For one person, living is cheaper in Gabon: $1,489 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $14,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Gabon 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 Gabon and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,489 in Gabon versus $2,734 in the United States.
Gabon $1,489
United States $2,734
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,449 in Gabon versus $3,985 in the United States.
Gabon $2,449
United States $3,985
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,409 in Gabon versus $5,235 in the United States.
Gabon $3,409
United States $5,235
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in the United States: monthly costs span $979 to $5,160, compared to $1,500–$1,500 in Gabon. City choice carries more weight in the United States.
🌍
Living in Gabon costs about 46% less than in the United States on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: Gabon 9% above, the United States 101% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Gabon
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.70FCFA 9,839
$20.03$20.03
-16.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.3FCFA 40.8K
$80.0$80.0
-13.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.52FCFA 9,139
$11.80$11.80
31.53%
Cappuccino
$6.01FCFA 3,541
$5.55$5.55
8.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71FCFA 1,010
$2.66$2.66
-35.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38FCFA 812
$2.17$2.17
-36.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.04FCFA 610
$6.12$6.12
-83.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89FCFA 1,112
$7.94$7.94
-76.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gabon
United States
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.44FCFA 2,027
$1.04$1.04
230.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.20FCFA 708
$3.59$3.59
-66.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.82FCFA 1,664
$4.52$4.52
-37.61%
Eggs
$4.37FCFA 2,576
$4.28$4.28
2.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.17FCFA 5,991
$13.22$13.22
-23.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.66FCFA 5,102
$12.60$12.60
-31.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$25.74FCFA 15.2K
$17.60$17.60
46.25%
Apples(1kg)
$3.06FCFA 1,801
$5.30$5.30
-42.26%
Banana(1kg)
$3.79FCFA 2,233
$1.69$1.69
124.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.72FCFA 2,188
$4.44$4.44
-16.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.46FCFA 2,037
$4.77$4.77
-27.46%
Potato(1kg)
$2.99FCFA 1,763
$2.97$2.97
0.67%
Onion(1kg)
$4.30FCFA 2,532
$3.15$3.15
36.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.18FCFA 1,286
$2.20$2.20
-0.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66FCFA 980
$2.35$2.35
-29.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.50FCFA 1,472
$10.98$10.98
-77.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.61FCFA 6,837
$15.05$15.05
-22.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96FCFA 565
$2.06$2.06
-53.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27FCFA 747
$3.79$3.79
-66.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Gabon
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36FCFA 210
$1.94$1.94
-81.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.41FCFA 20.3K
$59.4$59.4
-42.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.27FCFA 748
$3.58$3.58
-64.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73FCFA 429
$1.88$1.88
-61.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.18FCFA 10.1K
$29.84$29.84
-42.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.04FCFA 613
$1.02$1.02
1.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2KFCFA 17.2M
$28.8K$28.8K
1.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2KFCFA 13.1M
$26.2K$26.2K
-15.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gabon
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$85.7FCFA 50.5K
$218$218
-60.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.87FCFA 19.9K
$62.5$62.5
-45.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.6FCFA 38.1K
$74.5$74.5
-13.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gabon
United States
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.4FCFA 37.3K
$41.86$41.86
51.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.97FCFA 15.3K
$22.81$22.81
13.85%
Cinema Ticket
$4.59FCFA 2,702
$14.70$14.70
-68.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gabon
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$171FCFA 101.0K
$1,489$1,489
-88.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,599FCFA 3.3M
$25.3K$25.3K
-77.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gabon
United States
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.8FCFA 50.0K
$54.3$54.3
56.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.50FCFA 25.0K
$42.71$42.71
-0.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$51.5FCFA 30.4K
$94.1$94.1
-45.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102FCFA 59.9K
$114$114
-10.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gabon
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,007FCFA 593.1K
$1,659$1,659
-39.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$418FCFA 246.2K
$1,348$1,348
-68.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,105FCFA 1.2M
$2,682$2,682
-21.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$861FCFA 506.9K
$2,169$2,169
-60.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,621FCFA 2.1M
$3,283$3,283
10.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,758FCFA 1.6M
$2,482$2,482
11.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gabon
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$431FCFA 253.7K
$4,296$4,296
-89.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.5
6.55
75.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gabon: 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.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Gabon
$418 28.1%
United States
$1.3K 49.3% ↑ 222%$930
🛒Groceries & Markets
Gabon
$373 25.1%
United States
$415 15.2% ↑ 11.3%$42
🍽Eating Out
Gabon
$274 18.4%
United States
$328 12% ↑ 19.9%$54
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gabon
$184 12.4%
United States
$355 13% ↑ 92.6%$171
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Gabon
$126 8.5%
United States
$137 5% ↑ 8.6%$11
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Gabon
$73 4.9%
United States
$71 2.6% ↓ 1.7%$1.3
🚌Getting Around
Gabon
$41 2.7%
United States
$80 2.9% ↑ 96.7%$39
🏠Accommodation & Living
Gabon
$861 25.2%
United States
$2.2K 41.4% ↑ 152%$1.3K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Gabon
$893 26.2%
United States
$953 18.2% ↑ 6.6%$59
🍽Eating Out
Gabon
$903 26.5%
United States
$1.1K 20.3% ↑ 17.6%$159
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gabon
$218 6.4%
United States
$417 8% ↑ 91.4%$199
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Gabon
$281 8.2%
United States
$305 5.8% ↑ 8.6%$24
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Gabon
$171 5%
United States
$165 3.2% ↓ 3.3%$5.7
🚌Getting Around
Gabon
$82 2.4%
United States
$164 3.1% ↑ 99.6%$82
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,028 in Gabon, $1,620 in the United States. Capital cities: $1,028 in Libreville vs $2,768 in Washington, DC.
💰National salary averages: $417 in Gabon, $4,549 in the United States. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 58% higher in the United States.
⭐Dining out costs 10% more in the United States.
⭐Public transport is 85% more expensive in the United States.
⭐Salaries are about 11 times 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
Gabon vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in Gabon compare to the cost in the United States?
At $1,489 per month in Gabon and $2,734 in the United States, there’s a 84% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do daily expenses compare in Gabon vs the United States?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Gabon: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Is rent more expensive in Gabon or in the United States?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 in the United States and $1,028 in Gabon. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Which country is better for expats: Gabon or the United States?
It depends on what you’re after: Gabon wins on affordability; the United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.