Cost of Living Comparison Between Addis Ababa and Adama Cost of Living Comparison Between Addis Ababa and Adama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,282 per month in Addis Ababa vs $1,032 in Adama, rent included.

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

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

Addis Ababa costs about 24% more than Adama, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.11 ETB 659

$2.96 ETB 476

38.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.92 ETB 6,894

$42.08 ETB 6,758

2.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.45 ETB 1,036

$5.02 ETB 807

28.49%

Cappuccino

$0.95 ETB 153

$0.88 ETB 142

7.95%

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

$0.63 ETB 102

$0.59 ETB 95.1

6.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ETB 109

$0.31 ETB 50.0

119.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.82 ETB 132

$0.78 ETB 126

5.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ETB 370

$2.22 ETB 357

4.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 ETB 178

$0.82 ETB 131

35.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ETB 196

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ETB 349

$2.12 ETB 340

2.36%

Eggs

$1.72 ETB 277

$1.81 ETB 291

-4.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.51 ETB 1,206

$7.31 ETB 1,173

2.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.16 ETB 1,631

$9.97 ETB 1,601

1.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.17 ETB 1,472

$9.34 ETB 1,500

-1.82%

Apples (1kg)

$5.25 ETB 843

$5.26 ETB 845

-0.19%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 ETB 102

$0.69 ETB 111

-8.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 ETB 353

$2.14 ETB 344

2.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 ETB 113

$0.71 ETB 114

-1.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 ETB 79.0

$0.46 ETB 73.7

6.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ETB 175

$1.09 ETB 174

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ETB 106

$0.65 ETB 104

1.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ETB 92.4

$0.57 ETB 91.1

1.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.04 ETB 1,291

$7.93 ETB 1,273

1.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.68 ETB 913

$5.52 ETB 886

2.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 ETB 108

$0.72 ETB 116

-6.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 ETB 203

$1.21 ETB 195

4.96%

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)

$1.35 ETB 216

$1.34 ETB 215

0.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.58

$0.27 ETB 43.00

7.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.95 ETB 313

$2.03 ETB 326

-3.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 ETB 142

$0.89 ETB 142

-1.12%

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

$55.5K ETB 8.9M

$55.3K ETB 8.9M

0.42%

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

$55.4K ETB 8.9M

$56.2K ETB 9.0M

-1.51%

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

$208 ETB 33.4K

$206 ETB 33.1K

1.12%

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

$7.26 ETB 1,166

$7.19 ETB 1,155

0.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$211 ETB 33.8K

$212 ETB 34.0K

-0.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.06 ETB 7,077

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.68 ETB 5,730

Cinema Ticket

$3.73 ETB 599

$3.81 ETB 611

-2.10%

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

$137 ETB 22.0K

$136 ETB 21.8K

0.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.5K ETB 4.9M

$30.2K ETB 4.8M

1.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.94 ETB 5,290

$33.57 ETB 5,391

-1.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.0 ETB 11.2K

$71.4 ETB 11.5K

-1.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ETB 12.5K

$77.5 ETB 12.4K

0.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.5 ETB 13.3K

$81.5 ETB 13.1K

1.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$721 ETB 115.7K

$350 ETB 56.3K

105.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 ETB 64.4K

$200 ETB 32.2K

100.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,289 ETB 367.6K

$1,001 ETB 160.7K

128.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$759 ETB 121.9K

$791 ETB 127.0K

-4.02%

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)

$200 ETB 32.2K

$102 ETB 16.3K

96.91%

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 Addis Ababa: August 30, 2026

Last update for Adama: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $721 in Addis Ababa versus $350 in Adama. 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 $43.00 in Addis Ababa versus $42.00 in Adama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $208 – 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

Addis Ababa vs Adama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,923 per month in Addis Ababa and $1,548 in Adama. 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 $43.00 in Addis Ababa and $42.00 in Adama. 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.