Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Afghanistan

Name: Afghanistan
Address: AF

For one person, living is cheaper in Afghanistan: $555 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $26,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

131

Cost of Living Index in the United States
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United States Living Index
27

Cost of Living Index in Afghanistan
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Afghanistan Living Index

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🇺🇸 United States

$2,734

/mo nomad

🇦🇫 Afghanistan

$555

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the United States and in Afghanistan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United States and in Afghanistan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,734 per month in the United States vs $555 in Afghanistan, rent included.

United States $2,734
Afghanistan $555

A couple spends around $3,985 per month in the United States vs $745 in Afghanistan, rent included.

United States $3,985
Afghanistan $745

A family of three spends $5,235 per month in the United States vs $934 in Afghanistan, rent included.

United States $5,235
Afghanistan $934

The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($979–$5,160) than in Afghanistan ($24–$504), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in the United States is about 393% higher than in Afghanistan on average.

The United States sits 101% above the global median, while Afghanistan is 59% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.03 $20.03

$2.25 ؋146

790.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 $80.0

$10.78 ؋700

642.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.80 $11.80

$3.76 ؋244

213.83%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 ؋132

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.61 ؋494

Cappuccino

$5.55 $5.55

$0.97 ؋62.8

472.16%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$0.48 ؋31.23

454.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$0.17 ؋11.04

1176.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 $6.12

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 $7.94

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.81 ؋52.9

28.40%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 $3.59

$0.28 ؋18.33

1182.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$1.85 ؋120

144.32%

Eggs

$4.28 $4.28

$1.67 ؋109

156.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.22 $13.22

$4.69 ؋305

181.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.60 $12.60

$3.69 ؋239

241.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.60 $17.60

$6.44 ؋418

173.29%

Apples (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$0.68 ؋44.45

679.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.01 ؋65.7

67.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$1.02 ؋66.2

335.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$0.58 ؋37.37

722.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$0.55 ؋36.01

440.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$0.44 ؋28.35

615.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$0.36 ؋23.49

511.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$0.38 ؋24.46

518.42%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 ؋123

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ؋45.21

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 ؋66.0

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.98 $10.98

$2.37 ؋154

363.29%

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

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.32 ؋21.03

506.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.4 $59.4

$14.55 ؋945

308.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

$1.42 ؋92.2

152.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 $1.88

$0.44 ؋28.82

327.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.84 $29.84

$1.72 ؋112

1634.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.11 ؋72.1

-8.11%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.8K $28.8K

$8,359 ؋542.8K

244.00%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K $26.2K

$34.8K ؋2.3M

-24.61%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$218 $218

$57.1 ؋3,709

281.65%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$13.94 ؋905

348.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.5 $74.5

$165 ؋10.7K

-54.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.86 $41.86

$10.77 ؋699

288.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.81 $22.81

$4.05 ؋263

463.21%

Cinema Ticket

$14.70 $14.70

$2.66 ؋173

452.63%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,489 $1,489

$20.34 ؋1,321

7220.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.3K $25.3K

$1,292 ؋83.9K

1854.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 $54.3

$13.49 ؋876

302.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.71 $42.71

$17.97 ؋1,167

137.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 $94.1

$43.87 ؋2,849

114.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$31.87 ؋2,070

256.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,659 $1,659

$117 ؋7,586

1320.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,348 $1,348

$89.7 ؋5,827

1401.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,682 $2,682

$202 ؋13.1K

1225.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,169 $2,169

$113 ؋7,332

1820.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,283 $3,283

$664 ؋43.1K

394.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,482 $2,482

$347 ؋22.6K

614.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,296 $4,296

$261 ؋17.0K

1544.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

18.22

-64.05%

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

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Last update for Afghanistan: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

United States

$1.3K 49.3%

Afghanistan

$90 16.2% 93.3% $1.3K

Groceries & Markets

United States

$415 15.2%

Afghanistan

$102 18.4% 75.5% $314

Monthly Utilities & Internet

United States

$355 13%

Afghanistan

$236 42.5% 33.5% $119

Eating Out

United States

$328 12%

Afghanistan

$43 7.8% 86.7% $285

Clothing & Footwear

United States

$137 5%

Afghanistan

$48 8.7% 64.8% $89

Getting Around

United States

$80 2.9%

Afghanistan

$19 3.5% 75.7% $61

Sport & Entertainment

United States

$71 2.6%

Afghanistan

$16 2.9% 77.4% $55

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,620 in the United States vs $89 in Afghanistan. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,768 in Washington, DC and $122 in Kabul.

Average salary: $4,549 in the United States vs $228 in Afghanistan. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1720% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 582% more in the United States.

Public transport is 271% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are about 20 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know

🇺🇸 United States

🇦🇫 Afghanistan

🕒 Local time

04:48 4:48 AM

13:18 1:18 PM

8 h 30 min ahead of the United States

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

340,110,988

41,454,761

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Afghanistan Afghani AFN ؋

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

100 AFN = 1.54 USD

100 AFN = 1.38 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

AFN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇦🇫 Afghanistan Afghani (؋)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

Afghanistan Afghani exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 64.94 AFN (100 AFN = 1.54 USD). 1 EUR = 72.27 AFN (100 AFN = 1.38 EUR).

AFN to USD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

United States Afghanistan 11,830 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight

From you

United States
Afghanistan

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

United States vs Afghanistan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Afghanistan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 80% lower on average.

Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 versus $89 in Afghanistan.

Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Afghanistan, adding to the overall 393% price gap.

Afghanistan is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.