Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Burkina Faso

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.

🇺🇸 United States
$2,785
/mo nomad
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso
$1,170
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$7.14 F CFA 4,176
183.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.1 $81.1
$25.69 F CFA 15.0K
215.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.12 $12.12
$7.21 F CFA 4,218
68.10%
Cappuccino
$5.36 $5.36
$1.99 F CFA 1,164
169.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$1.09 F CFA 639
154.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.11 F CFA 650
88.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$1.18 F CFA 690
394.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$2.59 F CFA 1,515
205.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.99 F CFA 1,162
-47.74%
White Bread (500g)
$3.56 $3.56
$1.08 F CFA 634
229.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$0.90 F CFA 526
421.11%
Eggs
$4.43 $4.43
$2.53 F CFA 1,482
75.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 $12.91
$16.80 F CFA 9,826
-23.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.20 $12.20
$20.50 F CFA 12.0K
-40.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.00 $17.00
$14.79 F CFA 8,652
14.94%
Apples (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$4.63 F CFA 2,710
14.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 $1.67
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$3.50 F CFA 2,046
28.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.05 $5.05
$3.74 F CFA 2,190
35.03%
Potato (1kg)
$2.83 $2.83
$1.58 F CFA 926
79.11%
Onion (1kg)
$3.00 $3.00
$1.73 F CFA 1,011
73.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.28 $2.28
$1.29 F CFA 757
76.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.29 F CFA 755
75.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.33 $10.33
$1.30 F CFA 762
694.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$6.12 F CFA 3,583
140.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.46 F CFA 854
40.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$2.59 F CFA 1,513
41.31%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 $2.33
$0.19 F CFA 108
1126.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.1 $65.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 $3.60
$0.49 F CFA 287
634.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 $1.90
$0.87 F CFA 511
118.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.81 $29.81
$8.41 F CFA 4,923
254.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.43 F CFA 836
-27.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K $35.1K
$28.6K F CFA 16.7M
22.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$31.3K F 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
$176 F CFA 102.9K
22.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.3 $62.3
$26.04 F CFA 15.2K
139.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.6 $74.6
$55.2 F CFA 32.3K
35.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.70 $44.70
$59.5 F CFA 34.8K
-24.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.55 $22.55
$8.50 F CFA 4,970
165.29%
Cinema Ticket
$15.19 $15.19
$6.69 F 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
$34.06 F CFA 19.9K
4128.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.2K $25.2K
$5,935 F CFA 3.5M
325.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 $53.7
$34.56 F CFA 20.2K
55.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.44 $42.44
$50.8 F CFA 29.7K
-16.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.4 $93.4
$84.4 F CFA 49.4K
10.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$104 F CFA 60.8K
10.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,622 $1,622
$336 F CFA 196.7K
382.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,357 $1,357
$233 F CFA 136.5K
481.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,681 $2,681
$1,347 F CFA 788.2K
98.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,170 $2,170
$747 F CFA 437.1K
190.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,294 $3,294
$859 F CFA 502.9K
283.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,674 $2,674
$257 F CFA 150.5K
939.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Burkina Faso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,242 $4,242
$588 F 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.
Accommodation & Living
United States
$1.4K
Burkina Faso
$233 82.8% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
United States
$411
Burkina Faso
$351 * 14.5% $60
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$353
Burkina Faso
$257 27.2% $96
Eating Out
United States
$327
Burkina Faso
$122 62.5% $205
Clothing & Footwear
United States
$137
Burkina Faso
$123 10.1% $14
Getting Around
United States
$87
Burkina Faso
$5.6 * 93.6% $82
Sport & Entertainment
United States
$75
Burkina Faso
$73 3% $2.2

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.

Good to know
🇺🇸 United States
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso
🕒 Local time
08:39 8:39 AM
12:39 12:39 PM
4 h ahead of the United States
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
340,110,988
23,025,776
Exchange rates and currency converter

XOF, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

West African CFA Franc exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 585 XOF (1,000 XOF = 1.71 USD). 1 EUR = 656 XOF (1,000 XOF = 1.53 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • United States Burkina Faso 8,810 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

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