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: $553 in Mauritania versus $2,643 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: $1,329 in Mauritania versus $5,070 in United States.

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

Mauritania (59% 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 $263$843 in Mauritania. City choice carries more weight in United States.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.43 MRU 137
$20.04 $20.04
-82.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.52 MRU 979
$76.0 $76.0
-67.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.11 MRU 244
$11.42 $11.42
-46.50%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.00 MRU 79.9
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 MRU 102
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.49 MRU 99.6
$5.39 $5.39
-53.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 MRU 72.9
$2.55 $2.55
-28.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 MRU 84.2
$2.04 $2.04
3.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$6.14 $6.14
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.18 $7.18
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 MRU 58.3
$1.04 $1.04
40.38%
White Bread (500g)
$0.29 MRU 11.46
$3.65 $3.65
-92.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 MRU 49.92
$4.73 $4.73
-73.57%
Eggs
$2.26 MRU 90.1
$4.38 $4.38
-48.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.87 MRU 315
$12.76 $12.76
-38.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.04 MRU 201
$12.42 $12.42
-59.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.84 MRU 273
$16.41 $16.41
-58.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.16 MRU 86.4
$5.42 $5.42
-60.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 MRU 72.3
$1.65 $1.65
9.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.25 MRU 49.96
$4.59 $4.59
-72.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.98 MRU 39.29
$4.91 $4.91
-80.04%
Potato (1kg)
$0.80 MRU 32.10
$2.92 $2.92
-72.60%
Onion (1kg)
$0.76 MRU 30.34
$3.13 $3.13
-75.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.56 MRU 22.52
$2.26 $2.26
-75.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 MRU 26.07
$2.30 $2.30
-71.74%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$9.95 MRU 398
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.61 MRU 104
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 MRU 67.7
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.46 MRU 98.5
$9.89 $9.89
-75.13%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$15.10 $15.10
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.91 $1.91
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.66 $3.66
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mauritania
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.50 MRU 19.79
$2.48 $2.48
-79.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.69 MRU 707
$64.8 $64.8
-72.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.85 MRU 34.05
$3.84 $3.84
-77.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.26 MRU 10.47
$1.76 $1.76
-85.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.62 MRU 264
$30.58 $30.58
-78.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 MRU 51.0
$0.96 $0.96
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,713 MRU 308.1K
$30.5K $30.5K
-74.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,176 MRU 366.6K
$26.4K $26.4K
-65.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$144 MRU 5,750
$204 $204
-29.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.66 MRU 1,025
$57.3 $57.3
-55.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.8 MRU 2,388
$71.2 $71.2
-16.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$87.2 MRU 3,485
$46.67 $46.67
86.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$250 MRU 10.0K
$22.12 $22.12
1032.32%
Cinema Ticket
$4.36 MRU 174
$13.84 $13.84
-68.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$80.5 MRU 3,214
$1,384 $1,384
-94.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,879 MRU 234.9K
$22.7K $22.7K
-74.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.59 MRU 823
$53.0 $53.0
-61.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.78 MRU 830
$43.17 $43.17
-51.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.2 MRU 2,804
$90.6 $90.6
-22.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.32 MRU 1,451
$114 $114
-68.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mauritania
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$185 MRU 7,378
$1,766 $1,766
-89.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$137 MRU 5,480
$1,459 $1,459
-90.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$629 MRU 25.1K
$2,832 $2,832
-77.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$270 MRU 10.8K
$2,411 $2,411
-88.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,489 MRU 259.3K
$3,287 $3,287
97.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,990 MRU 119.4K
$2,650 $2,650
12.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$579 MRU 23.1K
$4,379 $4,379
-86.78%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for United States: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $145 in Mauritania, $1,637 in United States. Capital cities: $224 in Nouakchott vs $2,591 in Washington, DC.

National salary averages: $562 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 1029% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 248% more in United States.

Public transport is 178% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 701% 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
Mauritania vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Mauritania and United States?
At $553 per month in Mauritania and $3,212 in United States, there's a 481% 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?
Mauritania 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 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 United States?
In Mauritania, $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 Mauritania or 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.

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