Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Gabon Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Gabon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,643 in United States versus $842 in Gabon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,857 in United States versus $1,370 in Gabon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,070 in United States versus $1,898 in Gabon.

Living in United States is roughly 214% more expensive than Gabon on average.

United States (97% above) and Gabon (37% below) straddle the global median.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Gabon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.04 $20.04
$17.80 FCFA 10.0K
12.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.0 $76.0
$80.5 FCFA 45.4K
-5.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.42 $11.42
$13.32 FCFA 7,510
-14.26%
Cappuccino
$5.39 $5.39
$6.21 FCFA 3,503
-13.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.46 FCFA 821
74.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.44 FCFA 812
41.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.14 $6.14
$1.08 FCFA 607
468.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.18 $7.18
$1.63 FCFA 920
340.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Gabon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$2.99 FCFA 1,687
-65.22%
White Bread (500g)
$3.65 $3.65
$1.45 FCFA 820
151.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.73 $4.73
$4.22 FCFA 2,381
12.09%
Eggs
$4.38 $4.38
$5.41 FCFA 3,052
-19.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.76 $12.76
$9.49 FCFA 5,350
34.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.42 $12.42
$9.06 FCFA 5,108
37.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.41 $16.41
$26.88 FCFA 15.2K
-38.95%
Apples (1kg)
$5.42 $5.42
$4.37 FCFA 2,463
24.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$4.39 FCFA 2,474
-62.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$3.45 FCFA 1,948
33.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.91 $4.91
$3.63 FCFA 2,045
35.26%
Potato (1kg)
$2.92 $2.92
$3.44 FCFA 1,940
-15.12%
Onion (1kg)
$3.13 $3.13
$3.48 FCFA 1,964
-10.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$3.60 FCFA 2,030
-37.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30 $2.30
$1.92 FCFA 1,081
19.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.89 $9.89
$2.59 FCFA 1,461
281.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.10 $15.10
$11.96 FCFA 6,744
26.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$0.85 FCFA 478
124.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$1.80 FCFA 1,017
103.33%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Gabon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.48 $2.48
$0.84 FCFA 476
195.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.8 $64.8
$49.43 FCFA 27.9K
31.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.84 $3.84
$1.35 FCFA 763
184.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 $1.76
$0.77 FCFA 434
128.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.58 $30.58
$17.65 FCFA 9,956
73.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.04 FCFA 589
-7.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K $30.5K
$29.9K FCFA 16.8M
2.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$23.3K FCFA 13.1M
13.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Gabon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$204 $204
$88.6 FCFA 50.0K
130.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.3 $57.3
$34.59 FCFA 19.5K
65.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.2 $71.2
$70.3 FCFA 39.6K
1.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Gabon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.67 $46.67
$65.0 FCFA 36.7K
-28.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.12 $22.12
$26.52 FCFA 15.0K
-16.59%
Cinema Ticket
$13.84 $13.84
$4.54 FCFA 2,562
204.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Gabon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,384 $1,384
$176 FCFA 99.3K
685.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.7K $22.7K
$5,658 FCFA 3.2M
301.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Gabon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0 $53.0
$86.6 FCFA 48.8K
-38.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.17 $43.17
$43.37 FCFA 24.5K
-0.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 $90.6
$53.1 FCFA 29.9K
70.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$104 FCFA 58.7K
9.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Gabon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,766 $1,766
$1,125 FCFA 634.6K
56.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,459 $1,459
$528 FCFA 297.6K
176.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,832 $2,832
$2,694 FCFA 1.5M
5.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,411 $2,411
$1,004 FCFA 566.1K
140.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,287 $3,287
$3,718 FCFA 2.1M
-11.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,650 $2,650
$2,845 FCFA 1.6M
-6.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Gabon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,379 $4,379
$442 FCFA 249.3K
890.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
10
-34.90%

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

Last update for United States: May 30, 2026

Last update for Gabon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,637 in United States, $581 in Gabon. Capital cities: $2,591 in Washington, DC vs $1,162 in Libreville.

National salary averages: $4,500 in United States, $435 in Gabon. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 182% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 83% more in United States.

Salaries are 934% higher in United States, giving United States stronger purchasing power.

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 United States?
At $842 per month in Gabon and $3,212 in United States, there's a 281% gap. 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 United States?
Gabon is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. 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 United States?
Rent in United States beats Gabon across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Can you live in both Gabon and United States on $2,000 per month?
In Gabon, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In United States, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Which country is better for expats: Gabon or United States?
It depends on what you're after. Gabon wins on affordability; United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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