Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Asmara

Experience authentic local culture on a shoestring budget with hostels, street food, and public transport

Daily Budget: $26-68 per day

Complete breakdown of costs for budget/backpacker travel in Asmara

$10-25 per night

Basic guesthouses, budget hotels, shared rooms in local accommodations

$8-20 per day

Local eateries, street food, traditional injera meals, market food stalls

$3-8 per day

Local buses, shared taxis, walking, occasional bicycle rentals

$5-15 per day

Walking tours, local markets, free cultural sites, occasional museum entries

Currency: ERN Eritrean Eritrea (though USD is widely accepted and often preferred for tourism)

Curated experiences perfect for your budget/backpacker travel style

Eat at local markets and traditional eateries instead of tourist-oriented restaurants (typically 60-80% cheaper)

Use local buses and shared taxis rather than private transport (can save 70-85% on transportation costs)

Stay in locally-owned guesthouses outside the main tourist areas (generally 40-60% less expensive)

Visit cultural sites and markets during regular hours rather than booking guided tours (saves $20-50 per day)

Buy bottled water and snacks from local shops instead of hotels (typically 200-300% markup at hotels)

Negotiate taxi fares in advance and consider walking for short distances (can reduce transport costs by 50%)

Relying solely on hotel restaurants and tourist area dining (typically costs 150-250% more than local options)

Taking taxis for all transportation without trying local buses (can increase daily transport costs by 400-500%)

Not carrying small denominations for local purchases (often results in overpaying or inability to negotiate)

Booking last-minute accommodation during peak periods (can increase lodging costs by 100-200%)