Cost of Living Comparison Between Gambia and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Gambia and United States

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $212 in Gambia versus $2,643 in United States.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $355 in Gambia versus $3,857 in United States.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $498 in Gambia versus $5,070 in United States.

Living in Gambia costs about 92% less than in United States on average.

Gambia (84% below) and United States (97% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in United States: monthly costs span $1,343 to $5,081, compared to $59.0$598 in Gambia. City choice carries more weight in United States.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gambia
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.21 GMD 311
$20.04 $20.04
-78.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.8 GMD 4,346
$76.0 $76.0
-22.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.28 GMD 464
$11.42 $11.42
-45.01%
Cappuccino
$2.55 GMD 188
$5.39 $5.39
-52.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 GMD 128
$2.55 $2.55
-31.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 GMD 87.6
$2.04 $2.04
-41.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.70 GMD 274
$6.14 $6.14
-39.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 GMD 274
$7.18 $7.18
-48.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gambia
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 GMD 107
$1.04 $1.04
39.42%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 GMD 56.1
$3.65 $3.65
-79.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.23 GMD 91.2
$4.73 $4.73
-74.00%
Eggs
$2.20 GMD 163
$4.38 $4.38
-49.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.79 GMD 428
$12.76 $12.76
-54.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.05 GMD 595
$12.42 $12.42
-35.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.48 GMD 405
$16.41 $16.41
-66.61%
Apples (1kg)
$3.16 GMD 234
$5.42 $5.42
-41.70%
Banana (1kg)
$2.38 GMD 176
$1.65 $1.65
44.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.07 GMD 153
$4.59 $4.59
-54.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 GMD 141
$4.91 $4.91
-61.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 GMD 76.8
$2.92 $2.92
-64.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 GMD 75.9
$3.13 $3.13
-67.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.26 GMD 19.31
$2.26 $2.26
-88.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 GMD 29.13
$2.30 $2.30
-83.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.97 GMD 146
$9.89 $9.89
-80.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.65 GMD 491
$15.10 $15.10
-55.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 GMD 159
$1.91 $1.91
12.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 GMD 132
$3.66 $3.66
-51.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Gambia
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 GMD 14.75
$2.48 $2.48
-91.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.62 GMD 489
$64.8 $64.8
-89.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.55 GMD 40.33
$3.84 $3.84
-85.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 GMD 50.8
$1.76 $1.76
-60.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.20 GMD 310
$30.58 $30.58
-86.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 GMD 83.7
$0.96 $0.96
17.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$2,670 GMD 197.3K
$30.5K $30.5K
-91.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$4,010 GMD 296.4K
$26.4K $26.4K
-84.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gambia
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$32.93 GMD 2,433
$204 $204
-83.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.01 GMD 1,109
$57.3 $57.3
-73.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.56 GMD 3,441
$71.2 $71.2
-34.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gambia
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.51 GMD 1,811
$46.67 $46.67
-47.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.24 GMD 1,052
$22.12 $22.12
-35.62%
Cinema Ticket
$3.64 GMD 269
$13.84 $13.84
-73.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gambia
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$7.17 GMD 530
$1,384 $1,384
-99.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$141 GMD 10.4K
$22.7K $22.7K
-99.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gambia
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0 GMD 4,214
$53.0 $53.0
7.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.85 GMD 3,093
$43.17 $43.17
-3.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 GMD 7,453
$90.6 $90.6
11.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1 GMD 6,514
$114 $114
-22.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gambia
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$105 GMD 7,728
$1,766 $1,766
-94.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$82.5 GMD 6,099
$1,459 $1,459
-94.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$257 GMD 19.0K
$2,832 $2,832
-90.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$108 GMD 7,966
$2,411 $2,411
-95.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,452 GMD 107.3K
$3,287 $3,287
-55.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,168 GMD 86.3K
$2,650 $2,650
-55.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gambia
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$61.9 GMD 4,578
$4,379 $4,379
-98.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.12
6.51
55.45%

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

Last update for Gambia: June 2, 2026

Last update for United States: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $15.00 in Gambia, $1,637 in United States. Capital cities: $103 in Banjul vs $2,591 in Washington, DC.

National salary averages: $60.0 in Gambia, $4,500 in United States. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 10813% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 356% more in United States.

Public transport is 2400% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 7400% higher in United States, giving United States stronger purchasing power.

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
Gambia vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Gambia and United States?
At $329 per month in Gambia and $3,212 in United States, there's a 878% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Gambia is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in United States beats Gambia across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Gambia or United States?
In Gambia, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In United States, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Gambia or United States?
It depends on what you're after. Gambia wins on affordability; United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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