For one person, living is cheaper in French Guiana: $2,350 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $4,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in the United States outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.
How much you'll spend in the United States and in French Guiana
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 French Guiana actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $2,734 per month in the United States vs $2,350 in French Guiana, rent included.
United States $2,734
French Guiana $2,350
A couple spends around $3,985 per month in the United States vs $3,835 in French Guiana, rent included.
United States $3,985
French Guiana $3,835
A family of three spends $5,235 per month in the United States vs $5,320 in French Guiana, rent included.
United States $5,235
French Guiana $5,320
📏
The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($979–$5,160) than in French Guiana ($175–$2,355), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in the United States is about 16% higher than in French Guiana on average.
📊
Both the United States and French Guiana are pricier than the global median – the United States by 101%, French Guiana by 73%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
United States
French Guiana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.03$20.03
$13.08€11.72
53.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.0$80.0
$110€98.9
-27.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.80$11.80
$10.60€9.49
11.32%
Cappuccino
$5.55$5.55
$3.92€3.51
41.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66$2.66
$3.38€3.03
-21.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17$2.17
$2.87€2.57
-24.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.12$6.12
$3.99€3.58
53.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.94$7.94
$4.49€4.02
76.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
French Guiana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$4.02€3.60
-74.13%
White Bread(500g)
$3.59$3.59
$4.05€3.62
-11.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.52$4.52
$2.92€2.62
54.79%
Eggs
$4.28$4.28
$7.34€6.57
-41.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.22$13.22
$30.89€27.67
-57.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.60$12.60
$16.55€14.83
-23.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.60$17.60
$29.95€26.82
-41.24%
Apples(1kg)
$5.30$5.30
$5.14€4.60
3.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69$1.69
$4.46€3.99
-62.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.44$4.44
$5.14€4.60
-13.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.77$4.77
$9.52€8.53
-49.89%
Potato(1kg)
$2.97$2.97
$4.92€4.41
-39.63%
Onion(1kg)
$3.15$3.15
$6.86€6.15
-54.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.20$2.20
$3.31€2.97
-33.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.35$2.35
$2.07€1.86
13.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.98$10.98
$9.62€8.62
14.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.05$15.05
$10.65€9.54
41.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06$2.06
$2.88€2.58
-28.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79$3.79
$1.14€1.02
232.46%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
French Guiana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.94$1.94
$2.20€1.97
-11.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.4$59.4
$34.19€30.62
73.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.58$3.58
$5.69€5.09
-37.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.88$1.88
$4.01€3.59
-53.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.84$29.84
$7.98€7.14
273.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02$1.02
$2.18€1.95
-53.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K$28.8K
$45.5K€40.8K
-36.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K$26.2K
$44.5K€39.9K
-41.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
French Guiana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$218$218
$224€201
-2.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.5$62.5
$44.71€40.05
39.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.5$74.5
$68.2€61.1
9.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
French Guiana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.86$41.86
$35.78€32.05
16.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.81$22.81
$28.17€25.23
-19.03%
Cinema Ticket
$14.70$14.70
$9.27€8.30
58.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
French Guiana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,489$1,489
$664€595
124.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.3K$25.3K
$10.3K€9,222
145.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
French Guiana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3$54.3
$100€89.9
-45.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.71$42.71
$67.3€60.3
-36.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.1$94.1
$126€113
-25.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114$114
$99.9€89.5
13.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
French Guiana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,659$1,659
$1,098€984
51.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,348$1,348
$863€773
56.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,682$2,682
$1,817€1,628
47.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,169$2,169
$1,783€1,597
21.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,283$3,283
$3,091€2,769
6.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,482$2,482
$3,426€3,068
-27.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
French Guiana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,296$4,296
$2,218€1,986
93.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.55
4.5
45.56%
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 French Guiana: October 24, 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
$1.3K 49.3%
French Guiana
$863 36.7% ↓ 35.9%$484
🛒Groceries & Markets
United States
$415 15.2%
French Guiana
$612 26.1% ↑ 47.4%$197
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$355 13%
French Guiana
$337 14.4% ↓ 5%$18
🍽Eating Out
United States
$328 12%
French Guiana
$237 10.1% ↓ 27.6%$91
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United States
$137 5%
French Guiana
$177 7.5% ↑ 29.2%$40
🚌Getting Around
United States
$80 2.9%
French Guiana
$69 2.9% ↓ 14.3%$11
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United States
$71 2.6%
French Guiana
$54 2.3% ↓ 23.8%$17
🏠Accommodation & Living
United States
$2.2K 41.4%
French Guiana
$1.8K 33.5% ↓ 17.8%$386
🛒Groceries & Markets
United States
$953 18.2%
French Guiana
$1.5K 27.5% ↑ 53.4%$508
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$417 8%
French Guiana
$382 7.2% ↓ 8.5%$36
🍽Eating Out
United States
$1.1K 20.3%
French Guiana
$1K 19.2% ↓ 3.8%$40
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United States
$305 5.8%
French Guiana
$394 7.4% ↑ 29.2%$89
🚌Getting Around
United States
$164 3.1%
French Guiana
$142 2.7% ↓ 13.6%$22
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United States
$165 3.2%
French Guiana
$137 2.6% ↓ 17.3%$29
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,620 in the United States vs $1,192 in French Guiana. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,768 in Washington, DC and $933 in Cayenne.
💰Average salary: $4,549 in the United States vs $2,255 in French Guiana. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 36% higher in the United States.
⭐Dining out costs 52% more in French Guiana.
⭐Public transport is 85% more expensive in the United States.
⭐Salaries are about 2 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.
United States→French Guiana4,920 km≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
United States
French Guiana
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 French Guiana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is French Guiana more expensive than the United States?
French Guiana is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 14% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 versus $1,192 in French Guiana.
Should I move to French Guiana or to the United States?
French Guiana 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