For one person, living is cheaper in Mauritania: $767 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $23,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Mauritania and in the United States
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mauritania and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $767 in Mauritania versus $2,734 in the United States.
Mauritania $767
United States $2,734
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,280 in Mauritania versus $3,985 in the United States.
Mauritania $1,280
United States $3,985
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,793 in Mauritania versus $5,235 in the United States.
Mauritania $1,793
United States $5,235
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in the United States: monthly costs span $979 to $5,160, compared to $267–$807 in Mauritania. City choice carries more weight in the United States.
🌍
Living in Mauritania costs about 72% less than in the United States on average.
📊
Mauritania (44% below) and the United States (101% above) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.56MRU 103
$20.03$20.03
-87.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.06MRU 924
$80.0$80.0
-71.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.05MRU 242
$11.80$11.80
-48.73%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72MRU 68.9
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70MRU 67.9
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.26MRU 90.7
$5.55$5.55
-59.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78MRU 71.2
$2.66$2.66
-33.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10MRU 84.2
$2.17$2.17
-3.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$6.12$6.12
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.94$7.94
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48MRU 59.2
$1.04$1.04
42.31%
White Bread(500g)
$0.28MRU 11.35
$3.59$3.59
-92.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32MRU 53.0
$4.52$4.52
-70.80%
Eggs
$2.30MRU 92.1
$4.28$4.28
-46.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.88MRU 236
$13.22$13.22
-55.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.28MRU 211
$12.60$12.60
-58.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.48MRU 260
$17.60$17.60
-63.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.91MRU 117
$5.30$5.30
-45.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74MRU 69.9
$1.69$1.69
2.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.42MRU 56.7
$4.44$4.44
-68.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.86MRU 34.57
$4.77$4.77
-81.97%
Potato(1kg)
$0.86MRU 34.61
$2.97$2.97
-71.04%
Onion(1kg)
$0.73MRU 29.14
$3.15$3.15
-76.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71MRU 28.50
$2.20$2.20
-67.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59MRU 23.77
$2.35$2.35
-74.89%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$10.16MRU 407
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.60MRU 104
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68MRU 67.2
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52MRU 101
$10.98$10.98
-77.05%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$15.05$15.05
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.06$2.06
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.79$3.79
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mauritania
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.43MRU 17.15
$1.94$1.94
-77.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.04MRU 883
$59.4$59.4
-62.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.84MRU 33.74
$3.58$3.58
-76.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35MRU 14.10
$1.88$1.88
-81.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.84MRU 194
$29.84$29.84
-83.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33MRU 53.2
$1.02$1.02
30.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,496MRU 300.4K
$28.8K$28.8K
-73.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$8,991MRU 360.3K
$26.2K$26.2K
-65.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$130MRU 5,205
$218$218
-40.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.09MRU 885
$62.5$62.5
-64.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.6MRU 2,389
$74.5$74.5
-19.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$87.9MRU 3,522
$41.86$41.86
109.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$253MRU 10.1K
$22.81$22.81
1009.69%
Cinema Ticket
$4.08MRU 163
$14.70$14.70
-72.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$434MRU 17.4K
$1,489$1,489
-70.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,580MRU 303.7K
$25.3K$25.3K
-69.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.43MRU 618
$54.3$54.3
-71.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.70MRU 910
$42.71$42.71
-46.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.3MRU 2,736
$94.1$94.1
-27.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.86MRU 1,878
$114$114
-58.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mauritania
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$192MRU 7,700
$1,659$1,659
-88.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$138MRU 5,542
$1,348$1,348
-89.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$735MRU 29.5K
$2,682$2,682
-72.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$283MRU 11.3K
$2,169$2,169
-86.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,283$3,283
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,482$2,482
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$640MRU 25.7K
$4,296$4,296
-85.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20
6.55
205.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mauritania: October 27, 2026
Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mauritania
$212 27.6%
United States
$355 13% ↑ 67.7%$143
🛒Groceries & Markets
Mauritania
$145 18.8%
United States
$415 15.2% ↑ 187%$271
🏠Accommodation & Living
Mauritania
$138 18%
United States
$1.3K 49.3% ↑ 874%$1.2K
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Mauritania
$96 12.5%
United States
$71 2.6% ↓ 25.8%$25
🍽Eating Out
Mauritania
$81 10.6%
United States
$328 12% ↑ 303%$247
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Mauritania
$69 9%
United States
$137 5% ↑ 98.8%$68
🚌Getting Around
Mauritania
$26 3.4%
United States
$80 2.9% ↑ 204%$54
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mauritania
$234 13%
United States
$417 8% ↑ 78.6%$184
🛒Groceries & Markets
Mauritania
$356 19.8%
United States
$953 18.2% ↑ 168%$597
🏠Accommodation & Living
Mauritania
$283 15.8%
United States
$2.2K 41.4% ↑ 667%$1.9K
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Mauritania
$445 24.8%
United States
$165 3.2% ↓ 62.9%$280
🍽Eating Out
Mauritania
$269 15%
United States
$1.1K 20.3% ↑ 295%$793
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Mauritania
$153 8.6%
United States
$305 5.8% ↑ 98.8%$151
🚌Getting Around
Mauritania
$54 3%
United States
$164 3.1% ↑ 206%$111
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $176 in Mauritania, $1,620 in the United States. Capital cities: $288 in Nouakchott vs $2,768 in Washington, DC.
💰National salary averages: $641 in Mauritania, $4,549 in the United States. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 820% higher in the United States.
⭐Dining out costs 257% more in the United States.
⭐Public transport is 186% more expensive in the United States.
⭐Salaries are about 7.1 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.
Mauritania→United States7,160 km≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
Mauritania
United States
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 the United States?
At $767 per month in Mauritania and $2,734 in the United States, there’s a 256% 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 cheaper in Mauritania: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. 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 for a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 in the United States and $176 in Mauritania. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Should I move to Mauritania or to the United States?
It depends on what you’re after: Mauritania wins on affordability; the 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