Armenia : Cost of Living by City
How Much Does It Cost to Live in Armenia?
When people think about moving to another country, Armenia might come to their minds and they might ask how much it costs to live there.
This mostly depends on your lifestyle and where you want to live, but most people would say that it is an unbelievably cheap country.
On average, it can be said that living expenses are significantly lower if compared to other cities.
Armenia has to offer a lot, with an incredibly low cost of living in a prosperous country, but only if you live a modest life.
Cost of Living Breakdown in Armenia
RESTAURANTS
People interested in eating out will be glad to hear that a meal at a restaurant can cost under $8 and the juices, domestic beers, and wines are also extremely inexpensive as well.
Living in Armenia and eating daily in restaurants is not very hard for tourists, as the prices are quite reasonable compared to the prices in Europe or America.
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $7.57 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $1.51 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.48 |
MARKETS
Fruit and vegetable lovers would feel satisfied to hear that the prices are so low that the cost of food at the local markets is almost negligible.
When you have a job, the prices at the local markets are based on to the average salary of the workers and they are rather cheap so that everyone can afford food for their families.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.37 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $0.62 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.17 |
TRANSPORTATION
Armenia is a country where you can live well even though you do not have much money.
Public transport is very inexpensive and every person can afford it.
Gasoline is also rather cheap in Armenia so you can afford to drive there, too, especially if you are earning your wage out of the country.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $0.25 |
| Monthly Pass | $10.96 |
| Gasoline | $1.31 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Unlike food, utilities and the Internet are not cheap in Armenia.
You have to spare at least $104 a month for basic utilities, such as heating, water, and electricity, and they are necessary.
On the other hand, Armenia has very clean and rather inexpensive phone lines.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $103.08 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.06 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $18.41 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
Sports people would not feel extremely satisfied with the fact that the fitness club’s monthly fee is rather high and compared to minimum wages, it can be considered excessive.
It is noticeable that amusement and leisure are considered luxuries in Armenia, so the prices are too high, but people still find ways to have fun.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $69.25 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $13.97 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $6.30 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
Life in Armenia is cheaper compared to some developed countries.
However, the prices of clothing and shoes are considered rather high in relation to the minimum wage.
If you earn $160 per month, it would be difficult to afford a pair of Nike running shoes which will take you half of your salary.
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $70.78 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $51.47 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $109.01 |
RENT PER MONTH
Living out of the center would be much more affordable as the costs can easily be cut down by half or more in comparison to the city centers.
If you decide not to spend so much money on rent, you can live cheaply outside of the capital.
On the other hand, the rent for a very spacious apartment in the center of the capital city Yerevan costs approximately $954, which again is not expensive if you get a salary from another country.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $954.47 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $630.64 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $1585.23 |
HEALTHCARE
Public healthcare coverage is limited, and private payments dominate.
Voluntary private insurance plans, when used, generally cost about 20 to 50 USD per month.
Out of pocket expenses are very high, averaging roughly 500 to 800 USD per person per year, covering most doctor visits, hospital care, and medications.
With average monthly salaries near 550 USD, healthcare costs can represent a heavy burden and often exceed 10 percent of annual income.
EDUCATION
Public schools do not charge tuition, but families pay for uniforms, books, and supplies.
University tuition varies by field and school; some programs at private institutions can cost several thousand dollars per year.
Typical additional costs for university students include housing, food, and transport.
The average wage in Armenia is approximately $775 per month, so tuition and living expenses at university represent a meaningful share of household income.
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Armenia?
Armenia has much to offer anyone for very little money.
The cost of survival in this country is particularly based on rent and markets and they take the greatest amount of income.
In all the other spheres, money is almost equally spent, meaning that people in Armenia devote money to their amusement at restaurants, sports, and utilities as well.
Clothing is not of such great importance to them, so they spend the least money on it if they have something left after all the obligatory expenses are paid.
Average Costs Breakdown
Armenia: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
In comparison to the minimum wage, it is noticeable that utilities cost a lot, and renting an apartment can take almost the whole wage.
There is a huge difference between the cities and rural areas when the prices of rent are in question, so those with lower salaries decide to live out of the city.
Still, they manage to survive and represent their country as a prosperous one.
Armenia is heaven for foreigners in terms of low and affordable prices, but that is not the case with its residents.
Armenia Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Armenia Safety Review
| OVERALL RISK | LOW |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | MEDIUM |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | LOW |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | MEDIUM |
| MUGGING RISK | LOW |
| TERRORISM RISK | LOW |
| SCAMS RISK | LOW |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | LOW |
| TAP WATER RISK | LOW |
Cost of Living by City in Armenia
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Yerevan |
33.16 |
Thank you! Great information!
actually is cheaper than lebanon ,amazing ,for an american Armenian is good place to live in ,instead of Lebanon ,my thoughts was lebanon then the rent is the more expensive ,in the city around the city i dont know ,thanks for the info the only thing Armenia is cold ,but more secure than Lebanon ,
The writer has done a great job of dispensing the information in a cohesive and concise manner.
Truly, well done on the presentation. Thank you
It’s a really good breakdown, although I don’t know if it’s full accurate. I have spent the same amount on groceries as I did in Switzerland (1 of the most expensive countries in the world). Im not buying meat for more than once a week and I’m buying seasonal fruit and veg. For the most part. I find that pretty extreme. This is more expensive than any other place I’ve lived in the world. Also it would be very difficult to find a 1 bedroom apartment that isn’t run down without really old/ugly furniture under $400. Other than these 2 factors everything’s else is spot on I’d say.
Good review
If you make your money abroad and want to live a full life close to all of europe, asia and middle east that is Armenia. Armenia is cheap, fun and very safe. For an expat like me who works from home and handles calls from the US. It makes total sense to live in Armenia.
I lived in Georgia before it got expensive and Turks started flooding Batumi.
Good Weldon i think the writter has done well armenia is a very beautiful country to stay, yeah living in armenia is good and fantastic i wish I was there
Living a modest life in Armenia sounds great, but I guess it’s all fun and games until you realize “modest” might mean ramen for dinner every night. The idea of a cheap country is enticing, but who knew living frugally could come with so many deliciously ironic costs?
Interesting perspective, but could you give real costs for monthly rent, groceries and utilities in Yerevan versus smaller towns and point out any hidden expenses like healthcare, taxes or visa fees that could make living there pricier than expected?