Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanaa and Aden Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanaa and Aden

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $900 per month in Sanaa vs $1,401 in Aden, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,466 per month in Sanaa vs $2,398 in Aden, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,032 per month in Sanaa vs $3,394 in Aden, rent included.

Sanaa is about 36% cheaper than Aden, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sanaa sits 33% below the global median, while Aden is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.11 YER 1,455

$13.40 YER 3,193

-54.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.83 YER 5,440

$35.07 YER 8,358

-34.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.15 YER 2,418

$10.09 YER 2,405

0.59%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 YER 432

$4.30 YER 1,025

-57.91%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 YER 430

$3.71 YER 884

-51.48%

Cappuccino

$3.72 YER 888

$4.96 YER 1,183

-25.00%

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

$1.14 YER 273

$2.03 YER 485

-43.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 YER 110

$0.80 YER 191

-42.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 YER 455

$4.13 YER 984

-53.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 YER 287

$1.96 YER 467

-38.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.47 YER 589

$7.38 YER 1,759

-66.53%

Eggs

$4.03 YER 959

$5.82 YER 1,387

-30.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.86 YER 2,350

$11.25 YER 2,680

-12.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.82 YER 1,625

$16.84 YER 4,013

-59.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.15 YER 4,563

$39.24 YER 9,352

-51.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.92 YER 933

$9.50 YER 2,263

-58.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 YER 344

$2.58 YER 616

-44.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 YER 574

$7.85 YER 1,871

-69.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 YER 391

$3.54 YER 845

-53.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.70 YER 405

$3.43 YER 818

-50.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 YER 374

$3.23 YER 770

-51.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 YER 151

$0.65 YER 156

-1.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 YER 176

$1.47 YER 351

-49.66%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.28 YER 782

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 YER 394

$0.67 YER 159

146.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 YER 772

$1.89 YER 450

71.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.91 YER 932

$4.89 YER 1,165

-20.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 YER 101

$1.11 YER 266

-62.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$82.1 YER 19.6K

$40.49 YER 9,649

102.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.21 YER 1,004

$2.61 YER 622

61.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.99 YER 952

$1.96 YER 466

103.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.32 YER 1,745

$5.47 YER 1,303

33.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.68 YER 640

$3.74 YER 891

-28.34%

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

$16.4K YER 3.9M

$16.8K YER 4.0M

-1.91%

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

$33.5K YER 8.0M

$61.6K YER 14.7M

-45.60%

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

$72.3 YER 17.2K

$77.8 YER 18.5K

-7.05%

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

$13.70 YER 3,266

$9.90 YER 2,360

38.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.45 YER 9,163

$55.3 YER 13.2K

-30.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.6 YER 15.9K

$62.3 YER 14.8K

7.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.68 YER 3,975

$27.09 YER 6,456

-38.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.90 YER 1,405

$5.63 YER 1,341

4.80%

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

$116 YER 27.5K

$145 YER 34.7K

-20.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,808 YER 430.7K

$1,917 YER 456.7K

-5.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.29 YER 9,363

$98.0 YER 23.4K

-59.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$148 YER 35.2K

$102 YER 24.2K

45.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.65 YER 9,924

$157 YER 37.4K

-73.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.36 YER 10.1K

$185 YER 44.1K

-77.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 YER 39.8K

$241 YER 57.4K

-30.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.3 YER 22.7K

$178 YER 42.5K

-46.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$410 YER 97.8K

$545 YER 129.8K

-24.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 YER 63.2K

$517 YER 123.3K

-48.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 YER 982.5K

$1,258 YER 299.7K

227.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$819 YER 195.1K

$840 YER 200.1K

-2.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 YER 45.5K

$456 YER 108.6K

-58.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.25

12.67

-11.21%

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

Last update for Sanaa: May 30, 2026

Last update for Aden: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $167 in Sanaa versus $241 in Aden. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 138% higher in Aden, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Sanaa versus $35.00 in Aden. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $499 – making Sanaa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Sanaa vs Aden: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aden costs about 56% more than Sanaa, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,350 per month in Sanaa and $2,102 in Aden. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sanaa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Sanaa and $35.00 in Aden. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $900 in Sanaa and $1,401 in Aden. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sanaa, where all-in costs run around $900, than in Aden at $1,401. In Sanaa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Aden it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sanaa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Sanaa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aden makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.