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 $2,626 per month in United States vs $209 in Afghanistan, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,830 per month in United States vs $294 in Afghanistan, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,033 per month in United States vs $379 in Afghanistan, rent included.

The cost of living in United States is about 1156% higher than in Afghanistan on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 90% above the global median, while Afghanistan is 85% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.83 $19.83

$2.36 ؋152

740.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 $78.8

$10.83 ؋696

627.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.19 $12.19

$3.77 ؋242

223.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.10 ؋135

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.42 ؋477

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$1.01 ؋65.2

453.47%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$0.44 ؋28.27

531.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.19 ؋12.16

1047.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 $8.02

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.81 ؋51.9

32.10%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$0.28 ؋18.20

1214.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$1.83 ؋118

154.64%

Eggs

$4.20 $4.20

$1.60 ؋103

162.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.78 $12.78

$4.61 ؋296

177.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.40 $12.40

$3.75 ؋241

230.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.90 $16.90

$6.54 ؋421

158.41%

Apples (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$0.69 ؋44.51

657.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$0.99 ؋64.0

67.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$1.01 ؋65.2

328.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$0.52 ؋33.63

853.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$0.55 ؋35.14

412.73%

Onion (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$0.41 ؋26.25

658.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$0.39 ؋24.76

461.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$0.34 ؋21.56

564.71%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.78 ؋114

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ؋43.78

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 ؋68.1

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.35 $10.35

$2.36 ؋151

338.56%

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

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 $2.38

$0.30 ؋19.01

693.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.5 $64.5

$14.68 ؋944

339.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$1.41 ؋90.9

151.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 $1.86

$0.44 ؋28.38

322.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.34 $30.34

$1.65 ؋106

1738.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.02 ؋65.5

-1.96%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$8,438 ؋542.6K

321.12%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$33.4K ؋2.1M

-22.63%

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

$222 $222

$56.9 ؋3,660

290.35%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$13.81 ؋888

342.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.7 $74.7

$165 ؋10.6K

-54.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.49 $44.49

$10.61 ؋682

319.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.35 $22.35

$4.02 ؋258

455.97%

Cinema Ticket

$15.03 $15.03

$2.62 ؋168

473.66%

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

$1,431 $1,431

$20.34 ؋1,308

6935.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.9K $25.9K

$1,316 ؋84.6K

1867.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.6 $53.6

$12.99 ؋835

312.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.46 $43.46

$17.54 ؋1,128

147.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 $91.5

$43.06 ؋2,769

112.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$31.95 ؋2,055

255.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 $1,633

$117 ؋7,531

1294.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 $1,328

$90.3 ؋5,807

1370.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,606 $2,606

$200 ؋12.9K

1203.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,206 $2,206

$112 ؋7,229

1862.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,323 $3,323

$654 ؋42.1K

408.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,653 $2,653

$354 ؋22.8K

649.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,306 $4,306

$255 ؋16.4K

1590.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

18.22

-65.92%

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

Last update for United States: September 7, 2026

Last update for Afghanistan: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,604 in United States vs $27.00 in Afghanistan. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,360 in Columbia, TN and $124 in Kabul.

Average salary: $4,526 in United States vs $226 in Afghanistan. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 5841% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 1150% more in United States.

Public transport is 440% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 1903% 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

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

Afghanistan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 1164% 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 1164% 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.