Cost of Living Comparison Between Adama and Addis Ababa Cost of Living Comparison Between Adama and Addis Ababa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,093 per month in Adama vs $1,429 in Addis Ababa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,744 per month in Adama vs $2,079 in Addis Ababa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,395 per month in Adama vs $2,730 in Addis Ababa, rent included.

Adama is about 23% cheaper than Addis Ababa, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Adama sits 18% below the global median, while Addis Ababa is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.06 ETB 485

$4.44 ETB 704

-31.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.62 ETB 5,487

$35.55 ETB 5,634

-2.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.11 ETB 810

$6.67 ETB 1,058

-23.39%

Cappuccino

$1.27 ETB 202

$1.30 ETB 206

-2.31%

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

$0.69 ETB 110

$0.63 ETB 100

9.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ETB 49.47

$0.43 ETB 68.4

-27.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ETB 163

$0.97 ETB 154

6.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 ETB 486

$2.93 ETB 465

4.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 ETB 221

$1.46 ETB 231

-4.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 ETB 212

$1.33 ETB 211

0.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ETB 339

$2.15 ETB 341

-0.47%

Eggs

$2.48 ETB 394

$2.40 ETB 380

3.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.18 ETB 1,139

$7.12 ETB 1,128

0.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.83 ETB 2,192

$13.71 ETB 2,173

0.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.55 ETB 2,148

$13.07 ETB 2,071

3.67%

Apples (1kg)

$6.58 ETB 1,042

$6.66 ETB 1,055

-1.20%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 ETB 155

$1.04 ETB 165

-5.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.23 ETB 354

$2.19 ETB 348

1.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 ETB 144

$0.98 ETB 155

-7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 ETB 101

$0.63 ETB 99.9

1.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 ETB 287

$1.91 ETB 303

-5.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 ETB 102

$0.66 ETB 105

-3.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ETB 102

$0.68 ETB 108

-4.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ETB 652

$3.97 ETB 629

3.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.72 ETB 907

$5.68 ETB 901

0.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ETB 164

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ETB 291

$1.83 ETB 290

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ETB 69.8

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.19 ETB 1,932

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ETB 225

$1.43 ETB 226

-0.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.38

$0.29 ETB 46.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 ETB 322

$2.04 ETB 323

-0.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ETB 205

$1.25 ETB 198

3.20%

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

$55.5K ETB 8.8M

$55.6K ETB 8.8M

-0.11%

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

$53.7K ETB 8.5M

$54.3K ETB 8.6M

-1.20%

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

$159 ETB 25.1K

$163 ETB 25.8K

-2.42%

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

$12.06 ETB 1,912

$12.23 ETB 1,938

-1.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$129 ETB 20.4K

$129 ETB 20.5K

-0.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 ETB 11.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.29 ETB 5,752

Cinema Ticket

$5.59 ETB 886

$5.82 ETB 923

-3.95%

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

$81.2 ETB 12.9K

$80.5 ETB 12.8K

0.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$41.1K ETB 6.5M

$40.0K ETB 6.3M

2.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.90 ETB 7,434

$47.75 ETB 7,568

-1.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.5 ETB 11.8K

$74.4 ETB 11.8K

0.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.7 ETB 14.5K

$91.4 ETB 14.5K

0.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ETB 18.5K

$116 ETB 18.4K

0.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$502 ETB 79.6K

$732 ETB 116.0K

-31.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$297 ETB 47.0K

$511 ETB 81.1K

-41.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 ETB 160.9K

$1,816 ETB 287.9K

-44.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ETB 125.1K

$885 ETB 140.3K

-10.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,969 ETB 312.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$992 ETB 157.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$99.5 ETB 15.8K

$200 ETB 31.7K

-50.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Adama: July 12, 2026

Last update for Addis Ababa: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $502 in Adama versus $732 in Addis Ababa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 101% higher in Addis Ababa, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Adama versus $36.00 in Addis Ababa. Groceries tell a different story – $266 in Adama vs $265 in Addis Ababa – so Addis Ababa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Adama vs Addis Ababa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,093 in Adama, $1,429 in Addis Ababa – roughly 31% apart. Addis Ababa costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,640 per month in Adama and $2,143 in Addis Ababa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Adama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Adama and $36.00 in Addis Ababa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Addis Ababa – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Adama, where all-in costs run around $1,093, than in Addis Ababa at $1,429. In Adama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Addis Ababa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Adama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Adama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Addis Ababa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.