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