🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $209 in Gambia versus $2,626 in United States.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $376 in Gambia versus $3,830 in United States.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $542 in Gambia versus $5,033 in United States.
🌍Living in Gambia costs about 92% less than in United States on average.
📊Gambia (85% below) and United States (90% above) straddle the global median.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gambia
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.04GMD 519
$19.83$19.83
-64.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.1GMD 5,683
$78.8$78.8
-2.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.07GMD 595
$12.19$12.19
-33.80%
Cappuccino
$3.48GMD 257
$5.59$5.59
-37.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27GMD 167
$2.78$2.78
-18.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33GMD 98.2
$2.18$2.18
-38.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.67GMD 418
$5.86$5.86
-3.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.77GMD 352
$8.02$8.02
-40.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gambia
United States
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45GMD 107
$1.07$1.07
35.51%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68GMD 50.0
$3.68$3.68
-81.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14GMD 84.2
$4.66$4.66
-75.54%
Eggs
$2.06GMD 152
$4.20$4.20
-50.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.95GMD 439
$12.78$12.78
-53.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.63GMD 636
$12.40$12.40
-30.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.50GMD 405
$16.90$16.90
-67.46%
Apples(1kg)
$1.97GMD 145
$5.23$5.23
-62.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59GMD 118
$1.66$1.66
-4.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00GMD 147
$4.33$4.33
-53.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.85GMD 137
$4.96$4.96
-62.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02GMD 75.3
$2.82$2.82
-63.83%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94GMD 69.1
$3.11$3.11
-69.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.26GMD 19.11
$2.19$2.19
-88.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38GMD 27.68
$2.26$2.26
-83.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.70GMD 126
$10.35$10.35
-83.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.83GMD 503
$14.81$14.81
-53.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59GMD 117
$2.09$2.09
-23.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65GMD 122
$3.65$3.65
-54.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Gambia
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33GMD 24.07
$2.38$2.38
-86.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.58GMD 485
$64.5$64.5
-89.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.54$3.54
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65GMD 48.07
$1.86$1.86
-65.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.94GMD 290
$30.34$30.34
-87.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09GMD 80.4
$1.00$1.00
9.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$2,650GMD 195.3K
$35.5K$35.5K
-92.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$3,215GMD 236.9K
$25.9K$25.9K
-87.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gambia
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$29.84GMD 2,199
$222$222
-86.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.36GMD 1,058
$61.1$61.1
-76.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.5GMD 3,867
$74.7$74.7
-29.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gambia
United States
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.22GMD 1,711
$44.49$44.49
-47.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.26GMD 978
$22.35$22.35
-40.67%
Cinema Ticket
$3.31GMD 244
$15.03$15.03
-77.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gambia
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$6.60GMD 486
$1,431$1,431
-99.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$137GMD 10.1K
$25.9K$25.9K
-99.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gambia
United States
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1GMD 4,058
$53.6$53.6
2.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.76GMD 3,299
$43.46$43.46
2.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.2GMD 7,313
$91.5$91.5
8.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.0GMD 6,410
$114$114
-23.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gambia
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$101GMD 7,461
$1,633$1,633
-93.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$108GMD 7,987
$1,328$1,328
-91.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$245GMD 18.1K
$2,606$2,606
-90.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$99.8GMD 7,355
$2,206$2,206
-95.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,422GMD 104.8K
$3,323$3,323
-57.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,164GMD 85.8K
$2,653$2,653
-56.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gambia
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$60.3GMD 4,444
$4,306$4,306
-98.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15
6.21
141.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gambia: September 5, 2026
Last update for United States: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $14.00 in Gambia, $1,604 in United States. Capital cities: $101 in Banjul vs $1,360 in Columbia, TN.
💰National salary averages: $61.0 in Gambia, $4,526 in United States. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 11357% higher in United States.
⭐Dining out costs 159% more in United States.
⭐Public transport is 2600% more expensive in United States.
⭐Salaries are 7320% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.
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 $332 per month in Gambia and $3,142 in United States, there's a 846% 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Gambia: 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 is consistently higher than in 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 in United States?
In Gambia, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in United States it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Gambia or to 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.