Cost of Living Comparison Between Adama and Bahir Dar Cost of Living Comparison Between Adama and Bahir Dar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,032 per month in Adama vs $373 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,685 per month in Adama vs $573 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,338 per month in Adama vs $772 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Adama costs about 176% more than Bahir Dar, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Adama and Bahir Dar are more affordable than the global median – Adama 25% lower, Bahir Dar 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.96 ETB 476

$3.40 ETB 546

-12.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.08 ETB 6,758

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.02 ETB 807

Cappuccino

$0.88 ETB 142

$1.01 ETB 163

-12.87%

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

$0.59 ETB 95.1

$0.41 ETB 66.3

43.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ETB 50.0

$0.51 ETB 82.3

-39.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.78 ETB 126

$0.74 ETB 119

5.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ETB 357

$1.95 ETB 313

13.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 ETB 131

$0.98 ETB 157

-16.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ETB 196

$0.97 ETB 156

25.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 ETB 340

$1.02 ETB 164

107.84%

Eggs

$1.81 ETB 291

$1.71 ETB 275

5.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.31 ETB 1,173

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.97 ETB 1,601

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.34 ETB 1,500

$9.83 ETB 1,579

-4.98%

Apples (1kg)

$5.26 ETB 845

$3.08 ETB 495

70.78%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 ETB 111

$1.01 ETB 163

-31.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.14 ETB 344

$2.03 ETB 326

5.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 ETB 114

$0.78 ETB 125

-8.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 ETB 73.7

$0.64 ETB 103

-28.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ETB 174

$1.16 ETB 187

-6.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 ETB 104

$1.03 ETB 165

-36.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ETB 91.1

$0.52 ETB 83.7

9.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.93 ETB 1,273

Wine (Bottle)

$5.52 ETB 886

$3.96 ETB 636

39.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ETB 116

$0.78 ETB 125

-7.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 ETB 195

$1.94 ETB 312

-37.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.34 ETB 215

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ETB 43.00

$0.49 ETB 78.3

-44.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 ETB 326

$2.05 ETB 329

-0.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 ETB 142

$0.99 ETB 159

-10.10%

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

$55.3K ETB 8.9M

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

$56.2K ETB 9.0M

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

$206 ETB 33.1K

$100 ETB 16.1K

105.49%

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

$7.19 ETB 1,155

$9.81 ETB 1,575

-26.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$212 ETB 34.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.32 ETB 7,920

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$59.3 ETB 9,523

Cinema Ticket

$3.81 ETB 611

$5.85 ETB 940

-34.87%

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

$136 ETB 21.8K

$49.73 ETB 7,986

173.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.2K ETB 4.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.57 ETB 5,391

$49.08 ETB 7,883

-31.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.4 ETB 11.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.5 ETB 12.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.5 ETB 13.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$350 ETB 56.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ETB 32.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,001 ETB 160.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$791 ETB 127.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ETB 320.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,505 ETB 241.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$102 ETB 16.3K

$202 ETB 32.5K

-49.67%

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 Bahir Dar: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 99% higher in Bahir Dar, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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 Bahir Dar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,032 in Adama, $373 in Bahir Dar – roughly 176% apart. Adama costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,548 per month in Adama and $560 in Bahir Dar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $136 per month in Adama and $49.73 in Bahir Dar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,032 in Adama and $373 in Bahir Dar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bahir Dar, where all-in costs run around $373, than in Adama at $1,032. In Bahir Dar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Adama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bahir Dar – 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 Bahir Dar. 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.