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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $735 per month in Eritrea vs $1,720 in Italy, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,093 per month in Eritrea vs $2,626 in Italy, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,451 per month in Eritrea vs $3,531 in Italy, rent included.

The cost of living in Eritrea is roughly 57% lower than in Italy on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Eritrea sits 45% below the global median, while Italy is 29% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.50 ERN 188
$17.16 €14.96
-27.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.52 ERN 458
$81.4 €70.9
-62.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.38 ERN 80.9
$11.60 €10.11
-53.62%
Cappuccino
$0.79 ERN 11.94
$1.98 €1.73
-60.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 ERN 28.31
$3.00 €2.62
-37.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 ERN 20.47
$1.36 €1.18
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 ERN 14.79
$5.92 €5.16
-83.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 ERN 29.34
$5.25 €4.58
-62.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 ERN 24.49
$1.70 €1.49
-4.12%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 ERN 7.80
$2.37 €2.07
-78.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 ERN 30.46
$3.03 €2.65
-33.00%
Eggs
$4.43 ERN 66.6
$3.95 €3.44
12.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.91 ERN 43.74
$16.66 €14.53
-82.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$26.98 ERN 405
$12.26 €10.68
120.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.95 ERN 149
$20.06 €17.49
-50.40%
Apples (1kg)
$12.08 ERN 181
$2.55 €2.23
373.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ERN 18.87
$2.20 €1.92
-42.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 ERN 28.95
$2.75 €2.40
-29.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.24 ERN 18.64
$3.22 €2.81
-61.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 ERN 26.62
$1.94 €1.69
-8.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 ERN 15.59
$1.82 €1.59
-42.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ERN 9.91
$1.48 €1.29
-55.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 ERN 32.78
$0.50 €0.43
336.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.05 ERN 30.78
$7.13 €6.21
-71.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.94 ERN 179
$7.37 €6.43
62.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 ERN 14.78
$1.76 €1.53
-44.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20 ERN 18.05
$2.53 €2.20
-52.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.15 ERN 2.21
$1.99 €1.73
-92.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 ERN 121
$42.32 €36.90
-81.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.69 ERN 10.41
$5.67 €4.94
-87.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 ERN 9.80
$1.52 €1.32
-57.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.11 ERN 122
$34.94 €30.46
-76.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 ERN 32.82
$2.09 €1.83
4.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$67.7K ERN 1.0M
$32.7K €28.5K
107.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$70.6K ERN 1.1M
$32.9K €28.7K
114.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$27.08 ERN 407
$227 €198
-88.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.2 ERN 1,009
$13.58 €11.84
394.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$199 ERN 2,982
$31.57 €27.52
528.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.78 ERN 402
$57.7 €50.3
-53.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.38 ERN 111
$25.23 €22.00
-70.75%
Cinema Ticket
$1.08 ERN 16.22
$10.59 €9.24
-89.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$25.43 ERN 382
$568 €495
-95.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,660 ERN 24.9K
$10.5K €9,187
-84.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.6 ERN 1,256
$90.7 €79.0
-7.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$73.9 ERN 1,110
$40.49 €35.30
82.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$198 ERN 2,976
$99.8 €87.0
98.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.0 ERN 1,441
$130 €113
-25.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 ERN 7,218
$865 €754
-44.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$406 ERN 6,099
$672 €586
-39.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$735 ERN 11.0K
$1,523 €1,328
-51.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$649 ERN 9,747
$1,078 €940
-39.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,262 ERN 19.0K
$3,767 €3,284
-66.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,251 ERN 33.8K
$2,360 €2,058
-4.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eritrea
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$497 ERN 7,469
$1,949 €1,699
-74.49%
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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Italy: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $240 in Eritrea vs $743 in Italy. For reference, capital cities sit at $481 in Asmara and $1,334 in Rome.

Average salary: $1,012 in Eritrea vs $1,912 in Italy. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 210% higher in Italy.

Dining out costs 393% more in Italy.

Public transport is 1000% more expensive in Italy.

Salaries are 89% higher in Italy, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Eritrea.

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 147% 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 147% 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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