Cost of Living Comparison Between Albuquerque, NM and Asmara Cost of Living Comparison Between Albuquerque, NM and Asmara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,289 per month in Albuquerque, NM vs $1,485 in Asmara, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,538 per month in Albuquerque, NM vs $2,202 in Asmara, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,787 per month in Albuquerque, NM vs $2,920 in Asmara, rent included.

Albuquerque, NM costs about 54% more than Asmara, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Albuquerque, NM and Asmara sit above the global median – Albuquerque, NM by 71%, Asmara by 11%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.01 $17.01

$12.15 ERN 183

40.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.0 $81.0

$29.76 ERN 447

172.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$5.95 ERN 89.5

65.71%

Cappuccino

$5.13 $5.13

$0.80 ERN 12.05

541.25%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$1.85 ERN 27.86

50.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.30 ERN 19.57

38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.16 $6.16

$0.99 ERN 14.86

522.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$1.96 ERN 29.41

310.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.61 ERN 24.16

-34.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.00 $3.00

$0.52 ERN 7.85

476.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$1.94 ERN 29.20

64.95%

Eggs

$4.36 $4.36

$4.61 ERN 69.3

-5.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.68 $12.68

$3.07 ERN 46.14

313.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.41 $10.41

$26.55 ERN 399

-60.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$10.06 ERN 151

101.99%

Apples (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$12.33 ERN 185

-60.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.25 ERN 18.76

16.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$1.84 ERN 27.67

105.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$1.20 ERN 18.04

266.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.79 ERN 26.83

32.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.04 ERN 15.67

135.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.68 ERN 10.23

197.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.12 ERN 31.81

8.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.84 $9.84

$1.97 ERN 29.64

399.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.04 $14.04

$22.84 ERN 343

-38.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$0.98 ERN 14.74

78.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.14 ERN 17.15

145.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.12 ERN 1.87

1591.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.14 ERN 122

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 $3.47

$0.65 ERN 9.70

433.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$0.65 ERN 9.75

178.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.73 $28.73

$8.47 ERN 127

239.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$2.16 ERN 32.39

-63.43%

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

$30.6K $30.6K

$67.3K ERN 1.0M

-54.48%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$69.4K ERN 1.0M

-62.71%

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

$185 $185

$26.98 ERN 406

585.62%

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

$52.5 $52.5

$67.5 ERN 1,014

-22.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$201 ERN 3,026

-65.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.94 $44.94

$27.10 ERN 407

65.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.02 $5.02

$7.70 ERN 116

-34.81%

Cinema Ticket

$13.49 $13.49

$1.07 ERN 16.05

1160.75%

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

$1,214 $1,214

$25.43 ERN 382

4673.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,042 $6,042

$1,659 ERN 24.9K

264.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.2 $53.2

$82.7 ERN 1,243

-35.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.2 $50.2

$73.5 ERN 1,105

-31.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.7 $96.7

$202 ERN 3,029

-52.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$93.9 ERN 1,411

20.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 $1,159

$477 ERN 7,174

142.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,067 $1,067

$399 ERN 5,992

167.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,236 $2,236

$724 ERN 10.9K

209.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,971 $1,971

$637 ERN 9,580

209.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,457 $2,457

$2,222 ERN 33.4K

10.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,215 $2,215

$2,255 ERN 33.9K

-1.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,064 $4,064

$1,000 ERN 15.0K

306.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

-45.92%

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

Last update for Albuquerque, NM: July 19, 2026

Last update for Asmara: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,159 in Albuquerque, NM versus $477 in Asmara. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 306% higher in Albuquerque, NM, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Albuquerque, NM versus $30.00 in Asmara. Groceries tell a different story – $382 in Albuquerque, NM vs $391 in Asmara – so Albuquerque, NM wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Albuquerque, NM vs Asmara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Albuquerque, NM costs about 54% more than Asmara, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,434 per month in Albuquerque, NM and $2,228 in Asmara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Asmara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Albuquerque, NM and $30.00 in Asmara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Albuquerque, NM – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Asmara, where all-in costs run around $1,485, than in Albuquerque, NM at $2,289. In Asmara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Albuquerque, NM it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Asmara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Asmara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Albuquerque, NM makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.