For one person, living is cheaper in the United States: $2,727 a month against $9,222 in Monaco, rent and utilities included – about $77,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Monaco 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 Monaco and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $9,222 in Monaco versus $2,727 in the United States.
Monaco $9,222
United States $2,727
Estimated couple costs with rent: $11.9K in Monaco versus $4,009 in the United States.
Monaco $11.9K
United States $4,009
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $14.6K in Monaco versus $5,291 in the United States.
Monaco $14.6K
United States $5,291
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Monaco: monthly costs span $8,169 to $14.3K, compared to $977–$5,215 in the United States. City choice carries more weight in Monaco.
🌍
Living in Monaco is roughly 238% more expensive than in the United States on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: Monaco 581% above, the United States 101% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Monaco
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.33€25.20
$19.73$19.73
43.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$158€140
$81.0$81.0
94.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.51€11.13
$11.98$11.98
4.42%
Cappuccino
$4.36€3.88
$5.59$5.59
-22.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.73€5.10
$2.78$2.78
106.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.77€6.91
$2.10$2.10
270.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.92€8.83
$5.98$5.98
65.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.98€8.87
$7.92$7.92
26.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monaco
United States
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.91€1.69
$1.03$1.03
85.44%
White Bread(500g)
$4.49€4.00
$3.75$3.75
19.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.71€3.30
$4.46$4.46
-16.82%
Eggs
$5.06€4.50
$4.34$4.34
16.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.51€16.47
$12.75$12.75
45.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$18.76€16.69
$12.27$12.27
52.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.88€19.47
$17.29$17.29
26.55%
Apples(1kg)
$3.71€3.30
$5.31$5.31
-30.13%
Banana(1kg)
$5.83€5.19
$1.67$1.67
249.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.63€3.23
$4.32$4.32
-15.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.01€5.34
$5.03$5.03
19.48%
Potato(1kg)
$4.75€4.22
$2.81$2.81
69.04%
Onion(1kg)
$4.92€4.38
$3.05$3.05
61.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.68€3.27
$2.22$2.22
65.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$6.60€5.87
$2.35$2.35
180.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.36€13.67
$10.92$10.92
40.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€7.05
$14.87$14.87
-46.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.73
$2.10$2.10
-7.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48€3.99
$3.62$3.62
23.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Monaco
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.19€1.95
$2.46$2.46
-10.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.55€21.84
$65.7$65.7
-62.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.70€5.07
$3.58$3.58
59.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.94€1.72
$1.90$1.90
2.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$99.9€88.9
$29.51$29.51
238.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.36€2.10
$1.02$1.02
131.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$54.9K€48.8K
$28.3K$28.3K
93.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$51.5K€45.8K
$26.0K$26.0K
98.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monaco
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$403€359
$221$221
82.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.8€46.04
$61.3$61.3
-15.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.9€61.3
$73.3$73.3
-5.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monaco
United States
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$280€249
$44.89$44.89
524.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$51.0€45.35
$22.65$22.65
125.08%
Cinema Ticket
$14.85€13.21
$15.16$15.16
-2.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monaco
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,631€2,341
$1,471$1,471
78.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$35.2K€31.3K
$25.0K$25.0K
40.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monaco
United States
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$200€178
$53.5$53.5
272.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$81.5€72.5
$43.76$43.76
86.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$194€172
$92.0$92.0
110.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$570€507
$114$114
399.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monaco
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$8,989€7,996
$1,654$1,654
443.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$6,864€6,105
$1,332$1,332
415.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$14.0K€12.5K
$2,669$2,669
424.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$9,257€8,234
$2,207$2,207
319.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$72.7K€64.6K
$3,054$3,054
2279.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$66.9K€59.5K
$2,522$2,522
2553.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monaco
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$9,088€8,084
$4,391$4,391
106.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.83
6.55
-56.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Monaco: October 18, 2026
Last update for the United States: October 18, 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.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Monaco
$6.9K 74.4%
United States
$1.3K 48.9% ↓ 80.6%$5.5K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Monaco
$565 6.1%
United States
$413 15.1% ↓ 26.9%$152
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monaco
$524 5.7%
United States
$355 13% ↓ 32.2%$169
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Monaco
$470 5.1%
United States
$137 5% ↓ 70.9%$334
🍽Eating Out
Monaco
$440 4.8%
United States
$326 12% ↓ 25.9%$114
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Monaco
$310 3.4%
United States
$75 2.8% ↓ 75.7%$235
🚌Getting Around
Monaco
$49 0.5%
United States
$89 3.3% ↑ 82%$40
🏠Accommodation & Living
Monaco
$9.3K 63.3%
United States
$2.2K 41.7% ↓ 76.2%$7K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Monaco
$1.3K 8.9%
United States
$946 17.9% ↓ 27.5%$359
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monaco
$576 3.9%
United States
$417 7.9% ↓ 27.7%$159
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Monaco
$1K 7.2%
United States
$304 5.7% ↓ 70.9%$741
🍽Eating Out
Monaco
$1.7K 11.4%
United States
$1.1K 20.1% ↓ 36.2%$604
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Monaco
$671 4.6%
United States
$173 3.3% ↓ 74.2%$498
🚌Getting Around
Monaco
$102 0.7%
United States
$182 3.4% ↑ 79%$80
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $4,034 in Monaco, $1,612 in the United States. Capital cities: $9,333 in Monaco vs $2,743 in Washington, DC.
💰National salary averages: $9,284 in Monaco, $4,548 in the United States. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 150% higher in Monaco.
⭐Dining out costs 101% more in Monaco.
⭐Salaries are 104% higher in Monaco, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the 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
Monaco vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in Monaco compare to the cost in the United States?
At $9,222 per month in Monaco and $2,727 in the United States, there's a 238% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do daily expenses compare in Monaco vs the United States?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in the United States: 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.
Is rent more expensive in Monaco or in the United States?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $4,034 in Monaco and $1,612 in the United States. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Can you live in both Monaco and the United States on $4,000 per month?
In the United States, $4,000 covers most cities easily; in Monaco it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Which country is better for expats: Monaco or the United States?
It depends on what you're after: the United States wins on affordability; Monaco may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.