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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.28 ERN 320

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.91 ERN 510

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.15 ERN 92.6

Cappuccino

$0.83 ERN 12.46

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

$0.98 ERN 14.80

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 ERN 14.88

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.58 ERN 8.78

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 ERN 23.85

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.37 ERN 35.61

Eggs

$4.26 ERN 64.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.93 ERN 44.08

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$27.34 ERN 411

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.91 ERN 149

Apples (1kg)

$12.25 ERN 184

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 ERN 18.80

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 ERN 29.69

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 ERN 17.13

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 ERN 27.79

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 ERN 13.63

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 ERN 34.24

Wine (Bottle)

$12.11 ERN 182

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ERN 15.38

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 ERN 14.79

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.11 ERN 1.67

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.82 ERN 118

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.59 ERN 8.83

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.97 ERN 150

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.52 ERN 37.99

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

$66.8K ERN 1.0M

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

$70.8K ERN 1.1M

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

$25.04 ERN 377

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

$69.0 ERN 1,038

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$198 ERN 2,978

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.53 ERN 399

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.90 ERN 73.7

Cinema Ticket

$1.22 ERN 18.30

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

$25.05 ERN 377

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,644 ERN 39.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$135 ERN 2,037

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$118 ERN 1,772

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$202 ERN 3,037

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$151 ERN 2,270

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$249 ERN 3,743

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ERN 3,006

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 ERN 6,698

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$418 ERN 6,297

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,271 ERN 19.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,529 ERN 38.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Massawa: August 29, 2026

Last update for Asmara: August 30, 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

Massawa vs Asmara: 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, Massawa and Asmara 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.