Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Eritrea

Name: Eritrea
Address: ER

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.

131

Cost of Living Index in the United States
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United States Living Index
66

Cost of Living Index in Eritrea
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Eritrea Living Index

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🇺🇸 United States

$2,734

/mo nomad

🇪🇷 Eritrea

$1,378

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

United States $2,734
Eritrea $1,378

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

United States $3,985
Eritrea $2,160

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

United States $5,235
Eritrea $2,943

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 the United States is about 98% higher than in Eritrea on average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.03 $20.03

$21.02 ERN 316

-4.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 $80.0

$34.23 ERN 515

133.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.80 $11.80

$5.56 ERN 83.8

112.23%

Cappuccino

$5.55 $5.55

$0.73 ERN 10.98

660.27%

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

$2.66 $2.66

$1.03 ERN 15.50

158.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.03 ERN 15.46

110.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 $6.12

$0.95 ERN 14.37

544.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 $7.94

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.56 ERN 23.45

-33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 $3.59

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$2.31 ERN 34.81

95.67%

Eggs

$4.28 $4.28

$4.34 ERN 65.4

-1.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.22 $13.22

$2.93 ERN 44.15

351.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.60 $12.60

$26.61 ERN 400

-52.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.60 $17.60

$9.89 ERN 149

77.96%

Apples (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$12.39 ERN 187

-57.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.25 ERN 18.86

35.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$1.98 ERN 29.83

124.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$1.16 ERN 17.41

311.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.85 ERN 27.86

60.54%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$0.96 ERN 14.45

228.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.28 ERN 34.37

3.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.98 $10.98

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$11.87 ERN 179

26.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.02 ERN 15.31

101.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 $3.79

$1.02 ERN 15.30

271.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.11 ERN 1.72

1663.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.4 $59.4

$7.97 ERN 120

645.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 $1.88

$0.62 ERN 9.38

203.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.84 $29.84

$9.95 ERN 150

199.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.48 ERN 37.28

-58.87%

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

$28.8K $28.8K

$66.4K ERN 999.6K

-56.70%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$70.5K ERN 1.1M

-62.84%

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

$218 $218

$25.16 ERN 379

766.30%

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

$62.5 $62.5

$68.1 ERN 1,024

-8.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.5 $74.5

$201 ERN 3,031

-63.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.86 $41.86

$26.52 ERN 399

57.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.81 $22.81

$5.12 ERN 77.0

345.51%

Cinema Ticket

$14.70 $14.70

$1.19 ERN 17.89

1135.29%

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

$1,489 $1,489

$25.46 ERN 383

5748.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.3K $25.3K

$2,622 ERN 39.5K

862.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 $54.3

$135 ERN 2,027

-59.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.71 $42.71

$121 ERN 1,818

-64.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 $94.1

$198 ERN 2,981

-52.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$149 ERN 2,242

-23.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,659 $1,659

$249 ERN 3,748

566.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,348 $1,348

$202 ERN 3,043

566.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,682 $2,682

$446 ERN 6,716

501.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,169 $2,169

$420 ERN 6,322

416.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,283 $3,283

$1,276 ERN 19.2K

157.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,482 $2,482

$2,295 ERN 34.5K

8.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,296 $4,296

$505 ERN 7,606

750.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

18.5

-64.59%

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

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Last update for Eritrea: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

United States

$1.3K 49.3%

Eritrea

$202 14.7% 85% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

United States

$415 15.2%

Eritrea

$363 * 26.3% 12.7% $53

Monthly Utilities & Internet

United States

$355 13%

Eritrea

$295 21.4% 17% $60

Eating Out

United States

$328 12%

Eritrea

$207 * 15% 37% $121

Clothing & Footwear

United States

$137 5%

Eritrea

$271 19.7% 97.8% $134

Getting Around

United States

$80 2.9%

Eritrea

$12 * 0.8% 85.6% $69

Sport & Entertainment

United States

$71 2.6%

Eritrea

$29 2.1% 59.4% $42

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

Cost Breakdown

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

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

🇺🇸 United States

🇪🇷 Eritrea

🕒 Local time

14:20 2:20 PM

21:20 9:20 PM

7 h ahead of the United States

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

340,110,988

3,497,000

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Eritrean Nakfa ERN ናቕፋ

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

100 ERN = 6.64 USD

100 ERN = 5.97 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ERN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇪🇷 Eritrean Nakfa (ናቕፋ)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

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).

ERN to USD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

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

From you

United States
Eritrea

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

United States vs Eritrea: 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.