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 $1,429 per month in Addis Ababa vs $1,093 in Adama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,079 per month in Addis Ababa vs $1,744 in Adama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,730 per month in Addis Ababa vs $2,395 in Adama, rent included.

Addis Ababa costs about 31% more than Adama, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Addis Ababa sits 7% above the global median, while Adama is 18% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.44 ETB 704

$3.06 ETB 485

45.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.55 ETB 5,634

$34.62 ETB 5,487

2.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 ETB 1,058

$5.11 ETB 810

30.53%

Cappuccino

$1.30 ETB 206

$1.27 ETB 202

2.36%

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

$0.63 ETB 100

$0.69 ETB 110

-8.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ETB 68.4

$0.31 ETB 49.47

38.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 ETB 154

$1.03 ETB 163

-5.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ETB 465

$3.06 ETB 486

-4.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 ETB 231

$1.40 ETB 221

4.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ETB 211

$1.34 ETB 212

-0.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ETB 341

$2.14 ETB 339

0.47%

Eggs

$2.40 ETB 380

$2.48 ETB 394

-3.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.12 ETB 1,128

$7.18 ETB 1,139

-0.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.71 ETB 2,173

$13.83 ETB 2,192

-0.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.07 ETB 2,071

$13.55 ETB 2,148

-3.54%

Apples (1kg)

$6.66 ETB 1,055

$6.58 ETB 1,042

1.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ETB 165

$0.98 ETB 155

6.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 ETB 348

$2.23 ETB 354

-1.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 ETB 155

$0.91 ETB 144

7.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ETB 99.9

$0.64 ETB 101

-1.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 ETB 303

$1.81 ETB 287

5.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ETB 105

$0.64 ETB 102

3.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ETB 108

$0.65 ETB 102

4.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 ETB 629

$4.12 ETB 652

-3.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.68 ETB 901

$5.72 ETB 907

-0.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ETB 164

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ETB 290

$1.83 ETB 291

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ETB 69.8

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.19 ETB 1,932

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 ETB 226

$1.42 ETB 225

0.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.37

$0.29 ETB 46.38

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 ETB 323

$2.03 ETB 322

0.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ETB 198

$1.29 ETB 205

-3.10%

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

$55.6K ETB 8.8M

$55.5K ETB 8.8M

0.11%

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

$54.3K ETB 8.6M

$53.7K ETB 8.5M

1.22%

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

$163 ETB 25.8K

$159 ETB 25.1K

2.48%

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

$12.23 ETB 1,938

$12.06 ETB 1,912

1.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$129 ETB 20.5K

$129 ETB 20.4K

0.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 ETB 11.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.29 ETB 5,752

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 ETB 923

$5.59 ETB 886

4.11%

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

$80.5 ETB 12.8K

$81.2 ETB 12.9K

-0.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.0K ETB 6.3M

$41.1K ETB 6.5M

-2.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.75 ETB 7,568

$46.90 ETB 7,434

1.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.4 ETB 11.8K

$74.5 ETB 11.8K

-0.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.4 ETB 14.5K

$91.7 ETB 14.5K

-0.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ETB 18.4K

$116 ETB 18.5K

-0.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 ETB 116.0K

$502 ETB 79.6K

45.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ETB 81.1K

$297 ETB 47.0K

72.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,816 ETB 287.9K

$1,015 ETB 160.9K

78.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$885 ETB 140.3K

$789 ETB 125.1K

12.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,969 ETB 312.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$992 ETB 157.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$200 ETB 31.7K

$99.5 ETB 15.8K

101.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Addis Ababa: July 13, 2026

Last update for Adama: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $732 in Addis Ababa versus $502 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 101% 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 $36.00 in Addis Ababa versus $35.00 in Adama. Groceries tell a different story – $265 in Addis Ababa vs $266 in Adama – so Addis Ababa 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,429 in Addis Ababa, $1,093 in Adama – roughly 31% apart. Addis Ababa costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,143 per month in Addis Ababa and $1,640 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 $36.00 in Addis Ababa and $35.00 in Adama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Addis Ababa – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Adama, where all-in costs run around $1,093, than in Addis Ababa at $1,429. 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.