Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Afghanistan Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Afghanistan

Name: Afghanistan
Address: AF

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,643 per month in United States vs $235 in Afghanistan, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,857 per month in United States vs $327 in Afghanistan, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,070 per month in United States vs $419 in Afghanistan, rent included.

United States costs about 1025% more than Afghanistan on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 97% above the global median, while Afghanistan is 82% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.04 $20.04

$2.18 ؋138

819.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$9.92 ؋630

666.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.42 $11.42

$3.67 ؋233

211.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 ؋180

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.25 ؋461

Cappuccino

$5.39 $5.39

$0.92 ؋58.5

485.87%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$0.41 ؋26.04

521.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.14 ؋8.89

1357.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 $6.14

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 $7.18

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.75 ؋47.82

38.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.65 $3.65

$0.23 ؋14.62

1486.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$1.67 ؋106

183.23%

Eggs

$4.38 $4.38

$1.52 ؋96.7

188.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 $12.76

$3.76 ؋239

239.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$3.40 ؋216

265.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$5.84 ؋371

180.99%

Apples (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$0.60 ؋38.26

803.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$0.84 ؋53.5

96.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$0.76 ؋48.03

503.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$0.47 ؋29.91

944.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$0.44 ؋27.80

563.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$0.40 ؋25.16

682.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 $2.26

$0.32 ؋20.46

606.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$0.32 ؋20.32

618.75%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.87 ؋119

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ؋44.30

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 ؋92.4

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.89 $9.89

$2.24 ؋142

341.52%

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

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.30 ؋19.16

726.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.8 $64.8

$12.38 ؋786

423.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.84 $3.84

$1.40 ؋88.7

174.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$0.65 ؋41.51

170.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.58 $30.58

$1.68 ؋107

1720.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.03 ؋65.6

-6.80%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$8,556 ؋543.4K

256.26%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$36.8K ؋2.3M

-28.31%

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

$204 $204

$76.8 ؋4,875

165.98%

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

$57.3 $57.3

$14.68 ؋932

290.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 $71.2

$148 ؋9,381

-51.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.67 $46.67

$9.78 ؋621

377.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.12 $22.12

$3.21 ؋204

589.10%

Cinema Ticket

$13.84 $13.84

$2.51 ؋159

451.39%

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

$1,384 $1,384

$23.60 ؋1,499

5762.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K $22.7K

$1,454 ؋92.3K

1461.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 $53.0

$14.15 ؋898

274.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.17 $43.17

$19.65 ؋1,248

119.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 $90.6

$33.36 ؋2,119

171.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$29.58 ؋1,878

286.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,766 $1,766

$81.4 ؋5,169

2070.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,459 $1,459

$51.3 ؋3,260

2743.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,832 $2,832

$185 ؋11.7K

1433.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,411 $2,411

$101 ؋6,411

2288.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,287 $3,287

$631 ؋40.1K

420.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$340 ؋21.6K

680.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,379 $4,379

$270 ؋17.2K

1520.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

16.22

-59.86%

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

Last update for United States: May 30, 2026

Last update for Afghanistan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,637 in United States vs $38.00 in Afghanistan. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,591 in Washington, DC and $85.0 in Kabul.

Average salary: $4,500 in United States vs $236 in Afghanistan. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 4208% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 1117% more in United States.

Public transport is 257% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 1807% 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

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

Afghanistan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 885% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Afghanistan, contributing to the overall 885% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Afghanistan, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

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