"The price level and black market" Top 5 Page for this destination Asmara Favorite Tip by georeiser

Fondest memory: The black market is a big industry in Asmara. Money exhange on the illegal black marked gives twice as good rate than the official rate. Then it's the cheapest country in East-Africa together with Ethiopia. If not the price level is the same as Namibia and Botswana.

Tips: You have to declare your money on a customs receipt when you enter the country. But write down less money than you really have. Keep the customs receipt. At the official exhange offices, change f.ex 100 USD and sign on the custom receipt. Then wait to change the rest of your money at the black market untill you trust somebody you can ask. F.ex. the guy behind the hotel recepcion or the owner of a shop in the downtown. Note that the customs at Asmara airport will ask you to show the custom receipt, and they will also see the money you have left.