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 $1,111 per month in Adama vs $1,383 in Addis Ababa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,770 per month in Adama vs $2,083 in Addis Ababa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,429 per month in Adama vs $2,783 in Addis Ababa, rent included.

Adama is about 20% cheaper than Addis Ababa, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Adama sits 17% below the global median, while Addis Ababa is 3% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.03 ETB 478

$4.55 ETB 718

-33.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.22 ETB 5,551

$35.04 ETB 5,522

0.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 ETB 790

$6.41 ETB 1,010

-21.84%

Cappuccino

$1.23 ETB 194

$1.24 ETB 196

-0.81%

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

$0.64 ETB 101

$0.69 ETB 109

-7.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ETB 45.70

$0.43 ETB 67.7

-32.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 ETB 155

$0.99 ETB 156

-1.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 ETB 478

$2.97 ETB 468

2.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 ETB 222

$1.44 ETB 228

-2.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 ETB 203

$1.33 ETB 210

-3.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ETB 335

$2.17 ETB 343

-1.84%

Eggs

$2.49 ETB 392

$2.43 ETB 383

2.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ETB 1,100

$7.29 ETB 1,148

-4.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.77 ETB 2,171

$13.73 ETB 2,164

0.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.54 ETB 2,134

$13.09 ETB 2,063

3.44%

Apples (1kg)

$6.80 ETB 1,072

$6.68 ETB 1,053

1.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ETB 163

$0.98 ETB 154

6.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 ETB 341

$2.19 ETB 345

-1.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 ETB 144

$0.99 ETB 157

-8.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ETB 99.1

$0.68 ETB 107

-7.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.88 ETB 297

$1.81 ETB 286

3.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ETB 104

$0.68 ETB 108

-2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ETB 107

$0.64 ETB 101

6.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.04 ETB 636

$4.02 ETB 633

0.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.56 ETB 876

$5.77 ETB 909

-3.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ETB 165

$0.99 ETB 156

6.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ETB 301

$1.89 ETB 298

1.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ETB 67.9

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.21 ETB 1,925

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 ETB 232

$1.48 ETB 234

-0.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.01

$0.27 ETB 42.16

7.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.95 ETB 307

$2.05 ETB 323

-4.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ETB 206

$1.24 ETB 195

5.65%

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

$55.8K ETB 8.8M

$55.4K ETB 8.7M

0.67%

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

$53.8K ETB 8.5M

$54.0K ETB 8.5M

-0.45%

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

$162 ETB 25.5K

$157 ETB 24.8K

2.86%

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

$12.17 ETB 1,917

$12.11 ETB 1,908

0.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$131 ETB 20.6K

$129 ETB 20.3K

1.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.5 ETB 11.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.71 ETB 5,786

Cinema Ticket

$5.74 ETB 904

$5.86 ETB 923

-2.05%

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

$80.8 ETB 12.7K

$81.1 ETB 12.8K

-0.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.5K ETB 6.4M

$41.1K ETB 6.5M

-1.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.03 ETB 7,412

$46.81 ETB 7,377

0.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.6 ETB 11.7K

$74.1 ETB 11.7K

0.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.0 ETB 14.7K

$93.3 ETB 14.7K

-0.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ETB 18.0K

$115 ETB 18.2K

-1.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 ETB 79.7K

$758 ETB 119.5K

-33.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 ETB 46.7K

$495 ETB 78.0K

-40.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$983 ETB 154.9K

$1,819 ETB 286.7K

-45.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$806 ETB 127.1K

$890 ETB 140.2K

-9.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,981 ETB 312.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,009 ETB 159.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$101 ETB 15.9K

$206 ETB 32.5K

-51.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Adama: May 31, 2026

Last update for Addis Ababa: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $506 in Adama versus $758 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 105% 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 $35.00 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: $1,111 in Adama, $1,383 in Addis Ababa – roughly 25% apart. Addis Ababa costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,666 per month in Adama and $2,075 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 $35.00 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 $1,111, than in Addis Ababa at $1,383. 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.