🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $498 in Mauritania versus $2,626 in United States.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $849 in Mauritania versus $3,830 in United States.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,199 in Mauritania versus $5,033 in United States.
🌍Living in Mauritania costs about 81% less than in United States on average.
📊Mauritania (64% below) and United States (90% above) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in United States: monthly costs span $986 to $5,298, compared to $270–$726 in Mauritania. City choice carries more weight in United States.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.53MRU 101
$19.83$19.83
-87.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.59MRU 904
$78.8$78.8
-71.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.86MRU 235
$12.19$12.19
-51.93%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72MRU 69.0
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73MRU 69.3
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.27MRU 90.7
$5.59$5.59
-59.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80MRU 71.9
$2.78$2.78
-35.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09MRU 83.9
$2.18$2.18
-4.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$5.86$5.86
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$8.02$8.02
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51MRU 60.5
$1.07$1.07
41.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.28MRU 11.34
$3.68$3.68
-92.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.31MRU 52.5
$4.66$4.66
-71.89%
Eggs
$2.25MRU 90.2
$4.20$4.20
-46.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.01MRU 241
$12.78$12.78
-52.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.89MRU 196
$12.40$12.40
-60.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.39MRU 256
$16.90$16.90
-62.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17MRU 86.7
$5.23$5.23
-58.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.76MRU 70.6
$1.66$1.66
6.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.36MRU 54.4
$4.33$4.33
-68.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.87MRU 34.98
$4.96$4.96
-82.46%
Potato(1kg)
$0.82MRU 32.90
$2.82$2.82
-70.92%
Onion(1kg)
$0.80MRU 31.84
$3.11$3.11
-74.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74MRU 29.79
$2.19$2.19
-66.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62MRU 24.71
$2.26$2.26
-72.57%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$9.89MRU 396
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.54MRU 102
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75MRU 70.0
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54MRU 102
$10.35$10.35
-75.46%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$14.81$14.81
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.09$2.09
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.65$3.65
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mauritania
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47MRU 18.88
$2.38$2.38
-80.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.51MRU 861
$64.5$64.5
-66.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.90MRU 35.90
$3.54$3.54
-74.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.39MRU 15.52
$1.86$1.86
-79.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.65MRU 186
$30.34$30.34
-84.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MRU 53.8
$1.00$1.00
34.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,541MRU 301.9K
$35.5K$35.5K
-78.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$8,995MRU 360.1K
$25.9K$25.9K
-65.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$129MRU 5,147
$222$222
-42.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.20MRU 889
$61.1$61.1
-63.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.5MRU 2,423
$74.7$74.7
-18.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.08MRU 1,244
$44.49$44.49
-30.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$248MRU 9,943
$22.35$22.35
1011.32%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15MRU 166
$15.03$15.03
-72.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$444MRU 17.8K
$1,431$1,431
-68.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,560MRU 302.6K
$25.9K$25.9K
-70.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.61MRU 905
$53.6$53.6
-57.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.63MRU 906
$43.46$43.46
-47.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.1MRU 2,686
$91.5$91.5
-26.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.18MRU 1,649
$114$114
-63.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mauritania
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$196MRU 7,856
$1,633$1,633
-87.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$139MRU 5,576
$1,328$1,328
-89.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$720MRU 28.8K
$2,606$2,606
-72.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$270MRU 10.8K
$2,206$2,206
-87.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,540MRU 261.8K
$3,323$3,323
96.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,027MRU 121.2K
$2,653$2,653
14.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mauritania
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$569MRU 22.8K
$4,306$4,306
-86.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20
6.21
222.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mauritania: September 8, 2026
Last update for United States: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $141 in Mauritania, $1,604 in United States. Capital cities: $217 in Nouakchott vs $1,360 in Columbia, TN.
💰National salary averages: $577 in Mauritania, $4,526 in United States. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 1038% higher in United States.
⭐Dining out costs 257% more in United States.
⭐Public transport is 145% more expensive in United States.
⭐Salaries are 684% 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 $498 per month in Mauritania and $3,142 in United States, there's a 531% 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