U.S. spends $3.6 billion a month in Afghanistan

The United States spends about $3.6 billion a month in Afghanistan, according to data from the Congressional Research Service.

The average cost per month is calculated per 51,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, but that number likely will increase with the 68,000 troops the Obama administration is planning on having in that country.

The cost of sending one U.S. soldier into Afghanistan for one year is $1 million versus an estimated $12,000 for an Afghan soldier, according to Stephen Daggett, a specialist with the Congressional Research Service.