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 $2,253 per month in Albuquerque, NM vs $1,475 in Asmara, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,513 per month in Albuquerque, NM vs $2,207 in Asmara, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,773 per month in Albuquerque, NM vs $2,938 in Asmara, rent included.

Albuquerque, NM costs about 53% more than Asmara, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Albuquerque, NM and Asmara sit above the global median – Albuquerque, NM by 68%, Asmara by 10%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.37 $17.37

$12.41 ERN 186

39.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.3 $80.3

$29.57 ERN 444

171.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.09 $10.09

$5.89 ERN 88.4

71.31%

Cappuccino

$5.36 $5.36

$0.79 ERN 11.86

578.48%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$1.84 ERN 27.67

48.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.37 ERN 20.52

29.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.89 $5.89

$1.02 ERN 15.32

477.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.82 $7.82

$2.01 ERN 30.18

289.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.65 ERN 24.77

-35.76%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 $2.86

$0.51 ERN 7.66

460.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$1.93 ERN 29.02

70.98%

Eggs

$4.46 $4.46

$4.41 ERN 66.1

1.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.63 $12.63

$3.03 ERN 45.49

316.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.06 $10.06

$26.43 ERN 396

-61.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.41 $20.41

$10.11 ERN 152

101.88%

Apples (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$12.13 ERN 182

-58.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.31 ERN 19.71

5.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$1.87 ERN 28.05

96.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$1.26 ERN 18.84

250.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.79 ERN 26.84

34.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.09 ERN 16.41

127.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.64 ERN 9.57

204.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.13 ERN 31.95

9.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.81 $9.81

$2.02 ERN 30.37

385.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.95 $13.95

$12.09 ERN 181

15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$0.99 ERN 14.82

80.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.19 ERN 17.81

128.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.14 ERN 2.05

1357.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.21 ERN 123

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 $3.45

$0.64 ERN 9.62

439.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 $1.79

$0.62 ERN 9.23

188.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.38 $29.38

$8.08 ERN 121

263.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$2.13 ERN 31.98

-61.03%

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

$31.1K $31.1K

$65.8K ERN 987.2K

-52.79%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$69.5K ERN 1.0M

-63.32%

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

$184 $184

$27.37 ERN 411

572.74%

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

$52.2 $52.2

$67.2 ERN 1,008

-22.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.2 $69.2

$201 ERN 3,015

-65.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.62 $44.62

$27.11 ERN 407

64.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.88 $4.88

$7.42 ERN 111

-34.23%

Cinema Ticket

$13.59 $13.59

$1.09 ERN 16.33

1146.79%

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

$1,212 $1,212

$24.59 ERN 369

4829.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,005 $6,005

$1,681 ERN 25.2K

257.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.6 $52.6

$81.6 ERN 1,224

-35.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.1 $51.1

$76.5 ERN 1,147

-33.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.0 $95.0

$204 ERN 3,055

-53.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$96.3 ERN 1,444

19.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,157 $1,157

$473 ERN 7,091

144.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 $1,072

$396 ERN 5,947

170.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,230 $2,230

$721 ERN 10.8K

209.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,986 $1,986

$659 ERN 9,889

201.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,529 $2,529

$1,278 ERN 19.2K

97.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,243 $2,243

$2,478 ERN 37.2K

-9.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,971 $3,971

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: April 22, 2026

Last update for Asmara: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,157 in Albuquerque, NM versus $473 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 $80 in Albuquerque, NM versus $30 in Asmara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $380 vs $368 – 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 53% more than Asmara, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,380 per month in Albuquerque, NM and $2,213 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 $80.0 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.

Groceries cost about 3% more in Albuquerque, NM, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Asmara, where all-in costs run around $1,475, than in Albuquerque, NM at $2,253. 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.