Cost of living in Eritrea

Compare the cost of your home country to the actual living costs in Eritrea, simply select your home currency and see the difference!

All data is kept up to date by local members and actual students. Our latest update was on: 30th of June 2020

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Food			Price in ናቕፋ
12 eggs dozen, large			12.50 Nkf
1 beer pint in local shops, markets			7 Nkf
1 kg of tomatoes			8.50 Nkf
Full chicken 2kg			38.75 Nkf
1litre 100% fruit juice			8.50 Nkf
1 package of cigarettes imported brands			25 Nkf
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples			7.50 Nkf
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality			48.95 Nkf
2.5 liters of Coca-Cola			0.95 Nkf
1 Bread loaf standard			9.50 Nkf
Whole fat Yogurt. 500ml			12 Nkf
1x6 pack Dardanelle tuna			18.50 Nkf
Heinz baked beans 1 tin			8 Nkf
1.5 kg Sugar			10 Nkf
2 liter cooking oil			20 Nkf
Yum-yum noodles per pack			2.00 Nkf
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes			5.50 Nkf
1 liter milk			8.50 Nkf
Fast food restaurant large serving/ take away			25 Nkf
Housing
Utilities per month (water, electricity, gas) for 2 people in flat			165 Nkf
Wi-Fi monthly fee 8 Mbps (1 month)			145 Nkf
Laundry detergent (bleach, sunlight liquid, washing surf… altogether)			58.50 Nkf
House Cleaning fee per day			105 Nkf
Large Gas heater price range upwards.			200 Nkf
Original branded Electric Fans			200 Nkf
Original branded Electric kettle.			120 Nkf
40 inches Beko flat screen HD TV set			2000 Nkf
Single bed Blankets			120 Nkf
Personal Care
Avon for women and men cologne			100 Nkf
Ladies hair plaiting.			60 Nkf
Ladies Sanitaryware (Pads and Tampoons)			18 Nkf
Men's haircut			40 Nkf
Ibuprofen, Panadol, Grandpa Pain killers box of 12 dosses			24.50 Nkf
Mobile package local network providers’ talk-time, data and messages			65 Nkf
1 month of gym subscription.			105 Nkf
Earphones original (Samsung. iPhone)			90 Nkf
Unisex Loris perfume			30 Nkf
Gadgets maintenance and repairs (cellphone, laptops, tablets...) starting price.			100 Nkf
Smart phones (Samsung, Xiaomi, HTC, IPhone) price range upwards			1000 Nkf
Laptops (Samsung, Lenovo, Hp, Monster, Dell etc.) price range upwards			3000 Nkf
Entertainment
Boat cruise with refreshments and finger snacks			120 Nkf
Go carting 30mins			120 Nkf
Movie House 3d cinema			30 Nkf
Summer Festivals (jet, bumper cars, lucky deep ...(per ticket)			15 Nkf
Photo shoot			120 Nkf
Cappuccino / expresso/ coffee			12.50 Nkf
3 course dinner local restaurant two people			96.50 Nkf
3 course dinner classy, exotic restaurant two people			150 Nkf
Play station 4 console without games.			2000 Nkf
Spalding Basketball			200 Nkf
Original branded Racket and Wilson’s tennis balls			500 Nkf
Transportation
Taxi fare on average 5-10km			45 Nkf
Public transport per trip one way maximum fare			30 Nkf
1 liter petrol/diesel			6.50 Nkf
1 day rent a car cost			140 Nkf
Driver’s license			2300 Nkf
Clothes
1 pair of jeans (Denim or similar)			150 Nkf
1 pair of men’s formal shoes			215 Nkf
1 pair original sport/casual shoes (Nike, Adidas, or equivalent brands)			280 Nkf
1 classy summer dress (Zara, H&M or similar retailers)			135.79 Nkf
Ladies formal shoes original and durable			120 Nkf
Back-pack, gym bag (Nike, Adidas, New balance)			150 Nkf

The Overview

Cost of living here is realatively very cheap. Renting a one bedroom flat in the city here, costs around $150USD. Utility amount to half of that in addition, and other costs such as food, clothing, transportation, leisure are again about $250USD per month. This adds up to a total of a $400USD budget, which can be greatly reduced by choosing to stay in a hostel provided for students. The average budget in USD in Eritrea is as following:

• $400USD per month for a single person;
• $1000USD per month for a couple;
• $1500USD per month for a family with two children will do.

Restaurants

People here tend to spend their money in restaurants and Eritrean restaurants offer good food for reasonable prices. Still, if you do not earn much, these offers may not be considered cheap. Restaurants frequently offer drinks that are low priced, usually between $2USD ore even less.

Here is the average pricing;

Markets

The cost of living in Eritrea can be more affordable if do not eat out, but buying groceries and cooking at your own hostel than shopping at the local markets is even cheaper. Markets offer lower prices for domestic food, while the imported food may be a bit pricey.

Transportation

If you are in Eritrea, you’ll definitely need to travel around the country or in your city, either by bus, train, taxi or car. The great thing is that the transportation rates are quite affordable and public transport functions very well, considering the fact that the country has a well-developed road network.

Here is what you should expect;

Monthly Utilities

Besides paying for your rentals, the utilities are also necessary to be paid. The price of utilities can stagger around $150USD per month might not be considered too high. Mobile phone calls are affordable with rates as little $0.9/min.

Clothing and Shoes

When trying to find out the cost of clothes in Eritrea, you might be amazed that a pair of jeans can cost only $20. Leather is a bit more expensive, but still not too much in comparison to some other countries. For a good leather shoes you will need to pay around $50.

Monthly Budget

Those interested in simple living should budget between $450 or less monthly. Generally, this budget allows for bus rides and the occasional taxi, big trips to the  marketplace and a few restaurant meals each month. While you can choose to live in relative luxury, employing full-time housekeepers, commuting by car, enjoying exquisite homes and consuming imported goods such lifestyles can easily amount to $1000 or more monthly.