For one person, living is cheaper in Reunion: $1,867 a month against $2,727 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $10,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in the United States and in Reunion
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 Reunion actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $2,727 per month in the United States vs $1,867 in Reunion, rent included.
United States $2,727
Reunion $1,867
A couple spends around $4,009 per month in the United States vs $2,942 in Reunion, rent included.
United States $4,009
Reunion $2,942
A family of three spends $5,291 per month in the United States vs $4,016 in Reunion, rent included.
United States $5,291
Reunion $4,016
🌍
The cost of living in the United States is about 46% higher than in Reunion on average.
📊
Both the United States and Reunion are pricier than the global median – the United States by 101%, Reunion by 38%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Reunion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.73$19.73
$8.92€7.93
121.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.0$81.0
$96.2€85.6
-15.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.98$11.98
$13.39€11.91
-10.53%
Cappuccino
$5.59$5.59
$3.31€2.95
68.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78$2.78
$2.88€2.56
-3.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$2.29€2.04
-8.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.98$5.98
$4.57€4.07
30.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92$7.92
$5.74€5.10
37.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Reunion
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03$1.03
$1.43€1.27
-27.97%
White Bread(500g)
$3.75$3.75
$3.00€2.67
25.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.46$4.46
$3.16€2.81
41.14%
Eggs
$4.34$4.34
$4.63€4.12
-6.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.75$12.75
$21.32€18.97
-40.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.27$12.27
$15.10€13.43
-18.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.29$17.29
$24.67€21.94
-29.91%
Apples(1kg)
$5.31$5.31
$2.93€2.61
81.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67$1.67
$2.05€1.82
-18.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.32$4.32
$2.86€2.54
51.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.03$5.03
$6.59€5.86
-23.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.81$2.81
$2.47€2.20
13.77%
Onion(1kg)
$3.05$3.05
$3.69€3.28
-17.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.22$2.22
$1.54€1.37
44.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.35$2.35
$2.74€2.44
-14.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.92$10.92
$12.84€11.42
-14.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.87$14.87
$8.95€7.96
66.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$3.24€2.88
-35.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62$3.62
$2.49€2.21
45.38%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Reunion
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.46$2.46
$2.85€2.53
-13.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.7$65.7
$42.52€37.82
54.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.58$3.58
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90$1.90
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.51$29.51
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02$1.02
$1.92€1.71
-46.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K$28.3K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Reunion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$221$221
$122€108
81.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.3$61.3
$16.08€14.30
281.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.3$73.3
$43.86€39.01
67.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Reunion
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.89$44.89
$35.74€31.79
25.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.65$22.65
$13.40€11.92
69.03%
Cinema Ticket
$15.16$15.16
$11.25€10.01
34.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Reunion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,471$1,471
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.0K$25.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Reunion
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5$53.5
$143€127
-62.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.76$43.76
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.0$92.0
$126€112
-26.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114$114
$113€101
0.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Reunion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,654$1,654
$948€844
74.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,332$1,332
$742€660
79.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,669$2,669
$1,659€1,476
60.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,207$2,207
$1,258€1,119
75.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,054$3,054
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,522$2,522
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Reunion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,391$4,391
$2,056€1,829
113.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.55
4
63.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United States: October 18, 2026
Last update for Reunion: October 19, 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 48.9%
Reunion
$742 39.7% ↓ 44.3%$590
🛒Groceries & Markets
United States
$413 15.1%
Reunion
$453 24.3% ↑ 9.8%$41
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$355 13%
Reunion
$182 9.7% ↓ 48.8%$173
🍽Eating Out
United States
$326 12%
Reunion
$206 11% ↓ 36.8%$120
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United States
$137 5%
Reunion
$172 * 9.2% ↑ 25.9%$35
🚌Getting Around
United States
$89 3.3%
Reunion
$54 * 2.9% ↓ 39.2%$35
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United States
$75 2.8%
Reunion
$58 3.1% ↓ 22.5%$17
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
United States
$2.2K 41.7%
Reunion
$1.3K 31.3% ↓ 43%$949
🛒Groceries & Markets
United States
$946 17.9%
Reunion
$1.1K 26.3% ↑ 11.7%$110
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$417 7.9%
Reunion
$198 4.9% ↓ 52.5%$219
🍽Eating Out
United States
$1.1K 20.1%
Reunion
$878 21.9% ↓ 17.4%$185
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United States
$304 5.7%
Reunion
$382 * 9.5% ↑ 25.9%$79
🚌Getting Around
United States
$182 3.4%
Reunion
$113 * 2.8% ↓ 37.7%$69
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United States
$173 3.3%
Reunion
$130 3.2% ↓ 24.9%$43
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,612 in the United States vs $446 in Reunion. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,743 in Washington, DC and $1,074 in Saint-Pierre.
💰Average salary: $4,548 in the United States vs $2,047 in Reunion. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 261% higher in the United States.
⭐Dining out costs 142% more in the United States.
⭐Public transport is 108% more expensive in the United States.
⭐Salaries are 122% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.
United States→Reunion16,050 km≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
United States
Reunion
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 Reunion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Reunion or the United States?
Reunion is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 46% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Reunion or in the United States?
Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,612 versus $446 in Reunion.
How do daily expenses compare in Reunion vs the United States?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Reunion, adding to the overall 46% price gap.
Can you live in both Reunion and the United States on $2,000 per month?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Reunion, but in the United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Reunion or the United States?
Reunion 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