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 $2,371 per month in Albuquerque, NM vs $1,400 in Asmara, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,563 per month in Albuquerque, NM vs $2,194 in Asmara, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,756 per month in Albuquerque, NM vs $2,988 in Asmara, rent included.

Albuquerque, NM costs about 69% more than Asmara, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Albuquerque, NM and Asmara sit above the global median – Albuquerque, NM by 73%, Asmara by 2%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.15 $17.15

$21.28 ERN 320

-19.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.8 $62.8

$33.91 ERN 510

85.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.04 $10.04

$6.15 ERN 92.6

63.25%

Cappuccino

$5.28 $5.28

$0.83 ERN 12.46

536.14%

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

$2.90 $2.90

$0.98 ERN 14.80

195.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$0.99 ERN 14.88

137.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.87 $5.87

$0.58 ERN 8.78

912.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.89 $7.89

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.58 ERN 23.85

-38.61%

White Bread (500g)

$3.32 $3.32

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.37 ERN 35.61

85.23%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$4.26 ERN 64.1

13.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.63 $11.63

$2.93 ERN 44.08

296.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.41 $9.41

$27.34 ERN 411

-65.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.62 $20.62

$9.91 ERN 149

108.07%

Apples (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$12.25 ERN 184

-61.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.25 ERN 18.80

13.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.25 $4.25

$1.97 ERN 29.69

115.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.24 $5.24

$1.14 ERN 17.13

359.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.12 $3.12

$1.85 ERN 27.79

68.65%

Onion (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$0.91 ERN 13.63

251.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.27 ERN 34.24

25.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.37 $10.37

Wine (Bottle)

$13.96 $13.96

$12.11 ERN 182

15.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.02 ERN 15.38

142.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$0.98 ERN 14.79

261.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.11 ERN 1.67

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.89 $3.89

$7.82 ERN 118

-50.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.59 $3.59

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.59 ERN 8.83

233.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.54 $31.54

$9.97 ERN 150

216.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$2.52 ERN 37.99

-63.49%

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

$30.1K $30.1K

$66.8K ERN 1.0M

-54.97%

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

$24.3K $24.3K

$70.8K ERN 1.1M

-65.65%

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

$160 $160

$25.04 ERN 377

537.70%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$69.0 ERN 1,038

-7.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.1 $71.1

$198 ERN 2,978

-64.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.47 $49.47

$26.53 ERN 399

86.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.00 $14.00

$4.90 ERN 73.7

185.71%

Cinema Ticket

$12.88 $12.88

$1.22 ERN 18.30

955.74%

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

$1,511 $1,511

$25.05 ERN 377

5932.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.0K $25.0K

$2,644 ERN 39.8K

847.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 $54.1

$135 ERN 2,037

-60.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.70 $43.70

$118 ERN 1,772

-62.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$202 ERN 3,037

-49.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$151 ERN 2,270

-21.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,173 $1,173

$249 ERN 3,743

371.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,096 $1,096

$200 ERN 3,006

448.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,290 $2,290

$445 ERN 6,698

414.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,998 $1,998

$418 ERN 6,297

377.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,540 $2,540

$1,271 ERN 19.1K

99.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 $2,264

$2,529 ERN 38.1K

-10.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,906 $3,906

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

-49.17%

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

Last update for Albuquerque, NM: August 31, 2026

Last update for Asmara: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,173 in Albuquerque, NM versus $249 in Asmara. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Albuquerque, NM versus $34.00 in Asmara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $404 vs $366 – making Asmara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 69% 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 $3,557 per month in Albuquerque, NM and $2,100 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,371 in Albuquerque, NM and $1,400 in Asmara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 101% less in Asmara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Asmara, where all-in costs run around $1,400, than in Albuquerque, NM at $2,371. 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.