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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,024 per month in Sanaa vs $1,850 in Aden, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,597 per month in Sanaa vs $2,958 in Aden, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,171 per month in Sanaa vs $4,066 in Aden, rent included.

Sanaa is about 45% cheaper than Aden, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sanaa sits 26% below the global median, while Aden is 35% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.18 YER 1,462

$12.84 YER 3,040

-51.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.63 YER 6,068

$35.59 YER 8,426

-27.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.77 YER 2,312

$10.12 YER 2,397

-3.46%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 YER 480

$3.58 YER 848

-43.30%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 YER 582

$4.37 YER 1,036

-43.71%

Cappuccino

$3.79 YER 897

$3.96 YER 938

-4.29%

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

$1.18 YER 280

$3.36 YER 795

-64.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 YER 153

$1.78 YER 421

-63.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 YER 472

$5.20 YER 1,230

-61.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.70 YER 403

$2.37 YER 560

-28.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 YER 486

$9.51 YER 2,252

-78.44%

Eggs

$3.53 YER 836

$10.24 YER 2,424

-65.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.06 YER 4,038

$10.75 YER 2,545

58.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.45 YER 2,001

$20.49 YER 4,851

-58.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.55 YER 4,391

$56.7 YER 13.4K

-67.26%

Apples (1kg)

$3.42 YER 809

$15.79 YER 3,737

-78.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 YER 241

$3.47 YER 822

-70.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 YER 523

$11.02 YER 2,609

-79.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 YER 369

$4.32 YER 1,023

-63.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 YER 347

$4.34 YER 1,027

-66.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 YER 312

$3.61 YER 855

-63.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 YER 283

$1.08 YER 255

11.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 YER 150

$1.44 YER 342

-56.25%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.32 YER 786

$6.20 YER 1,467

-46.45%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 YER 422

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 YER 812

$4.15 YER 983

-17.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.53 YER 1,309

$6.81 YER 1,612

-18.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 YER 103

$0.99 YER 235

-55.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.5 YER 19.8K

$91.6 YER 21.7K

-8.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.26 YER 1,009

$3.46 YER 818

23.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 YER 505

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.47 YER 1,769

$8.26 YER 1,955

-9.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.02 YER 479

$3.30 YER 781

-38.79%

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

$17.1K YER 4.0M

$17.1K YER 4.1M

-0.24%

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

$35.4K YER 8.4M

$62.2K YER 14.7M

-43.06%

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

$109 YER 25.9K

$88.0 YER 20.8K

24.31%

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

$23.95 YER 5,669

$10.04 YER 2,377

138.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 YER 23.8K

$125 YER 29.7K

-19.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.9 YER 15.6K

$74.6 YER 17.7K

-11.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.92 YER 3,768

$25.82 YER 6,112

-38.34%

Cinema Ticket

$5.85 YER 1,384

$5.82 YER 1,377

0.52%

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

$114 YER 27.0K

$123 YER 29.1K

-7.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,204 YER 521.7K

$4,799 YER 1.1M

-54.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.00 YER 9,943

$101 YER 24.0K

-58.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$122 YER 28.9K

$105 YER 24.9K

16.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.26 YER 11.2K

$162 YER 38.4K

-70.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.14 YER 9,501

$189 YER 44.8K

-78.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$218 YER 51.5K

$333 YER 78.9K

-34.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$96.3 YER 22.8K

$317 YER 75.1K

-69.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$408 YER 96.5K

$791 YER 187.2K

-48.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 YER 63.7K

$656 YER 155.2K

-58.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,221 YER 999.2K

$1,251 YER 296.2K

237.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$797 YER 188.7K

$846 YER 200.3K

-5.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 YER 45.2K

$467 YER 110.6K

-59.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.25

11.5

-2.17%

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

Last update for Sanaa: August 29, 2026

Last update for Aden: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $218 in Sanaa versus $333 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 145% 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 $26.00 in Sanaa versus $36.00 in Aden. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 vs $667 – 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 81% 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 $1,535 per month in Sanaa and $2,775 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 $26.00 in Sanaa and $36.00 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 $1,024 in Sanaa and $1,850 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 $1,024, than in Aden at $1,850. 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.