Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Western Sahara

Name: Western Sahara
Address: EH

For one person, living is cheaper in Western Sahara: $120 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $31,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in the United States
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United States Living Index

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🇺🇸 United States

$2,734

/mo nomad

🇪🇭 Western Sahara

$120

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the United States and in Western Sahara

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 Western Sahara actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,734 per month in the United States vs $120 in Western Sahara, rent included.

United States $2,734
Western Sahara $120

A couple spends around $3,985 per month in the United States vs $174 in Western Sahara, rent included.

United States $3,985
Western Sahara $174

A family of three spends $5,235 per month in the United States vs $229 in Western Sahara, rent included.

United States $5,235
Western Sahara $229

The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($979–$5,160) than in Western Sahara ($119–$119), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in the United States is about 2185% higher than in Western Sahara on average.

The United States sits 101% above the global median, while Western Sahara is 91% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.03 $20.03

$4.19 MAD 41.27

378.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 $80.0

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.80 $11.80

$3.42 MAD 33.64

245.03%

Cappuccino

$5.55 $5.55

$2.10 MAD 20.69

164.29%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$0.43 MAD 4.22

518.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$0.30 MAD 2.93

623.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 $6.12

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 $7.94

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 $3.59

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

Eggs

$4.28 $4.28

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.22 $13.22

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.60 $12.60

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.60 $17.60

Apples (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

Oranges (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

Tomato (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.98 $10.98

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 $3.79

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.73 MAD 7.14

165.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.4 $59.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

$0.72 MAD 7.11

397.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 $1.88

$0.68 MAD 6.65

176.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.84 $29.84

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.31 MAD 12.88

-22.14%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.8K $28.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K $26.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$218 $218

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$62.5 $62.5

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.5 $74.5

$20.07 MAD 198

270.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.86 $41.86

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.81 $22.81

Cinema Ticket

$14.70 $14.70

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,489 $1,489

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.3K $25.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 $54.3

$46.04 MAD 454

18.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.71 $42.71

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 $94.1

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,659 $1,659

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,348 $1,348

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,682 $2,682

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,169 $2,169

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,283 $3,283

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,482 $2,482

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,296 $4,296

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

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

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Last update for Western Sahara: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

United States

$1.3K 49.3%

Western Sahara

–

Groceries & Markets

United States

$415 15.2%

Western Sahara

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

United States

$355 13%

Western Sahara

–

Eating Out

United States

$328 12%

Western Sahara

–

Clothing & Footwear

United States

$137 5%

Western Sahara

–

Getting Around

United States

$80 2.9%

Western Sahara

–

Sport & Entertainment

United States

$71 2.6%

Western Sahara

–

Good to know

🇺🇸 United States

🇪🇭 Western Sahara

🕒 Local time

06:23 6:23 AM

10:23 10:23 AM

4 h ahead of the United States

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

340,110,988

612,000

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Moroccan Dirham MAD د.م.

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

100 MAD = 10.15 USD

100 MAD = 9.12 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇲🇦 Moroccan Dirham (د.م.)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 9.85 MAD (1 MAD = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 MAD (100 MAD = 9.12 EUR).

MAD to USD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

United States Western Sahara 6,910 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight

From you

United States
Western Sahara

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 Western Sahara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Western Sahara is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 96% lower on average.

Not necessarily. Overall, the United States costs about 2185% more, but the gap varies by category, and some expenses can be lower in the United States. Compare the categories that matter most for your budget.

Western Sahara is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.