Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Gabon

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.

United States
Gabon
🇺🇸 United States
$2,720
/mo nomad
🇬🇦 Gabon
$1,495
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Gabon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.75 $19.75
$17.08 FCFA 10.0K
15.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.3 $79.3
$68.7 FCFA 40.3K
15.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 $11.78
$15.14 FCFA 8,879
-22.19%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$6.09 FCFA 3,573
-7.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 $2.68
$1.75 FCFA 1,028
53.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 $2.10
$1.46 FCFA 856
43.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.98 $5.98
$1.05 FCFA 614
469.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.89 $7.89
$1.83 FCFA 1,076
331.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Gabon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$3.32 FCFA 1,947
-67.17%
White Bread (500g)
$3.61 $3.61
$1.30 FCFA 760
177.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$2.82 FCFA 1,657
63.48%
Eggs
$4.34 $4.34
$4.26 FCFA 2,502
1.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.86 $12.86
$10.26 FCFA 6,019
25.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.50 $12.50
$8.46 FCFA 4,964
47.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.41 $17.41
$25.83 FCFA 15.2K
-32.60%
Apples (1kg)
$5.42 $5.42
$3.04 FCFA 1,782
78.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 $1.66
$3.82 FCFA 2,243
-56.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$3.94 FCFA 2,313
11.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.96 $4.96
$3.44 FCFA 2,021
44.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.85 $2.85
$3.02 FCFA 1,773
-5.63%
Onion (1kg)
$3.06 $3.06
$4.22 FCFA 2,473
-27.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 $2.29
$2.15 FCFA 1,260
6.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30 $2.30
$1.58 FCFA 929
45.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.01 $11.01
$2.63 FCFA 1,542
318.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.94 $14.94
$11.41 FCFA 6,693
30.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$0.96 FCFA 566
121.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 $3.79
$1.31 FCFA 766
189.31%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Gabon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$0.36 FCFA 208
466.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.1 $59.1
$34.22 FCFA 20.1K
72.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.48 $3.48
$1.25 FCFA 732
178.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.89 $1.89
$0.73 FCFA 426
158.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.76 $29.76
$17.30 FCFA 10.1K
72.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.09 FCFA 639
-0.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K $28.0K
$29.0K FCFA 17.0M
-3.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$22.1K FCFA 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
$85.6 FCFA 50.2K
153.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.7 $62.7
$33.94 FCFA 19.9K
84.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.0 $73.0
$63.7 FCFA 37.4K
14.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Gabon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.08 $42.08
$63.7 FCFA 37.3K
-33.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.10 $23.10
$25.56 FCFA 15.0K
-9.62%
Cinema Ticket
$14.77 $14.77
$4.40 FCFA 2,582
235.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Gabon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,490 $1,490
$172 FCFA 100.6K
768.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.7K $21.7K
$5,436 FCFA 3.2M
300.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Gabon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 $53.5
$85.2 FCFA 50.0K
-37.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.69 $42.69
$43.34 FCFA 25.4K
-1.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 $92.7
$51.5 FCFA 30.2K
79.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 $117
$102 FCFA 60.1K
13.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Gabon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,671 $1,671
$1,025 FCFA 601.4K
63.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,338 $1,338
$423 FCFA 248.1K
216.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,723 $2,723
$2,057 FCFA 1.2M
32.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,131 $2,131
$852 FCFA 499.7K
150.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,269 $3,269
$3,597 FCFA 2.1M
-9.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,553 $2,553
$2,691 FCFA 1.6M
-5.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Gabon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,253 $4,253
$435 FCFA 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.
Accommodation & Living
United States
$1.3K
Gabon
$423 68.4% $915
Groceries & Markets
United States
$415
Gabon
$372 10.5% $44
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$352
Gabon
$183 48% $169
Eating Out
United States
$326
Gabon
$277 15% $49
Clothing & Footwear
United States
$137
Gabon
$127 7.5% $10
Getting Around
United States
$80
Gabon
$41 49.5% $40
Sport & Entertainment
United States
$72
Gabon
$72 1.2% $0.8

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.

Good to know
🇺🇸 United States
🇬🇦 Gabon
🕒 Local time
11:18 11:18 AM
17:18 5:18 PM
6 h ahead of the United States
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
340,110,988
2,025,137
Exchange rates and currency converter

XAF, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Central African CFA Franc exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 587 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.7 USD). 1 EUR = 659 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.52 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • United States Gabon 10,570 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • United States
  • Gabon

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

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