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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $556 in Mauritania versus $2,642 in United States.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $941 in Mauritania versus $3,857 in United States.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,325 in Mauritania versus $5,072 in United States.

Living in Mauritania costs about 79% less than in United States on average.

Mauritania (58% below) and United States (98% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in United States: monthly costs span $1,335 to $5,182, compared to $261$851 in Mauritania. City choice carries more weight in United States.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.34 MRU 133
$19.63 $19.63
-82.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.68 MRU 944
$75.4 $75.4
-68.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.17 MRU 246
$11.57 $11.57
-46.67%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.93 MRU 76.9
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 MRU 102
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.52 MRU 100
$5.22 $5.22
-51.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 MRU 69.2
$2.49 $2.49
-30.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 MRU 86.0
$2.06 $2.06
4.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$5.91 $5.91
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.13 $7.13
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MRU 55.7
$1.09 $1.09
28.44%
White Bread (500g)
$0.31 MRU 12.38
$3.56 $3.56
-91.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 MRU 47.40
$4.74 $4.74
-74.89%
Eggs
$2.17 MRU 86.6
$4.34 $4.34
-50.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.03 MRU 320
$12.68 $12.68
-36.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.95 MRU 198
$12.28 $12.28
-59.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.79 MRU 271
$16.60 $16.60
-59.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.15 MRU 85.7
$5.16 $5.16
-58.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 MRU 73.3
$1.70 $1.70
8.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.31 MRU 52.3
$4.45 $4.45
-70.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.97 MRU 38.67
$4.80 $4.80
-79.79%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 MRU 31.52
$2.93 $2.93
-73.04%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 MRU 28.59
$3.09 $3.09
-76.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 MRU 24.26
$2.22 $2.22
-72.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 MRU 27.16
$2.25 $2.25
-69.78%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$10.22 MRU 408
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.61 MRU 104
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 MRU 68.6
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.57 MRU 103
$9.90 $9.90
-74.04%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$15.28 $15.28
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.91 $1.91
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.58 $3.58
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mauritania
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.46 MRU 18.21
$2.46 $2.46
-81.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.35 MRU 692
$64.6 $64.6
-73.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.92 MRU 36.58
$3.77 $3.77
-75.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.26 MRU 10.40
$1.71 $1.71
-84.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.40 MRU 255
$30.08 $30.08
-78.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MRU 50.7
$0.96 $0.96
32.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,533 MRU 300.4K
$29.9K $29.9K
-74.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,357 MRU 373.2K
$26.1K $26.1K
-64.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$149 MRU 5,950
$210 $210
-29.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.74 MRU 1,027
$56.3 $56.3
-54.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.7 MRU 2,379
$72.9 $72.9
-18.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$88.6 MRU 3,535
$45.39 $45.39
95.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$250 MRU 9,982
$21.60 $21.60
1058.80%
Cinema Ticket
$4.45 MRU 177
$14.04 $14.04
-68.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$80.1 MRU 3,195
$1,377 $1,377
-94.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,864 MRU 233.9K
$22.4K $22.4K
-73.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.21 MRU 806
$52.7 $52.7
-61.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.60 MRU 821
$42.41 $42.41
-51.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.3 MRU 2,764
$91.8 $91.8
-24.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.78 MRU 1,427
$114 $114
-68.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mauritania
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$182 MRU 7,269
$1,765 $1,765
-89.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$140 MRU 5,570
$1,462 $1,462
-90.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$634 MRU 25.3K
$2,849 $2,849
-77.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$277 MRU 11.1K
$2,369 $2,369
-88.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,460 MRU 257.6K
$3,364 $3,364
92.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,039 MRU 121.2K
$2,665 $2,665
14.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$563 MRU 22.4K
$4,378 $4,378
-87.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.5
6.51
153.46%

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

Last update for Mauritania: July 12, 2026

Last update for United States: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $147 in Mauritania, $1,635 in United States. Capital cities: $229 in Nouakchott vs $1,625 in Washington, MI.

National salary averages: $578 in Mauritania, $4,500 in United States. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1012% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 248% more in United States.

Public transport is 178% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 679% 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
Mauritania vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Mauritania and United States?
At $556 per month in Mauritania and $3,259 in United States, there's a 486% 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 Mauritania: 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 Mauritania 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 Mauritania or in United States?
In Mauritania, $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 Mauritania or to United States?
It depends on what you're after: Mauritania wins on affordability; United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Mauritania vs other spots: cost of living compared

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