Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Burkina Faso Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Burkina Faso

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,643 per month in United States vs $513 in Burkina Faso, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,857 per month in United States vs $837 in Burkina Faso, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,071 per month in United States vs $1,160 in Burkina Faso, rent included.

United States costs about 415% more than Burkina Faso on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 97% above the global median, while Burkina Faso is 62% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.23 $20.23
$5.21 F CFA 2,921
288.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.3 $74.3
$23.94 F CFA 13.4K
210.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.29 $11.29
$7.84 F CFA 4,394
44.01%
Cappuccino
$5.12 $5.12
$1.79 F CFA 1,003
186.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$0.79 F CFA 444
221.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$0.59 F CFA 333
259.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$1.03 F CFA 576
466.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.86 $6.86
$1.80 F CFA 1,006
281.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$2.84 F CFA 1,593
-63.73%
White Bread (500g)
$3.73 $3.73
$0.98 F CFA 551
280.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$0.98 F CFA 547
360.20%
Eggs
$4.30 $4.30
$2.95 F CFA 1,651
45.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.16 $13.16
$17.41 F CFA 9,755
-24.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.40 $12.40
$21.28 F CFA 11.9K
-41.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.19 $16.19
$12.33 F CFA 6,906
31.31%
Apples (1kg)
$5.33 $5.33
$4.32 F CFA 2,418
23.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.40 F CFA 786
23.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.56 $4.56
$1.01 F CFA 566
351.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$2.41 F CFA 1,352
102.49%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.24 F CFA 1,257
28.12%
Onion (1kg)
$3.10 $3.10
$1.32 F CFA 738
134.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 $2.24
$0.84 F CFA 473
166.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.35 F CFA 755
67.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.07 $10.07
$1.72 F CFA 965
485.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.27 $15.27
$6.06 F CFA 3,397
151.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 $2.00
$1.29 F CFA 723
55.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 $3.52
$2.40 F CFA 1,345
46.67%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$0.17 F CFA 95.0
1411.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.0 $66.0
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.74 $3.74
$0.50 F CFA 282
648.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.54 F CFA 862
10.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.03 $30.03
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.53 F CFA 856
-39.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$37.5K F CFA 21.0M
-19.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$37.4K F CFA 21.0M
-30.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 $206
$128 F CFA 71.9K
60.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.1 $57.1
$34.73 F CFA 19.5K
64.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.2 $73.2
$50.9 F CFA 28.5K
43.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.50 $46.50
$62.7 F CFA 35.1K
-25.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.07 $22.07
$8.96 F CFA 5,020
146.32%
Cinema Ticket
$14.14 $14.14
$8.67 F CFA 4,857
63.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,371 $1,371
$131 F CFA 73.4K
947.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.8K $22.8K
$17.2K F CFA 9.7M
32.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 $51.3
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.27 $42.27
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.9 $89.9
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,740 $1,740
$443 F CFA 248.0K
293.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,409 $1,409
$276 F CFA 154.5K
410.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,912 $2,912
$1,280 F CFA 717.1K
127.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,377 $2,377
$763 F CFA 427.5K
211.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,412 $3,412
$561 F CFA 314.5K
507.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,669 $2,669
$194 F CFA 108.8K
1274.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,242 $4,242
$616 F CFA 345.2K
588.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
0
-

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

Last update for United States: April 28, 2026

Last update for Burkina Faso: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,635 in United States vs $218 in Burkina Faso. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,512 in Washington, DC and $436 in Ouagadougou.

Average salary: $4,494 in United States vs $479 in Burkina Faso. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 650% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 508% more in United States.

Salaries are 838% 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 Burkina Faso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Burkina Faso more expensive than United States?
Burkina Faso is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 527% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
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.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Burkina Faso, contributing to the overall 527% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Burkina Faso or United States?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Burkina Faso, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Burkina Faso or United States?
Burkina Faso 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.

United States vs other spots: cost of living compared

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