Cost of Living Comparison Between Asmara and Massawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Asmara and Massawa

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.50 ERN 188

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.48 ERN 443

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.86 ERN 88.0

Cappuccino

$0.80 ERN 12.03

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

$1.88 ERN 28.22

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 ERN 20.18

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ERN 15.41

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ERN 29.89

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ERN 24.95

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 ERN 7.23

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 ERN 29.60

Eggs

$4.47 ERN 67.2

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.06 ERN 46.03

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$26.59 ERN 400

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.04 ERN 151

Apples (1kg)

$12.00 ERN 180

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 ERN 18.83

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ERN 29.19

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 ERN 18.81

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 ERN 26.22

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ERN 16.46

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ERN 9.91

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 ERN 32.98

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 ERN 30.28

Wine (Bottle)

$22.69 ERN 341

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ERN 15.26

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 ERN 18.09

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 ERN 2.10

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.78 ERN 117

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 ERN 10.39

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 ERN 9.75

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ERN 122

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.19 ERN 32.93

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

$65.5K ERN 984.5K

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

$70.5K ERN 1.1M

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

$27.41 ERN 412

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

$67.3 ERN 1,012

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$196 ERN 2,953

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.92 ERN 405

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.69 ERN 116

Cinema Ticket

$1.07 ERN 16.06

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

$24.81 ERN 373

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,664 ERN 25.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.5 ERN 1,255

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.8 ERN 1,139

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$197 ERN 2,956

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.1 ERN 1,414

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 ERN 7,156

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$398 ERN 5,980

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$729 ERN 11.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$647 ERN 9,729

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,230 ERN 33.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,233 ERN 33.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$997 ERN 15.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Asmara: July 11, 2026

Last update for Massawa: July 13, 2026

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

Asmara vs Massawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For families, Massawa is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Asmara, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Asmara and Massawa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Massawa wins on affordability, Asmara on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.