Cost of Living Comparison Between Kabul and Khost Cost of Living Comparison Between Kabul and Khost

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $423 in Kabul versus $51 in Khost.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $614 in Kabul versus $86 in Khost.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $805 in Kabul versus $121 in Khost.

Living in Kabul is roughly 732% more expensive than Khost, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kabul 68% lower, Khost 96% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.54 ؋163

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.87 ؋698

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.40 ؋282

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 ؋149

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 ؋113

Cappuccino

$1.05 ؋67.3

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ؋23.24

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 ؋10.02

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 ؋45.62

White Bread (500g)

$0.20 ؋12.60

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 ؋113

Eggs

$1.41 ؋90.3

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.71 ؋238

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.28 ؋210

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.86 ؋376

Apples (1kg)

$0.54 ؋34.49

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 ؋47.85

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 ؋48.25

Tomato (1kg)

$0.43 ؋27.67

Potato (1kg)

$0.45 ؋28.85

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ؋27.02

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.23 ؋14.69

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 ؋22.88

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.85 ؋119

$1.89 ؋121

-2.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ؋60.5

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 ؋94.8

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 ؋170

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ؋13.45

$0.42 ؋26.73

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.22 ؋656

$17.29 ؋1,110

-40.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 ؋109

$0.69 ؋44.06

144.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ؋33.91

$0.68 ؋43.78

-22.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.50 ؋161

$2.22 ؋143

12.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 ؋59.6

$1.13 ؋72.7

-17.70%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$7,841 ؋503.4K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.6K ؋2.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$50.8 ؋3,260

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.96 ؋896

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$89.8 ؋5,766

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.00 ؋577

$7.33 ؋471

22.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.87 ؋248

$5.61 ؋360

-31.02%

Cinema Ticket

$2.21 ؋142

$2.93 ؋188

-24.57%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$18.05 ؋1,159

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,429 ؋91.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.19 ؋590

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.06 ؋1,095

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$32.60 ؋2,093

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.00 ؋1,798

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$85.0 ؋5,457

$28.95 ؋1,858

193.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$57.0 ؋3,661

$14.19 ؋911

301.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 ؋12.7K

$71.1 ؋4,564

179.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 ؋7,170

$42.38 ؋2,720

163.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$736 ؋47.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$407 ؋26.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$341 ؋21.9K

$188 ؋12.0K

82.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.5

85.00%

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

Last update for Kabul: April 19, 2026

Last update for Khost: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $85 in Kabul and $29 in Khost. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kabul pays 82% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $11 in Kabul vs $0 in Khost for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $87 vs $0 per month, with Khost cheaper across the board.

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

Kabul vs Khost: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kabul and Khost differ by about 732% in total monthly costs ($423 vs $50.8 including rent). Khost is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Kabul pays 82% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $85.0 in Kabul versus $28.95 in Khost. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Khost runs roughly 69% less than in Kabul. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $423 per month in Kabul versus $50.8 in Khost – a 732% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Khost gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Khost gentler on the wallet – expenses run 732% less than in Kabul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.