Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and French Guiana Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and French Guiana

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,642 per month in United States vs $809 in French Guiana, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,857 per month in United States vs $1,322 in French Guiana, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,072 per month in United States vs $1,835 in French Guiana, rent included.

The cost of living in United States is about 227% higher than in French Guiana on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 98% above the global median, while French Guiana is 39% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

The regional cost range is wider in United States ($1,335$5,182) than in French Guiana ($13.00$2,238), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
French Guiana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.63 $19.63
$10.34 €9.05
89.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.4 $75.4
$116 €102
-35.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.57 $11.57
$10.10 €8.83
14.55%
Cappuccino
$5.22 $5.22
$3.37 €2.95
54.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$3.05 €2.67
-18.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.54 €2.22
-18.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.91 $5.91
$3.45 €3.02
71.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.13 $7.13
$4.69 €4.11
52.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
French Guiana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$3.13 €2.74
-65.18%
White Bread (500g)
$3.56 $3.56
$4.07 €3.56
-12.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.74 $4.74
$3.00 €2.62
58.00%
Eggs
$4.34 $4.34
$8.17 €7.15
-46.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.68 $12.68
$28.59 €25.01
-55.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.28 $12.28
$17.05 €14.92
-27.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.60 $16.60
$30.77 €26.92
-46.05%
Apples (1kg)
$5.16 $5.16
$5.23 €4.57
-1.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 $1.70
$3.31 €2.90
-48.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.45 $4.45
$5.17 €4.52
-13.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.80 $4.80
$9.52 €8.33
-49.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.93 $2.93
$4.10 €3.59
-28.54%
Onion (1kg)
$3.09 $3.09
$5.43 €4.75
-43.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 $2.22
$3.43 €3.00
-35.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 $2.25
$1.61 €1.41
39.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.90 $9.90
$9.22 €8.07
7.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.28 $15.28
$8.06 €7.05
89.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$2.85 €2.49
-32.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 $3.58
$2.28 €1.99
57.02%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
French Guiana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.36 €2.07
4.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.6 $64.6
$34.18 €29.91
89.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.77 $3.77
$5.96 €5.21
-36.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 $1.71
$3.12 €2.73
-45.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.08 $30.08
$8.09 €7.08
271.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$2.19 €1.91
-56.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K $29.9K
$35.2K €30.8K
-15.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$47.2K €41.3K
-44.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
French Guiana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 $210
$191 €167
10.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.3 $56.3
$46.88 €41.01
20.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.9 $72.9
$71.4 €62.5
2.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
French Guiana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.39 $45.39
$40.96 €35.84
10.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.60 $21.60
$28.63 €25.05
-24.55%
Cinema Ticket
$14.04 $14.04
$12.10 €10.58
16.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
French Guiana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,377 $1,377
$694 €608
98.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K $22.4K
$350 €306
6294.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
French Guiana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.7 $52.7
$82.4 €72.1
-36.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.41 $42.41
$46.83 €40.97
-9.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.8 $91.8
$110 €96.1
-16.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$105 €91.6
8.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
French Guiana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,765 $1,765
$1,069 €935
65.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,462 $1,462
$813 €711
79.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,849 $2,849
$1,619 €1,417
75.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,369 $2,369
$1,599 €1,399
48.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,364 $3,364
$3,106 €2,717
8.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,665 $2,665
$3,549 €3,105
-24.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
French Guiana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,378 $4,378
$2,292 €2,005
91.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
3.53
84.42%

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

Last update for United States: July 12, 2026

Last update for French Guiana: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,635 in United States vs $821 in French Guiana. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,625 in Washington, MI and $955 in Cayenne.

Average salary: $4,500 in United States vs $2,319 in French Guiana. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 99% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 92% more in United States.

Public transport is 127% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 94% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in French Guiana.

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 United States?
French Guiana is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 190% 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 French Guiana, contributing to the overall 190% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in French Guiana or in United States?
$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in French Guiana, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to French Guiana or to United States?
French Guiana 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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