Cost of living in Mauritania

Compare the cost of your home country to the actual living costs in Mauritania, simply select your home currency and see the difference!

All data is kept up to date by local members and actual students. Our latest update was on: 30th of June 2020

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Food			Price in UM
12 eggs dozen, large			12.50 MRU
1 beer pint in local shops, markets			7 MRU
1 kg of tomatoes			8.50 MRU
Full chicken 2kg			38.75 MRU
1litre 100% fruit juice			8.50 MRU
1 package of cigarettes imported brands			25 MRU
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples			7.50 MRU
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality			48.95 MRU
2.5 liters of Coca-Cola			0.95 MRU
1 Bread loaf standard			9.50 MRU
Whole fat Yogurt. 500ml			12 MRU
1x6 pack Dardanelle tuna			18.50 MRU
Heinz baked beans 1 tin			8 MRU
1.5 kg Sugar			10 MRU
2 liter cooking oil			20 MRU
Yum-yum noodles per pack			2.00 MRU
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes			5.50 MRU
1 liter milk			8.50 MRU
Fast food restaurant large serving/ take away			25 MRU
Housing
Utilities per month (water, electricity, gas) for 2 people in flat			165 MRU
Wi-Fi monthly fee 8 Mbps (1 month)			145 MRU
Laundry detergent (bleach, sunlight liquid, washing surf… altogether)			58.50 MRU
House Cleaning fee per day			105 MRU
Large Gas heater price range upwards.			200 MRU
Original branded Electric Fans			200 MRU
Original branded Electric kettle.			120 MRU
40 inches Beko flat screen HD TV set			2000 MRU
Single bed Blankets			120 MRU
Personal Care
Avon for women and men cologne			100 MRU
Ladies hair plaiting.			60 MRU
Ladies Sanitaryware (Pads and Tampoons)			18 MRU
Men's haircut			40 MRU
Ibuprofen, Panadol, Grandpa Pain killers box of 12 dosses			24.50 MRU
Mobile package local network providers’ talk-time, data and messages			65 MRU
1 month of gym subscription.			105 MRU
Earphones original (Samsung. iPhone)			90 MRU
Unisex Loris perfume			30 MRU
Gadgets maintenance and repairs (cellphone, laptops, tablets...) starting price.			100 MRU
Smart phones (Samsung, Xiaomi, HTC, IPhone) price range upwards			1000 MRU
Laptops (Samsung, Lenovo, Hp, Monster, Dell etc.) price range upwards			3000 MRU
Entertainment
Boat cruise with refreshments and finger snacks			120 MRU
Go carting 30mins			120 MRU
Movie House 3d cinema			30 MRU
Summer Festivals (jet, bumper cars, lucky deep ...(per ticket)			15 MRU
Photo shoot			120 MRU
Cappuccino / expresso/ coffee			12.50 MRU
3 course dinner local restaurant two people			96.50 MRU
3 course dinner classy, exotic restaurant two people			150 MRU
Play station 4 console without games.			2000 MRU
Spalding Basketball			200 MRU
Original branded Racket and Wilson’s tennis balls			500 MRU
Transportation
Taxi fare on average 5-10km			45 MRU
Public transport per trip one way maximum fare			30 MRU
1 liter petrol/diesel			6.50 MRU
1 day rent a car cost			140 MRU
Driver’s license			2300 MRU
Clothes
1 pair of jeans (Denim or similar)			150 MRU
1 pair of men’s formal shoes			215 MRU
1 pair original sport/casual shoes (Nike, Adidas, or equivalent brands)			280 MRU
1 classy summer dress (Zara, H&M or similar retailers)			135.79 MRU
Ladies formal shoes original and durable			120 MRU
Back-pack, gym bag (Nike, Adidas, New balance)			150 MRU

Overall Cost of Living

Cost of living here is very cheap. Renting a one bedroom flat in the city centre of Nouakchott, the biggest city with the biggest university, costs around $250USD. Utility amount to half of that in addition, and other costs (food, clothing, transportation, leisure) are again about $150USD per month. This adds up to a total of a $500USD budget, which can be greatly reduced by choosing to stay in a hostel provided for students. The average budget in USD in Mauritania is as following:

• 500USD per month for a single person;
• 1100USD per month for a couple;
• 1500USD per month for a family with two children will do.

1. Clothing: Cost is low for items such as business, casual and children's clothing and footwear. Average price for an international brand of mens jeans is USD$20, a quality international brand of running shoes USD$50, mens leather shoes suitable for office wear USD$60 while a medium size international summer dress from a global chain store is USD$30.
2. Communication: Cost is average for various communication costs such as home telephone rental, internet subscription, mobile service provider tariff and data costs. Average price for a monthly standard plan internet subscription is USD$60, while the benchmark mobile tariff is USD$0.10 per minute.
3. Groceries: Cost is reasonably low for items such as consumables, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruit and vegetables, general food products, snacks, soft drinks. Average grocery prices in a major international retail store for 1 kg apples is USD$1, 1 kg oranges USD$2, 1 head lettuce USD$0.50, 1 kg potatos USD$2.50, 1 kg boneless, skinless, chicken breast USD$8, 1 kg cheddar cheese USD$13, 1 dozen large eggs USD$2, 500g loaf white bread USD$1.50, 1 L full cream milk USD$1.90, and 1.5 L water USD$0.90.
4. Transport: Cost is average for items such as fuel (petrol/gasoline), car hire, public transport, vehicle purchase and maintenance. Average average price over the last year for highest available octane petrol / gasoline (1L) is USD$1.02, while the benchmark car sedan purchase price including taxes/duties for a compact / small / economy vehicle (1.4 L) is USD$18 000.

Monthly Budget

Those interested in simple living should budget between $500USD or less monthly. Generally, this budget allows for bus rides and the occasional taxi, big trips to the farmers' market and a few restaurant meals each month. While you can choose to live in relative luxury, employing full-time housekeepers, commuting by car, enjoying exquisite homes and consuming imported goods such lifestyles can easily amount to $700 or more monthly.