Cost of Living Comparison Between Adama and Assela Cost of Living Comparison Between Adama and Assela

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,093 per month in Adama vs $817 in Assela, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,744 per month in Adama vs $1,242 in Assela, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,395 per month in Adama vs $1,667 in Assela, rent included.

Adama costs about 34% more than Assela, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Adama and Assela are more affordable than the global median – Adama 18% lower, Assela 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.06 ETB 485

$4.59 ETB 727

-33.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.62 ETB 5,487

$35.32 ETB 5,599

-1.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.11 ETB 810

$6.54 ETB 1,036

-21.87%

Cappuccino

$1.27 ETB 202

$1.30 ETB 205

-2.31%

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

$0.69 ETB 110

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ETB 49.47

$0.47 ETB 74.2

-34.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ETB 163

$1.01 ETB 160

1.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 ETB 486

$3.08 ETB 488

-0.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 ETB 221

$1.38 ETB 219

1.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 ETB 212

$1.32 ETB 210

1.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ETB 339

$2.12 ETB 336

0.94%

Eggs

$2.48 ETB 394

$2.49 ETB 395

-0.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.18 ETB 1,139

$6.98 ETB 1,106

2.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.83 ETB 2,192

$13.67 ETB 2,166

1.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.55 ETB 2,148

$13.17 ETB 2,087

2.89%

Apples (1kg)

$6.58 ETB 1,042

$6.72 ETB 1,064

-2.08%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 ETB 155

$1.02 ETB 161

-3.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.23 ETB 354

$2.27 ETB 360

-1.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 ETB 144

$0.99 ETB 157

-8.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 ETB 101

$0.68 ETB 108

-5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 ETB 287

$1.92 ETB 304

-5.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 ETB 102

$0.69 ETB 109

-7.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ETB 102

$0.68 ETB 108

-4.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ETB 652

$3.95 ETB 626

4.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.72 ETB 907

$5.66 ETB 897

1.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ETB 164

$0.99 ETB 157

5.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ETB 291

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ETB 225

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.38

$0.29 ETB 46.54

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 ETB 322

$2.05 ETB 325

-0.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ETB 205

$1.30 ETB 206

-0.77%

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

$55.5K ETB 8.8M

$54.0K ETB 8.6M

2.84%

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

$53.7K ETB 8.5M

$53.8K ETB 8.5M

-0.30%

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

$159 ETB 25.1K

$157 ETB 24.9K

1.03%

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

$12.06 ETB 1,912

$12.04 ETB 1,909

0.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$129 ETB 20.4K

$129 ETB 20.5K

-0.41%

Cinema Ticket

$5.59 ETB 886

$5.76 ETB 914

-2.95%

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

$81.2 ETB 12.9K

$80.2 ETB 12.7K

1.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$41.1K ETB 6.5M

$39.8K ETB 6.3M

3.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.90 ETB 7,434

$46.74 ETB 7,409

0.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.5 ETB 11.8K

$73.9 ETB 11.7K

0.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.7 ETB 14.5K

$94.5 ETB 15.0K

-2.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ETB 18.5K

$113 ETB 17.8K

3.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$502 ETB 79.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$297 ETB 47.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 ETB 160.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ETB 125.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$99.5 ETB 15.8K

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 Assela: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Adama versus $35.00 in Assela. Groceries tell a different story – $266 in Adama vs $265 in Assela – so Assela 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 Assela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,093 in Adama, $817 in Assela – roughly 34% apart. Adama costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,640 per month in Adama and $1,225 in Assela. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 0% more in Adama, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Assela, where all-in costs run around $817, than in Adama at $1,093. In Assela it covers expenses comfortably, while in Adama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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