Cost of Living Comparison Between Adama and Hawassa Cost of Living Comparison Between Adama and Hawassa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,078 per month in Adama vs $823 in Hawassa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,761 per month in Adama vs $1,230 in Hawassa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,443 per month in Adama vs $1,637 in Hawassa, rent included.

Adama costs about 31% more than Hawassa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Adama and Hawassa are more affordable than the global median – Adama 19% lower, Hawassa 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 ETB 483

$4.46 ETB 713

-32.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.39 ETB 5,651

$34.65 ETB 5,534

2.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ETB 794

$6.53 ETB 1,044

-23.89%

Cappuccino

$1.25 ETB 199

$1.28 ETB 205

-2.34%

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

$0.64 ETB 102

$0.64 ETB 103

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ETB 50.2

$0.44 ETB 69.8

-29.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 ETB 157

$1.02 ETB 163

-3.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 ETB 469

$3.06 ETB 488

-3.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ETB 221

$1.39 ETB 223

-0.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ETB 213

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ETB 343

$0.99 ETB 158

117.17%

Eggs

$2.50 ETB 399

$1.58 ETB 253

58.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.94 ETB 1,109

$7.01 ETB 1,119

-1.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.03 ETB 2,241

$13.95 ETB 2,227

0.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.32 ETB 2,128

$13.27 ETB 2,118

0.38%

Apples (1kg)

$6.70 ETB 1,070

$6.81 ETB 1,088

-1.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 ETB 163

$1.03 ETB 165

-0.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 ETB 359

$2.28 ETB 364

-1.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.97 ETB 154

$1.00 ETB 159

-3.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 ETB 108

$0.63 ETB 100

7.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.84 ETB 294

$1.91 ETB 306

-3.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 ETB 102

$0.70 ETB 112

-8.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ETB 102

$0.63 ETB 101

1.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.89 ETB 622

$3.88 ETB 620

0.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.66 ETB 903

$5.46 ETB 871

3.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ETB 160

$1.00 ETB 159

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ETB 291

$1.92 ETB 307

-5.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ETB 240

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.69

$0.27 ETB 42.71

7.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 ETB 315

$1.97 ETB 314

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ETB 206

$1.30 ETB 208

-0.77%

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

$54.7K ETB 8.7M

$54.3K ETB 8.7M

0.79%

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

$53.5K ETB 8.5M

$54.5K ETB 8.7M

-1.91%

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

$158 ETB 25.3K

$156 ETB 25.0K

1.18%

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

$12.11 ETB 1,934

$11.85 ETB 1,892

2.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$132 ETB 21.1K

$130 ETB 20.7K

1.63%

Cinema Ticket

$5.64 ETB 900

$5.61 ETB 895

0.53%

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

$81.5 ETB 13.0K

$82.5 ETB 13.2K

-1.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.5K ETB 6.5M

$40.7K ETB 6.5M

-0.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.27 ETB 7,549

$47.78 ETB 7,630

-1.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.1 ETB 12.2K

$76.7 ETB 12.2K

-0.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.8 ETB 14.8K

$93.3 ETB 14.9K

-0.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ETB 18.6K

$113 ETB 18.0K

3.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$494 ETB 78.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$304 ETB 48.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$988 ETB 157.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$794 ETB 126.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$501 ETB 80.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$101 ETB 16.2K

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 27, 2026

Last update for Hawassa: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Adama versus $35.00 in Hawassa. Groceries tell a different story – $266 in Adama vs $258 in Hawassa – so Hawassa 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 Hawassa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,078 in Adama, $823 in Hawassa – roughly 31% apart. Adama costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,617 per month in Adama and $1,234 in Hawassa. 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 Hawassa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 3% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hawassa, where all-in costs run around $823, than in Adama at $1,078. In Hawassa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Adama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hawassa – 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 Hawassa. 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.