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 $1,032 per month in Adama vs $1,282 in Addis Ababa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,685 per month in Adama vs $1,880 in Addis Ababa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,338 per month in Adama vs $2,478 in Addis Ababa, rent included.

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

Both Adama and Addis Ababa are more affordable than the global median – Adama 25% lower, Addis Ababa 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.96 ETB 476

$4.11 ETB 659

-27.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.08 ETB 6,758

$42.92 ETB 6,894

-1.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.02 ETB 807

$6.45 ETB 1,036

-22.17%

Cappuccino

$0.88 ETB 142

$0.95 ETB 153

-7.37%

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

$0.59 ETB 95.1

$0.63 ETB 102

-6.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ETB 50.0

$0.68 ETB 109

-54.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.78 ETB 126

$0.82 ETB 132

-4.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ETB 357

$2.31 ETB 370

-3.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 ETB 131

$1.11 ETB 178

-26.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ETB 196

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 ETB 340

$2.17 ETB 349

-2.30%

Eggs

$1.81 ETB 291

$1.72 ETB 277

5.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.31 ETB 1,173

$7.51 ETB 1,206

-2.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.97 ETB 1,601

$10.16 ETB 1,631

-1.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.34 ETB 1,500

$9.17 ETB 1,472

1.85%

Apples (1kg)

$5.26 ETB 845

$5.25 ETB 843

0.19%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 ETB 111

$0.63 ETB 102

9.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.14 ETB 344

$2.20 ETB 353

-2.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 ETB 114

$0.70 ETB 113

1.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 ETB 73.7

$0.49 ETB 79.0

-6.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ETB 174

$1.09 ETB 175

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 ETB 104

$0.66 ETB 106

-1.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ETB 91.1

$0.58 ETB 92.4

-1.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.93 ETB 1,273

$8.04 ETB 1,291

-1.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.52 ETB 886

$5.68 ETB 913

-2.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ETB 116

$0.67 ETB 108

7.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 ETB 195

$1.27 ETB 203

-4.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ETB 83.3

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.84 ETB 3,347

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.34 ETB 215

$1.35 ETB 216

-0.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ETB 43.00

$0.29 ETB 46.58

-6.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 ETB 326

$1.95 ETB 313

4.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 ETB 142

$0.88 ETB 142

1.14%

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

$55.3K ETB 8.9M

$55.5K ETB 8.9M

-0.42%

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

$56.2K ETB 9.0M

$55.4K ETB 8.9M

1.53%

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

$206 ETB 33.1K

$208 ETB 33.4K

-1.11%

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

$7.19 ETB 1,155

$7.26 ETB 1,166

-0.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$212 ETB 34.0K

$211 ETB 33.8K

0.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.06 ETB 7,077

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.68 ETB 5,730

Cinema Ticket

$3.81 ETB 611

$3.73 ETB 599

2.14%

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

$136 ETB 21.8K

$137 ETB 22.0K

-0.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.2K ETB 4.8M

$30.5K ETB 4.9M

-1.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.57 ETB 5,391

$32.94 ETB 5,290

1.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.4 ETB 11.5K

$70.0 ETB 11.2K

1.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.5 ETB 12.4K

$77.8 ETB 12.5K

-0.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.5 ETB 13.1K

$82.5 ETB 13.3K

-1.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$350 ETB 56.3K

$721 ETB 115.7K

-51.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ETB 32.2K

$401 ETB 64.4K

-50.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,001 ETB 160.7K

$2,289 ETB 367.6K

-56.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$791 ETB 127.0K

$759 ETB 121.9K

4.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,954 ETB 313.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$996 ETB 160.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$102 ETB 16.3K

$200 ETB 32.2K

-49.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.5

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

Last update for Adama: August 29, 2026

Last update for Addis Ababa: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $350 in Adama versus $721 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 97% 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 $42.00 in Adama versus $43.00 in Addis Ababa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $208 vs $213 – making Adama the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $1,032 in Adama, $1,282 in Addis Ababa – roughly 24% apart. Addis Ababa costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,548 per month in Adama and $1,923 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 $42.00 in Adama and $43.00 in Addis Ababa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Addis Ababa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Adama, where all-in costs run around $1,032, than in Addis Ababa at $1,282. 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.