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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $737 per month in Eritrea vs $1,719 in Italy, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,103 per month in Eritrea vs $2,625 in Italy, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,468 per month in Eritrea vs $3,531 in Italy, rent included.

Eritrea is roughly 57% cheaper than Italy on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Eritrea sits 45% below the global median, while Italy is 28% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.31 ERN 185
$17.02 €14.76
-27.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.56 ERN 444
$82.3 €71.4
-64.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.54 ERN 83.2
$11.62 €10.07
-52.32%
Cappuccino
$0.81 ERN 12.12
$1.91 €1.66
-57.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ERN 26.89
$3.02 €2.62
-40.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 ERN 19.83
$1.31 €1.14
0.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 ERN 14.70
$5.81 €5.04
-83.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ERN 30.78
$5.12 €4.44
-59.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 ERN 23.72
$1.64 €1.43
-3.66%
White Bread (500g)
$0.48 ERN 7.20
$2.42 €2.10
-80.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 ERN 29.47
$2.92 €2.53
-32.88%
Eggs
$4.44 ERN 66.8
$4.12 €3.57
7.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.98 ERN 44.81
$16.70 €14.48
-82.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$26.43 ERN 397
$12.60 €10.93
109.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.08 ERN 152
$20.61 €17.87
-51.09%
Apples (1kg)
$12.05 ERN 181
$2.48 €2.15
385.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 ERN 19.60
$2.15 €1.86
-39.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 ERN 28.60
$2.72 €2.36
-30.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.24 ERN 18.67
$3.25 €2.82
-61.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 ERN 26.63
$1.94 €1.68
-8.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.05 ERN 15.84
$1.81 €1.57
-41.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ERN 10.51
$1.48 €1.28
-52.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 ERN 31.60
$0.54 €0.47
288.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.95 ERN 29.36
$6.82 €5.91
-71.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.77 ERN 177
$7.33 €6.36
60.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 ERN 15.21
$1.80 €1.56
-43.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 ERN 17.36
$2.54 €2.21
-54.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.14 ERN 2.17
$2.01 €1.74
-93.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 ERN 123
$41.70 €36.16
-80.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 ERN 10.56
$5.90 €5.12
-88.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.62 ERN 9.26
$1.52 €1.31
-59.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.32 ERN 125
$34.23 €29.69
-75.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 ERN 32.85
$2.13 €1.84
2.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$66.6K ERN 1.0M
$32.8K €28.5K
103.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$69.1K ERN 1.0M
$33.5K €29.1K
106.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$27.48 ERN 413
$226 €196
-87.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.5 ERN 1,015
$13.32 €11.55
407.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$200 ERN 3,008
$31.26 €27.11
540.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.60 ERN 400
$56.9 €49.34
-53.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.40 ERN 111
$25.71 €22.30
-71.22%
Cinema Ticket
$1.09 ERN 16.32
$10.35 €8.98
-89.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$25.21 ERN 379
$579 €502
-95.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,653 ERN 24.8K
$10.5K €9,135
-84.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.2 ERN 1,236
$90.2 €78.2
-8.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$75.3 ERN 1,132
$40.79 €35.38
84.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$198 ERN 2,971
$98.7 €85.6
100.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.5 ERN 1,421
$133 €115
-28.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ERN 7,252
$853 €740
-43.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$400 ERN 6,009
$667 €578
-40.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$720 ERN 10.8K
$1,517 €1,315
-52.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$652 ERN 9,803
$1,083 €939
-39.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,277 ERN 19.2K
$3,767 €3,266
-66.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,279 ERN 34.3K
$2,403 €2,084
-5.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ERN 7,418
$1,986 €1,722
-75.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
4.41
172.11%

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

Last update for Eritrea: June 8, 2026

Last update for Italy: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $242 in Eritrea vs $742 in Italy. For reference, capital cities sit at $483 in Asmara and $1,368 in Rome.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 207% higher in Italy.

Dining out costs 393% more in Italy.

Public transport is 1000% 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 145% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Eritrea or 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 145% 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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