For one person, living is cheaper in Burkina Faso: $1,170 a month against $2,785 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $19,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in the United States and in Burkina Faso
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 Burkina Faso actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $2,784 per month in the United States vs $1,170 in Burkina Faso, rent included.
United States $2,784
Burkina Faso $1,170
A couple spends around $3,982 per month in the United States vs $1,933 in Burkina Faso, rent included.
United States $3,982
Burkina Faso $1,933
A family of three spends $5,179 per month in the United States vs $2,696 in Burkina Faso, rent included.
United States $5,179
Burkina Faso $2,696
🌍
The cost of living in the United States is about 138% higher than in Burkina Faso on average.
📊
The United States sits 108% above the global median, while Burkina Faso is 13% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22$20.22
$7.14F CFA 4,176
183.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.1$81.1
$25.69F CFA 15.0K
215.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.12$12.12
$7.21F CFA 4,218
68.10%
Cappuccino
$5.36$5.36
$1.99F CFA 1,164
169.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77$2.77
$1.09F CFA 639
154.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09$2.09
$1.11F CFA 650
88.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.84$5.84
$1.18F CFA 690
394.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92$7.92
$2.59F CFA 1,515
205.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$1.99F CFA 1,162
-47.74%
White Bread(500g)
$3.56$3.56
$1.08F CFA 634
229.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.69$4.69
$0.90F CFA 526
421.11%
Eggs
$4.43$4.43
$2.53F CFA 1,482
75.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.91$12.91
$16.80F CFA 9,826
-23.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.20$12.20
$20.50F CFA 12.0K
-40.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.00$17.00
$14.79F CFA 8,652
14.94%
Apples(1kg)
$5.31$5.31
$4.63F CFA 2,710
14.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67$1.67
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$4.49$4.49
$3.50F CFA 2,046
28.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.05$5.05
$3.74F CFA 2,190
35.03%
Potato(1kg)
$2.83$2.83
$1.58F CFA 926
79.11%
Onion(1kg)
$3.00$3.00
$1.73F CFA 1,011
73.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.28$2.28
$1.29F CFA 757
76.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.27$2.27
$1.29F CFA 755
75.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.33$10.33
$1.30F CFA 762
694.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.72$14.72
$6.12F CFA 3,583
140.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05$2.05
$1.46F CFA 854
40.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66$3.66
$2.59F CFA 1,513
41.31%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.33$2.33
$0.19F CFA 108
1126.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.1$65.1
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.60$3.60
$0.49F CFA 287
634.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90$1.90
$0.87F CFA 511
118.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.81$29.81
$8.41F CFA 4,923
254.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03$1.03
$1.43F CFA 836
-27.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K$35.1K
$28.6KF CFA 16.7M
22.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K$26.3K
$31.3KF CFA 18.3M
-16.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$216$216
$176F CFA 102.9K
22.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.3$62.3
$26.04F CFA 15.2K
139.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.6$74.6
$55.2F CFA 32.3K
35.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.70$44.70
$59.5F CFA 34.8K
-24.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.55$22.55
$8.50F CFA 4,970
165.29%
Cinema Ticket
$15.19$15.19
$6.69F CFA 3,914
127.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,440$1,440
$34.06F CFA 19.9K
4128.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.2K$25.2K
$5,935F CFA 3.5M
325.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7$53.7
$34.56F CFA 20.2K
55.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.44$42.44
$50.8F CFA 29.7K
-16.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.4$93.4
$84.4F CFA 49.4K
10.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115$115
$104F CFA 60.8K
10.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,622$1,622
$336F CFA 196.7K
382.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,357$1,357
$233F CFA 136.5K
481.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,681$2,681
$1,347F CFA 788.2K
98.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,170$2,170
$747F CFA 437.1K
190.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,294$3,294
$859F CFA 502.9K
283.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,674$2,674
$257F CFA 150.5K
939.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,242$4,242
$588F CFA 343.9K
621.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.55
12
-45.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United States: October 6, 2026
Last update for Burkina Faso: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
United States
$1.4K 49.4%
Burkina Faso
$233 20% ↓ 82.8%$1.1K
🛒Groceries & Markets
United States
$411 15%
Burkina Faso
$351 * 30.1% ↓ 14.5%$60
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$353 12.9%
Burkina Faso
$257 22.1% ↓ 27.2%$96
🍽Eating Out
United States
$327 11.9%
Burkina Faso
$122 10.5% ↓ 62.5%$205
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United States
$137 5%
Burkina Faso
$123 10.6% ↓ 10.1%$14
🚌Getting Around
United States
$87 3.2%
Burkina Faso
$5.6 * 0.5% ↓ 93.6%$82
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United States
$75 2.7%
Burkina Faso
$73 6.3% ↓ 3%$2.2
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
United States
$2.2K 41.3%
Burkina Faso
$747 27.9% ↓ 65.6%$1.4K
🛒Groceries & Markets
United States
$942 17.9%
Burkina Faso
$830 * 31.1% ↓ 11.9%$112
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$415 7.9%
Burkina Faso
$283 10.6% ↓ 31.8%$132
🍽Eating Out
United States
$1.1K 20.3%
Burkina Faso
$374 14% ↓ 65%$693
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United States
$304 5.8%
Burkina Faso
$274 10.2% ↓ 10.1%$31
🚌Getting Around
United States
$180 3.4%
Burkina Faso
$12 * 0.4% ↓ 93.6%$168
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United States
$173 3.3%
Burkina Faso
$154 5.8% ↓ 10.7%$18
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,605 in the United States vs $169 in Burkina Faso. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,726 in Washington, DC and $338 in Ouagadougou.
💰Average salary: $4,534 in the United States vs $588 in Burkina Faso. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 850% higher in the United States.
⭐Dining out costs 477% more in the United States.
⭐Salaries are 671% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.
United States→Burkina Faso8,810 km≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
United States
Burkina Faso
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 Burkina Faso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Burkina Faso more expensive than the United States?
Burkina Faso is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 138% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,605 versus $169 in Burkina Faso.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Burkina Faso, adding to the overall 138% price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Burkina Faso or in the United States?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Burkina Faso, but in the United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Burkina Faso or to the 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