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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,642 in United States versus $556 in Mauritania.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,857 in United States versus $941 in Mauritania.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,072 in United States versus $1,325 in Mauritania.

Living in United States is roughly 375% more expensive than in Mauritania on average.

United States (98% above) and Mauritania (58% below) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in United States: monthly costs span $1,335 to $5,182, compared to $261$851 in Mauritania. City choice carries more weight in United States.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Mauritania
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.63 $19.63
$3.34 MRU 133
487.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.4 $75.4
$23.68 MRU 944
218.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.57 $11.57
$6.17 MRU 246
87.52%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.93 MRU 76.9
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.56 MRU 102
-
Cappuccino
$5.22 $5.22
$2.52 MRU 100
107.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$1.74 MRU 69.2
43.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.16 MRU 86.0
-4.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.91 $5.91
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.13 $7.13
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Mauritania
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.40 MRU 55.7
-22.14%
White Bread (500g)
$3.56 $3.56
$0.31 MRU 12.38
1048.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.74 $4.74
$1.19 MRU 47.40
298.32%
Eggs
$4.34 $4.34
$2.17 MRU 86.6
100.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.68 $12.68
$8.03 MRU 320
57.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.28 $12.28
$4.95 MRU 198
148.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.60 $16.60
$6.79 MRU 271
144.48%
Apples (1kg)
$5.16 $5.16
$2.15 MRU 85.7
140.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.84 MRU 73.3
-7.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.45 $4.45
$1.31 MRU 52.3
239.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.80 $4.80
$0.97 MRU 38.67
394.85%
Potato (1kg)
$2.93 $2.93
$0.79 MRU 31.52
270.89%
Onion (1kg)
$3.09 $3.09
$0.72 MRU 28.59
329.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.61 MRU 24.26
263.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 $2.25
$0.68 MRU 27.16
230.88%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$10.22 MRU 408
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.61 MRU 104
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.72 MRU 68.6
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.90 $9.90
$2.57 MRU 103
285.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.28 $15.28
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 $3.58
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Mauritania
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.46 $2.46
$0.46 MRU 18.21
434.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.6 $64.6
$17.35 MRU 692
272.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.77 $3.77
$0.92 MRU 36.58
309.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 $1.71
$0.26 MRU 10.40
557.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.08 $30.08
$6.40 MRU 255
370.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.27 MRU 50.7
-24.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K $29.9K
$7,533 MRU 300.4K
296.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$9,357 MRU 373.2K
179.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Mauritania
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 $210
$149 MRU 5,950
40.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.3 $56.3
$25.74 MRU 1,027
118.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.9 $72.9
$59.7 MRU 2,379
22.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Mauritania
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.39 $45.39
$88.6 MRU 3,535
-48.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.60 $21.60
$250 MRU 9,982
-91.37%
Cinema Ticket
$14.04 $14.04
$4.45 MRU 177
215.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Mauritania
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,377 $1,377
$80.1 MRU 3,195
1619.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K $22.4K
$5,864 MRU 233.9K
281.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Mauritania
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.7 $52.7
$20.21 MRU 806
160.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.41 $42.41
$20.60 MRU 821
105.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.8 $91.8
$69.3 MRU 2,764
32.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$35.78 MRU 1,427
217.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Mauritania
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,765 $1,765
$182 MRU 7,269
868.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,462 $1,462
$140 MRU 5,570
946.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,849 $2,849
$634 MRU 25.3K
349.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,369 $2,369
$277 MRU 11.1K
754.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,364 $3,364
$6,460 MRU 257.6K
-47.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,665 $2,665
$3,039 MRU 121.2K
-12.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Mauritania
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,378 $4,378
$563 MRU 22.4K
678.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
16.5
-60.55%

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

Last update for United States: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mauritania: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,635 in United States, $147 in Mauritania. Capital cities: $1,625 in Washington, MI vs $229 in Nouakchott.

National salary averages: $4,500 in United States, $578 in Mauritania. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1012% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 248% more in United States.

Public transport is 178% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 679% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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 Mauritania: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Mauritania and United States?
At $556 per month in Mauritania and $3,259 in United States, there's a 486% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Mauritania: 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.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in United States is consistently higher than in Mauritania across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Mauritania or in United States?
In Mauritania, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in United States it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Mauritania or to United States?
It depends on what you're after: Mauritania wins on affordability; United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

United States vs other spots: cost of living compared

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