
-3.02%
Banana(1kg)
$4.46€3.99
$1.69$1.69
163.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.14€4.60
$4.44$4.44
15.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$9.52€8.53
$4.77$4.77
99.58%
Potato(1kg)
$4.92€4.41
$2.97$2.97
65.66%
Onion(1kg)
$6.86€6.15
$3.15$3.15
117.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.31€2.97
$2.20$2.20
50.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.07€1.86
$2.35$2.35
-11.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.62€8.62
$10.98$10.98
-12.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.65€9.54
$15.05$15.05
-29.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.88€2.58
$2.06$2.06
39.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14€1.02
$3.79$3.79
-69.92%
🚌 Getting Around
French Guiana
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.20€1.97
$1.94$1.94
13.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.19€30.62
$59.4$59.4
-42.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.69€5.09
$3.58$3.58
58.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.01€3.59
$1.88$1.88
113.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.98€7.14
$29.84$29.84
-73.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.18€1.95
$1.02$1.02
113.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.5K€40.8K
$28.8K$28.8K
58.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K€39.9K
$26.2K$26.2K
69.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
French Guiana
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$224€201
$218$218
2.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.71€40.05
$62.5$62.5
-28.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.2€61.1
$74.5$74.5
-8.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
French Guiana
United States
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.78€32.05
$41.86$41.86
-14.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.17€25.23
$22.81$22.81
23.50%
Cinema Ticket
$9.27€8.30
$14.70$14.70
-36.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
French Guiana
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$664€595
$1,489$1,489
-55.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3K€9,222
$25.3K$25.3K
-59.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
French Guiana
United States
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100€89.9
$54.3$54.3
84.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.3€60.3
$42.71$42.71
57.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126€113
$94.1$94.1
33.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.9€89.5
$114$114
-12.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
French Guiana
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,098€984
$1,659$1,659
-33.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$863€773
$1,348$1,348
-35.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,817€1,628
$2,682$2,682
-32.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,783€1,597
$2,169$2,169
-17.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,091€2,769
$3,283$3,283
-5.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,426€3,068
$2,482$2,482
38.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
French Guiana
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,218€1,986
$4,296$4,296
-48.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.5
6.55
-31.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for French Guiana: October 24, 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.
🏠Accommodation & Living
French Guiana
$863 36.7%
United States
$1.3K 49.3% ↑ 56.1%$484
🛒Groceries & Markets
French Guiana
$612 26.1%
United States
$415 15.2% ↓ 32.1%$197
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
French Guiana
$337 14.4%
United States
$355 13% ↑ 5.3%$18
🍽Eating Out
French Guiana
$237 10.1%
United States
$328 12% ↑ 38.1%$91
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
French Guiana
$177 7.5%
United States
$137 5% ↓ 22.6%$40
🚌Getting Around
French Guiana
$69 2.9%
United States
$80 2.9% ↑ 16.6%$11
🎉Sport & Entertainment
French Guiana
$54 2.3%
United States
$71 2.6% ↑ 31.2%$17
🏠Accommodation & Living
French Guiana
$1.8K 33.5%
United States
$2.2K 41.4% ↑ 21.6%$386
🛒Groceries & Markets
French Guiana
$1.5K 27.5%
United States
$953 18.2% ↓ 34.8%$508
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
French Guiana
$382 7.2%
United States
$417 8% ↑ 9.3%$36
🍽Eating Out
French Guiana
$1K 19.2%
United States
$1.1K 20.3% ↑ 3.9%$40
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
French Guiana
$394 7.4%
United States
$305 5.8% ↓ 22.6%$89
🚌Getting Around
French Guiana
$142 2.7%
United States
$164 3.1% ↑ 15.7%$22
🎉Sport & Entertainment
French Guiana
$137 2.6%
United States
$165 3.2% ↑ 20.9%$29
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,192 in French Guiana vs $1,620 in the United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $933 in Cayenne and $2,768 in Washington, DC.
💰Average salary: $2,255 in French Guiana 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 36% higher in the United States.
⭐Dining out costs 52% more in French Guiana.
⭐Public transport is 85% more expensive in the United States.
⭐Salaries are about 2 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.
French Guiana→United States4,920 km≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
French Guiana
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
French Guiana vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is French Guiana more expensive than the United States?
French Guiana is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 14% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 versus $1,192 in French Guiana.
Should I move to French Guiana or to the United States?
French Guiana is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.
French Guiana vs other spots: cost of living compared