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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,383 in Addis Ababa versus $806 in Assela.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,083 in Addis Ababa versus $1,237 in Assela.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Addis Ababa versus $1,669 in Assela.

Living in Addis Ababa is roughly 72% more expensive than Assela, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Addis Ababa is 3% above, Assela is 40% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ETB 718

$4.60 ETB 725

-1.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.04 ETB 5,522

$35.67 ETB 5,622

-1.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.41 ETB 1,010

$6.32 ETB 996

1.42%

Cappuccino

$1.24 ETB 196

$1.29 ETB 203

-3.88%

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

$0.69 ETB 109

$0.64 ETB 101

7.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ETB 67.7

$0.43 ETB 68.3

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ETB 156

$0.98 ETB 154

1.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ETB 468

$2.93 ETB 462

1.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 ETB 228

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ETB 210

$1.32 ETB 209

0.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ETB 343

Eggs

$2.43 ETB 383

$2.46 ETB 388

-1.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.29 ETB 1,148

$7.00 ETB 1,104

4.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.73 ETB 2,164

$13.87 ETB 2,185

-1.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.09 ETB 2,063

$13.40 ETB 2,112

-2.31%

Apples (1kg)

$6.68 ETB 1,053

$6.84 ETB 1,078

-2.34%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 ETB 154

$1.03 ETB 162

-4.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 ETB 345

Tomato (1kg)

$0.99 ETB 157

$0.97 ETB 153

2.06%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 ETB 107

$0.63 ETB 99.6

7.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 ETB 286

$1.88 ETB 296

-3.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ETB 108

$0.70 ETB 110

-2.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ETB 101

$0.69 ETB 108

-7.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.02 ETB 633

$4.03 ETB 636

-0.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.77 ETB 909

$5.70 ETB 899

1.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ETB 156

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ETB 298

$1.84 ETB 290

2.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ETB 67.9

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.21 ETB 1,925

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 ETB 234

$1.45 ETB 228

2.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ETB 42.16

$0.27 ETB 42.53

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 ETB 323

$1.98 ETB 312

3.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ETB 195

$1.29 ETB 204

-3.88%

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

$55.4K ETB 8.7M

$55.2K ETB 8.7M

0.49%

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

$54.0K ETB 8.5M

$54.6K ETB 8.6M

-1.01%

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

$157 ETB 24.8K

$159 ETB 25.0K

-1.02%

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

$12.11 ETB 1,908

$11.83 ETB 1,864

2.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$129 ETB 20.3K

$131 ETB 20.6K

-1.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.5 ETB 11.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.71 ETB 5,786

Cinema Ticket

$5.86 ETB 923

$5.77 ETB 910

1.56%

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

$81.1 ETB 12.8K

$79.9 ETB 12.6K

1.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$41.1K ETB 6.5M

$41.0K ETB 6.5M

0.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.81 ETB 7,377

$46.94 ETB 7,398

-0.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.1 ETB 11.7K

$75.1 ETB 11.8K

-1.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.3 ETB 14.7K

$94.1 ETB 14.8K

-0.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 ETB 18.2K

$115 ETB 18.1K

0.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$758 ETB 119.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 ETB 78.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,819 ETB 286.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$890 ETB 140.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,981 ETB 312.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,009 ETB 159.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$206 ETB 32.5K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Assela: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $35.00 in Addis Ababa vs $36.00 in Assela for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $265 vs $268 per month, with Addis Ababa cheaper across the board.

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 Assela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Addis Ababa and Assela differ by about 72% in total monthly costs ($1,383 vs $806 including rent). Assela is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,075 in Addis Ababa and $1,208 in Assela to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Addis Ababa pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,383 per month in Addis Ababa versus $806 in Assela – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $806 in Assela versus $1,383 in Addis Ababa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Assela but tight or insufficient in Addis Ababa. The gap between the two cities makes Assela the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Addis Ababa and Assela are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Assela gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Addis Ababa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.