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 $2,642 per month in United States vs $237 in Afghanistan, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,857 per month in United States vs $329 in Afghanistan, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,072 per month in United States vs $420 in Afghanistan, rent included.

The cost of living in United States is about 1015% higher than in Afghanistan on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 98% above the global median, while Afghanistan is 82% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$2.18 ؋143

800.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 $75.4

$9.84 ؋647

666.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.57 $11.57

$3.53 ؋232

227.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 ؋187

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.13 ؋469

Cappuccino

$5.22 $5.22

$0.90 ؋59.0

480.00%

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

$2.49 $2.49

$0.38 ؋25.14

555.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$0.13 ؋8.49

1484.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.13 $7.13

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.71 ؋46.89

53.52%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 $3.56

$0.21 ؋13.79

1595.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$1.72 ؋113

175.58%

Eggs

$4.34 $4.34

$1.60 ؋105

171.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.68 $12.68

$3.74 ؋246

239.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.28 $12.28

$3.41 ؋224

260.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.60 $16.60

$5.80 ؋381

186.21%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$0.60 ؋39.74

760.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$0.83 ؋54.4

104.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$0.75 ؋49.02

493.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$0.51 ؋33.64

841.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$0.47 ؋30.59

523.40%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$0.40 ؋26.00

672.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$0.32 ؋21.24

593.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$0.30 ؋19.47

650.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.82 ؋120

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ؋45.11

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ؋98.9

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.90 $9.90

$2.19 ؋144

352.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 $2.46

$0.30 ؋19.88

720.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.6 $64.6

$12.08 ؋794

435.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 $3.77

$1.46 ؋95.8

158.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$0.64 ؋42.02

167.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.08 $30.08

$1.69 ؋111

1679.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$0.99 ؋64.9

-3.03%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$8,783 ؋577.3K

240.00%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$35.5K ؋2.3M

-26.25%

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

$210 $210

$74.7 ؋4,913

181.13%

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

$56.3 $56.3

$14.65 ؋963

284.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.9 $72.9

$148 ؋9,707

-50.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.39 $45.39

$9.75 ؋641

365.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.60 $21.60

$3.32 ؋218

550.60%

Cinema Ticket

$14.04 $14.04

$2.43 ؋160

477.78%

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

$1,377 $1,377

$23.76 ؋1,562

5697.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$1,445 ؋95.0K

1447.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.7 $52.7

$13.90 ؋914

279.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.41 $42.41

$19.40 ؋1,275

118.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.8 $91.8

$33.36 ؋2,193

175.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$29.07 ؋1,911

290.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,765 $1,765

$81.9 ؋5,384

2054.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,462 $1,462

$53.1 ؋3,488

2656.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,849 $2,849

$182 ؋11.9K

1467.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,369 $2,369

$103 ؋6,743

2210.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,364 $3,364

$606 ؋39.8K

455.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,665 $2,665

$341 ؋22.4K

680.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,378 $4,378

$256 ؋16.8K

1612.13%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Afghanistan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,635 in United States vs $38.00 in Afghanistan. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,625 in Washington, MI and $85.0 in Kabul.

Average salary: $4,500 in United States vs $221 in Afghanistan. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 4203% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 1117% more in United States.

Public transport is 257% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 1936% 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 876% 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 876% 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.