For one person, living is cheaper in Gabon: $1,495 a month against $2,720 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $14,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in the United States and in Gabon
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 Gabon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,720 in the United States versus $1,495 in Gabon.
United States $2,720
Gabon $1,495
Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,954 in the United States versus $2,448 in Gabon.
United States $3,954
Gabon $2,448
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,188 in the United States versus $3,401 in Gabon.
United States $5,188
Gabon $3,401
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in the United States: monthly costs span $984 to $5,225, compared to $1,499–$1,499 in Gabon. City choice carries more weight in the United States.
🌍
Living in the United States is roughly 82% more expensive than in Gabon on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: the United States 101% above, Gabon 11% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Gabon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.75$19.75
$17.08FCFA 10.0K
15.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.3$79.3
$68.7FCFA 40.3K
15.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.78$11.78
$15.14FCFA 8,879
-22.19%
Cappuccino
$5.62$5.62
$6.09FCFA 3,573
-7.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68$2.68
$1.75FCFA 1,028
53.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$1.46FCFA 856
43.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.98$5.98
$1.05FCFA 614
469.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.89$7.89
$1.83FCFA 1,076
331.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Gabon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09$1.09
$3.32FCFA 1,947
-67.17%
White Bread(500g)
$3.61$3.61
$1.30FCFA 760
177.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.61$4.61
$2.82FCFA 1,657
63.48%
Eggs
$4.34$4.34
$4.26FCFA 2,502
1.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86$12.86
$10.26FCFA 6,019
25.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.50$12.50
$8.46FCFA 4,964
47.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.41$17.41
$25.83FCFA 15.2K
-32.60%
Apples(1kg)
$5.42$5.42
$3.04FCFA 1,782
78.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66$1.66
$3.82FCFA 2,243
-56.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.39$4.39
$3.94FCFA 2,313
11.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.96$4.96
$3.44FCFA 2,021
44.19%
Potato(1kg)
$2.85$2.85
$3.02FCFA 1,773
-5.63%
Onion(1kg)
$3.06$3.06
$4.22FCFA 2,473
-27.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.29$2.29
$2.15FCFA 1,260
6.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30$2.30
$1.58FCFA 929
45.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.01$11.01
$2.63FCFA 1,542
318.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.94$14.94
$11.41FCFA 6,693
30.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13$2.13
$0.96FCFA 566
121.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79$3.79
$1.31FCFA 766
189.31%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Gabon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.04$2.04
$0.36FCFA 208
466.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.1$59.1
$34.22FCFA 20.1K
72.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.48$3.48
$1.25FCFA 732
178.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.89$1.89
$0.73FCFA 426
158.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.76$29.76
$17.30FCFA 10.1K
72.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08$1.08
$1.09FCFA 639
-0.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K$28.0K
$29.0KFCFA 17.0M
-3.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K$25.8K
$22.1KFCFA 13.0M
16.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Gabon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217$217
$85.6FCFA 50.2K
153.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.7$62.7
$33.94FCFA 19.9K
84.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.0$73.0
$63.7FCFA 37.4K
14.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Gabon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.08$42.08
$63.7FCFA 37.3K
-33.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.10$23.10
$25.56FCFA 15.0K
-9.62%
Cinema Ticket
$14.77$14.77
$4.40FCFA 2,582
235.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Gabon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,490$1,490
$172FCFA 100.6K
768.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$21.7K$21.7K
$5,436FCFA 3.2M
300.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Gabon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5$53.5
$85.2FCFA 50.0K
-37.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.69$42.69
$43.34FCFA 25.4K
-1.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.7$92.7
$51.5FCFA 30.2K
79.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117$117
$102FCFA 60.1K
13.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Gabon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,671$1,671
$1,025FCFA 601.4K
63.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,338$1,338
$423FCFA 248.1K
216.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,723$2,723
$2,057FCFA 1.2M
32.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,131$2,131
$852FCFA 499.7K
150.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,269$3,269
$3,597FCFA 2.1M
-9.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,553$2,553
$2,691FCFA 1.6M
-5.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Gabon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,253$4,253
$435FCFA 255.3K
877.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.57
11.5
-42.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United States: November 2, 2026
Last update for Gabon: November 2, 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 49.2%
Gabon
$423 28.3% ↓ 68.4%$915
🛒Groceries & Markets
United States
$415 15.3%
Gabon
$372 24.9% ↓ 10.5%$44
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$352 13%
Gabon
$183 12.3% ↓ 48%$169
🍽Eating Out
United States
$326 12%
Gabon
$277 18.5% ↓ 15%$49
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United States
$137 5.1%
Gabon
$127 8.5% ↓ 7.5%$10
🚌Getting Around
United States
$80 3%
Gabon
$41 2.7% ↓ 49.5%$40
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United States
$72 2.6%
Gabon
$72 4.9% ↑ 1.2%$0.8
🏠Accommodation & Living
United States
$2.1K 41.1%
Gabon
$852 25.1% ↓ 60%$1.3K
🛒Groceries & Markets
United States
$952 18.4%
Gabon
$890 26.2% ↓ 6.5%$62
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$415 8%
Gabon
$217 6.4% ↓ 47.7%$198
🍽Eating Out
United States
$1.1K 20.3%
Gabon
$908 26.7% ↓ 13.9%$146
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United States
$305 5.9%
Gabon
$282 8.3% ↓ 7.5%$23
🚌Getting Around
United States
$164 3.2%
Gabon
$82 2.4% ↓ 50.3%$83
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United States
$166 3.2%
Gabon
$170 5% ↑ 2.5%$4.2
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,628 in the United States, $1,026 in Gabon. Capital cities: $2,721 in Washington, DC vs $1,026 in Libreville.
💰National salary averages: $4,531 in the United States, $427 in Gabon. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 59% higher in the United States.
⭐Public transport is 85% more expensive in the United States.
⭐Salaries are about 11 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.
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 Gabon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in Gabon compare to the cost in the United States?
At $1,495 per month in Gabon and $2,720 in the United States, Gabon comes out about 45% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do daily expenses compare in Gabon vs the United States?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Gabon: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Is rent more expensive in Gabon or in the United States?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,628 in the United States and $1,026 in Gabon. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Which country is better for expats: Gabon or the United States?
It depends on what you’re after: Gabon wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.
United States vs other spots: cost of living compared