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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.52 ERN 188

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.40 ERN 457

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.14 ERN 92.3

Cappuccino

$0.74 ERN 11.10

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

$1.88 ERN 28.26

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 ERN 20.45

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ERN 15.32

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ERN 30.67

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 ERN 23.95

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 ERN 7.36

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 ERN 29.13

Eggs

$4.44 ERN 66.8

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.05 ERN 45.80

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$26.68 ERN 401

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.09 ERN 152

Apples (1kg)

$12.27 ERN 184

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 ERN 18.79

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ERN 28.63

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ERN 17.79

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 ERN 26.68

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ERN 15.86

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 ERN 9.78

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 ERN 32.83

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 ERN 29.55

Wine (Bottle)

$11.95 ERN 180

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ERN 15.19

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 ERN 17.87

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 ERN 2.11

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.04 ERN 121

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 ERN 10.23

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ERN 9.23

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.27 ERN 124

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.18 ERN 32.83

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

$65.8K ERN 988.7K

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

$69.2K ERN 1.0M

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

$27.01 ERN 406

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

$67.8 ERN 1,019

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$201 ERN 3,018

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.53 ERN 414

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.68 ERN 115

Cinema Ticket

$1.13 ERN 17.00

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

$25.33 ERN 381

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,678 ERN 25.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.0 ERN 1,217

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.2 ERN 1,115

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$197 ERN 2,962

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.8 ERN 1,425

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ERN 7,017

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 ERN 6,083

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$737 ERN 11.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ERN 9,908

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,247 ERN 18.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,483 ERN 37.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Massawa: May 31, 2026

Last update for Asmara: June 1, 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.