Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Western Sahara and the United States

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.

Western Sahara
United States
🇪🇭 Western Sahara
$120
/mo nomad
🇺🇸 United States
$2,734
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Western Sahara and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

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

  • Western Sahara $120
  • United States $2,734

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

  • Western Sahara $174
  • United States $3,985

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

  • Western Sahara $229
  • United States $5,235

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 Western Sahara is roughly 96% lower than in the United States on average.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Western Sahara
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.19 MAD 41.27
$20.03 $20.03
-79.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$80.0 $80.0
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.42 MAD 33.65
$11.80 $11.80
-71.02%
Cappuccino
$2.10 MAD 20.69
$5.55 $5.55
-62.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 MAD 4.22
$2.66 $2.66
-83.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 MAD 2.93
$2.17 $2.17
-86.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$6.12 $6.12
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.94 $7.94
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Western Sahara
United States
Difference
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
-
🚌 Getting Around
Western Sahara
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.73 MAD 7.14
$1.94 $1.94
-62.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$59.4 $59.4
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.72 MAD 7.11
$3.58 $3.58
-79.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 MAD 6.65
$1.88 $1.88
-63.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$29.84 $29.84
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MAD 12.88
$1.02 $1.02
28.43%
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
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Western Sahara
United States
Difference
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)
$20.07 MAD 198
$74.5 $74.5
-73.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Western Sahara
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$41.86 $41.86
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.81 $22.81
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$14.70 $14.70
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Western Sahara
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$1,489 $1,489
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$25.3K $25.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Western Sahara
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.04 MAD 454
$54.3 $54.3
-15.27%
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
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Western Sahara
United States
Difference
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
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Western Sahara
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,296 $4,296
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
6.55
-

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

Last update for Western Sahara: October 26, 2026

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Western Sahara
–
United States
$1.3K
Groceries & Markets
Western Sahara
–
United States
$415
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Western Sahara
–
United States
$355
Eating Out
Western Sahara
–
United States
$328
Clothing & Footwear
Western Sahara
–
United States
$137
Getting Around
Western Sahara
–
United States
$80
Sport & Entertainment
Western Sahara
–
United States
$71
Good to know
🇪🇭 Western Sahara
🇺🇸 United States
🕒 Local time
09:29 9:29 AM
05:29 5:29 AM
4 h behind Western Sahara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
612,000
340,110,988
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MAD – Moroccan Dirham Converter

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).

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

On the map
Between locations
  • Western Sahara United States 6,910 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Western Sahara
  • United States

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
Western Sahara vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is the United States more expensive than Western Sahara?
Western Sahara is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 96% lower on average.
Is everything cheaper in Western Sahara?
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.
Should I move to the United States or to Western Sahara?
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.

Western Sahara vs other spots: cost of living compared

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?