Cost of Living Comparison Between Eritrea and Italy Cost of Living Comparison Between Eritrea and Italy

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $689 per month in Eritrea vs $1,796 in Italy, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,083 per month in Eritrea vs $2,739 in Italy, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,477 per month in Eritrea vs $3,682 in Italy, rent included.

The cost of living in Eritrea is roughly 62% lower than in Italy on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Eritrea sits 50% below the global median, while Italy is 30% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.04 ERN 316
$21.24 €18.31
-0.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.65 ERN 520
$80.8 €69.7
-57.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.48 ERN 82.3
$11.41 €9.84
-51.97%
Cappuccino
$0.73 ERN 10.94
$2.08 €1.79
-64.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 ERN 14.58
$3.05 €2.63
-68.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 ERN 14.85
$1.38 €1.19
-28.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.96 ERN 14.37
$5.79 €4.99
-83.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.75 €4.96
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ERN 23.43
$1.70 €1.46
-8.24%
White Bread (500g)
-
$2.41 €2.08
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.33 ERN 35.02
$3.01 €2.59
-22.59%
Eggs
$4.47 ERN 67.1
$4.32 €3.72
3.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.98 ERN 44.72
$17.93 €15.45
-83.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$26.38 ERN 396
$12.67 €10.92
108.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.09 ERN 152
$20.57 €17.73
-50.95%
Apples (1kg)
$12.07 ERN 181
$2.62 €2.26
360.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 ERN 19.75
$2.15 €1.85
-39.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 ERN 30.63
$2.80 €2.41
-27.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 ERN 17.16
$3.32 €2.87
-65.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 ERN 26.74
$2.10 €1.81
-15.24%
Onion (1kg)
$0.90 ERN 13.55
$1.89 €1.63
-52.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.55 €1.33
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 ERN 32.35
$0.56 €0.48
283.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$7.16 €6.17
-
Wine (Bottle)
$12.23 ERN 184
$7.35 €6.33
66.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 ERN 15.25
$1.80 €1.55
-43.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 ERN 15.26
$2.41 €2.07
-57.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.12 ERN 1.78
$1.93 €1.66
-93.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.10 ERN 122
$45.24 €39.00
-82.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.74 €4.95
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ERN 8.72
$1.70 €1.47
-65.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.08 ERN 151
$35.25 €30.38
-71.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.57 ERN 38.65
$2.04 €1.76
25.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$66.9K ERN 1.0M
$37.5K €32.3K
78.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$69.4K ERN 1.0M
$37.1K €31.9K
87.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$25.13 ERN 377
$231 €199
-89.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.5 ERN 1,014
$12.34 €10.64
447.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$199 ERN 2,983
$31.17 €26.87
537.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.35 ERN 411
$55.2 €47.62
-50.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.86 ERN 73.0
$24.91 €21.47
-80.49%
Cinema Ticket
$1.22 ERN 18.32
$11.13 €9.59
-89.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$25.50 ERN 383
$568 €490
-95.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,585 ERN 38.8K
$12.5K €10.8K
-79.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$138 ERN 2,067
$93.0 €80.1
48.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$122 ERN 1,835
$39.82 €34.32
206.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$200 ERN 3,001
$104 €89.8
91.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 ERN 2,256
$135 €116
11.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$255 ERN 3,828
$852 €734
-70.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$200 ERN 3,003
$645 €556
-68.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$453 ERN 6,808
$1,449 €1,249
-68.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$424 ERN 6,364
$1,084 €935
-60.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,256 ERN 18.9K
$3,813 €3,287
-67.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,293 ERN 34.4K
$2,357 €2,032
-2.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 ERN 7,383
$1,933 €1,666
-74.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
18.5
3.57
418.21%

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

Last update for Eritrea: September 5, 2026

Last update for Italy: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $123 in Eritrea vs $755 in Italy. For reference, capital cities sit at $247 in Asmara and $1,247 in Rome.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 514% higher in Italy.

Dining out costs 347% more in Italy.

Public transport is 975% more expensive in Italy.

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
Eritrea vs Italy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Eritrea or Italy?
Eritrea is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 174% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Eritrea or in Italy?
Housing costs more in Italy, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Italy consistently has higher rents.
How do daily expenses compare in Eritrea vs Italy?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Eritrea, contributing to the overall 174% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Can you live in both Eritrea and Italy on $1,000 per month?
$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Eritrea, but in Italy it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Eritrea or Italy?
Eritrea is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

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