Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Djibouti

For one person, living is cheaper in Djibouti: $2,068 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $8,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

United States
Djibouti
🇺🇸 United States
$2,734
/mo nomad
🇩🇯 Djibouti
$2,068
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the United States and in Djibouti

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 Djibouti actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,734 per month in the United States vs $2,068 in Djibouti, rent included.

  • United States $2,734
  • Djibouti $2,068

A couple spends around $3,985 per month in the United States vs $3,229 in Djibouti, rent included.

  • United States $3,985
  • Djibouti $3,229

A family of three spends $5,235 per month in the United States vs $4,389 in Djibouti, rent included.

  • United States $5,235
  • Djibouti $4,389

The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($979–$5,160) than in Djibouti ($2,069–$2,069), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in the United States is about 32% higher than in Djibouti on average.

Both the United States and Djibouti are pricier than the global median – the United States by 101%, Djibouti by 52%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Djibouti
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.03 $20.03
$9.60 DJF 1,710
108.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.0 $80.0
$73.3 DJF 13.0K
9.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.80 $11.80
$15.52 DJF 2,764
-23.97%
Cappuccino
$5.55 $5.55
$3.45 DJF 614
60.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$1.86 DJF 330
43.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$1.68 DJF 299
29.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.12 $6.12
$6.84 DJF 1,218
-10.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.94 $7.94
$8.21 DJF 1,462
-3.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Djibouti
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$2.85 DJF 508
-63.51%
White Bread (500g)
$3.59 $3.59
$9.42 DJF 1,677
-61.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$2.79 DJF 496
62.01%
Eggs
$4.28 $4.28
$5.84 DJF 1,041
-26.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.22 $13.22
$9.73 DJF 1,732
35.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.60 $12.60
$18.01 DJF 3,207
-30.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.60 $17.60
$12.30 DJF 2,190
43.09%
Apples (1kg)
$5.30 $5.30
$3.71 DJF 661
42.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.20 DJF 214
40.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$2.63 DJF 468
68.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.77 $4.77
$1.58 DJF 281
201.90%
Potato (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.56 DJF 278
90.38%
Onion (1kg)
$3.15 $3.15
$1.69 DJF 301
86.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 $2.20
$5.71 DJF 1,016
-61.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$0.54 DJF 96.0
335.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.98 $10.98
$1.94 DJF 346
465.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.05 $15.05
$20.72 DJF 3,690
-27.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.39 DJF 426
-13.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 $3.79
$3.45 DJF 615
9.86%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Djibouti
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$0.43 DJF 77.0
351.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.4 $59.4
$42.59 DJF 7,585
39.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.58 $3.58
$2.84 DJF 506
26.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 $1.88
$5.59 DJF 995
-66.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.84 $29.84
$28.15 DJF 5,014
6.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$2.23 DJF 398
-54.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K $28.8K
$34.0K DJF 6.0M
-15.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$33.3K DJF 5.9M
-21.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Djibouti
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 $218
$526 DJF 93.6K
-58.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.5 $62.5
$32.11 DJF 5,718
94.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.5 $74.5
$59.9 DJF 10.7K
24.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Djibouti
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.86 $41.86
$85.8 DJF 15.3K
-51.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.81 $22.81
$28.63 DJF 5,098
-20.33%
Cinema Ticket
$14.70 $14.70
$12.46 DJF 2,218
17.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Djibouti
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,489 $1,489
$338 DJF 60.2K
340.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.3K $25.3K
$8,942 DJF 1.6M
182.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Djibouti
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3 $54.3
$42.81 DJF 7,624
26.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.71 $42.71
$19.91 DJF 3,545
114.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 $94.1
$121 DJF 21.6K
-22.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$55.1 DJF 9,813
106.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Djibouti
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,659 $1,659
$675 DJF 120.2K
145.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,348 $1,348
$472 DJF 84.1K
185.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,682 $2,682
$999 DJF 177.9K
168.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,169 $2,169
$1,263 DJF 224.9K
71.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,283 $3,283
$12.6K DJF 2.2M
-73.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,482 $2,482
$6,183 DJF 1.1M
-59.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Djibouti
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,296 $4,296
$2,790 DJF 496.8K
54.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
13.07
-49.89%

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

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Last update for Djibouti: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
United States
$1.3K
Djibouti
$472 64.9% $875
Groceries & Markets
United States
$415
Djibouti
$455 9.6% $40
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$355
Djibouti
$618 74% $263
Eating Out
United States
$328
Djibouti
$230 30% $98
Clothing & Footwear
United States
$137
Djibouti
$108 21.5% $30
Getting Around
United States
$80
Djibouti
$75 6.3% $5
Sport & Entertainment
United States
$71
Djibouti
$111 55.4% $39

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,620 in the United States vs $672 in Djibouti. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,768 in Washington, DC and $672 in Djibouti.

Average salary: $4,549 in the United States vs $2,785 in Djibouti. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 141% higher in the United States.

Public transport is 47% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are 63% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know
🇺🇸 United States
🇩🇯 Djibouti
🕒 Local time
05:40 5:40 AM
12:40 12:40 PM
7 h ahead of the United States
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
340,110,988
1,152,944
Exchange rates and currency converter

DJF, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

Djiboutian Franc exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 178 DJF (1,000 DJF = 5.62 USD). 1 EUR = 198 DJF (1,000 DJF = 5.05 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • United States Djibouti 12,610 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • United States
  • Djibouti

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 Djibouti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Djibouti or the United States?
Djibouti is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 24% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Djibouti or in the United States?
Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 versus $672 in Djibouti.
Which country is better for expats: Djibouti or the United States?
Djibouti is the budget-friendly choice for expats. 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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