Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Eritrea and the United States

Name: United States
Address: US

For one person, living is cheaper in Eritrea: $1,378 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $16,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

66

Cost of Living Index in Eritrea
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Eritrea Living Index
131

Cost of Living Index in the United States
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United States Living Index

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🇪🇷 Eritrea

$1,378

/mo nomad

🇺🇸 United States

$2,734

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Eritrea and in the United States

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Eritrea and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,378 per month in Eritrea vs $2,734 in the United States, rent included.

Eritrea $1,378
United States $2,734

A couple spends around $2,160 per month in Eritrea vs $3,985 in the United States, rent included.

Eritrea $2,160
United States $3,985

A family of three spends $2,943 per month in Eritrea vs $5,235 in the United States, rent included.

Eritrea $2,943
United States $5,235

The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($979–$5,160) than in Eritrea ($1,387–$1,387), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in Eritrea is roughly 50% lower than in the United States on average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.02 ERN 316

$20.03 $20.03

4.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.23 ERN 515

$80.0 $80.0

-57.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.56 ERN 83.8

$11.80 $11.80

-52.88%

Cappuccino

$0.73 ERN 10.98

$5.55 $5.55

-86.85%

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

$1.03 ERN 15.50

$2.66 $2.66

-61.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 ERN 15.46

$2.17 $2.17

-52.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.95 ERN 14.37

$6.12 $6.12

-84.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 $7.94

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 ERN 23.45

$1.04 $1.04

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 $3.59

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.31 ERN 34.81

$4.52 $4.52

-48.89%

Eggs

$4.34 ERN 65.4

$4.28 $4.28

1.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.93 ERN 44.15

$13.22 $13.22

-77.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$26.61 ERN 400

$12.60 $12.60

111.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.89 ERN 149

$17.60 $17.60

-43.81%

Apples (1kg)

$12.39 ERN 187

$5.30 $5.30

133.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 ERN 18.86

$1.69 $1.69

-26.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 ERN 29.83

$4.44 $4.44

-55.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ERN 17.41

$4.77 $4.77

-75.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 ERN 27.86

$2.97 $2.97

-37.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 ERN 14.45

$3.15 $3.15

-69.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 ERN 34.37

$2.35 $2.35

-2.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.98 $10.98

Wine (Bottle)

$11.87 ERN 179

$15.05 $15.05

-21.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ERN 15.31

$2.06 $2.06

-50.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 ERN 15.30

$3.79 $3.79

-73.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.11 ERN 1.72

$1.94 $1.94

-94.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.97 ERN 120

$59.4 $59.4

-86.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 ERN 9.38

$1.88 $1.88

-67.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.95 ERN 150

$29.84 $29.84

-66.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.48 ERN 37.28

$1.02 $1.02

143.14%

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

$66.4K ERN 999.6K

$28.8K $28.8K

130.97%

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

$70.5K ERN 1.1M

$26.2K $26.2K

169.08%

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

$25.16 ERN 379

$218 $218

-88.46%

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

$68.1 ERN 1,024

$62.5 $62.5

8.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$201 ERN 3,031

$74.5 $74.5

170.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.52 ERN 399

$41.86 $41.86

-36.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.12 ERN 77.0

$22.81 $22.81

-77.55%

Cinema Ticket

$1.19 ERN 17.89

$14.70 $14.70

-91.90%

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

$25.46 ERN 383

$1,489 $1,489

-98.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,622 ERN 39.5K

$25.3K $25.3K

-89.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$135 ERN 2,027

$54.3 $54.3

147.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$121 ERN 1,818

$42.71 $42.71

182.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$198 ERN 2,981

$94.1 $94.1

110.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 ERN 2,242

$114 $114

31.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$249 ERN 3,748

$1,659 $1,659

-84.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 ERN 3,043

$1,348 $1,348

-84.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$446 ERN 6,716

$2,682 $2,682

-83.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 ERN 6,322

$2,169 $2,169

-80.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,276 ERN 19.2K

$3,283 $3,283

-61.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 ERN 34.5K

$2,482 $2,482

-7.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 ERN 7,606

$4,296 $4,296

-88.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.5

6.55

182.44%

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

Last update for Eritrea: October 25, 2026

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Eritrea

$363 * 26.3%

United States

$415 15.2% 14.5% $53

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Eritrea

$295 21.4%

United States

$355 13% 20.5% $60

Clothing & Footwear

Eritrea

$271 19.7%

United States

$137 5% 49.4% $134

Eating Out

Eritrea

$207 * 15%

United States

$328 12% 58.7% $121

Accommodation & Living

Eritrea

$202 14.7%

United States

$1.3K 49.3% 566% $1.1K

Sport & Entertainment

Eritrea

$29 2.1%

United States

$71 2.6% 147% $42

Getting Around

Eritrea

$12 * 0.8%

United States

$80 2.9% 594% $69

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $252 in Eritrea vs $1,620 in the United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $252 in Asmara and $2,768 in Washington, DC.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 543% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 121% more in the United States.

Public transport is 688% more expensive in the United States.

Good to know

🇪🇷 Eritrea

🇺🇸 United States

🕒 Local time

13:22 1:22 PM

06:22 6:22 AM

7 h behind Eritrea

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

3,497,000

340,110,988

💱 Currency

Eritrean Nakfa ERN ናቕፋ

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

100 ERN = 6.64 USD

100 ERN = 5.97 EUR

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ERN – Eritrean Nakfa Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇪🇷 Eritrean Nakfa (ናቕፋ)

Eritrean Nakfa exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 15.05 ERN (100 ERN = 6.64 USD). 1 EUR = 16.75 ERN (100 ERN = 5.97 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

USD to ERN in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Eritrea United States 11,990 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight

From you

Eritrea
United States

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Eritrea is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 50% lower on average.

Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 versus $252 in Eritrea.

Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Eritrea, adding to the overall 98% price gap.

Eritrea is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.