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: $1,429 in Addis Ababa versus $817 in Assela.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,079 in Addis Ababa versus $1,242 in Assela.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,730 in Addis Ababa versus $1,667 in Assela.

Living in Addis Ababa is roughly 75% more expensive than in Assela, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Addis Ababa is 7% above, Assela is 39% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.44 ETB 704

$4.59 ETB 727

-3.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.55 ETB 5,634

$35.32 ETB 5,599

0.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 ETB 1,058

$6.54 ETB 1,036

1.99%

Cappuccino

$1.30 ETB 206

$1.30 ETB 205

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

$0.47 ETB 74.2

-8.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 ETB 154

$1.01 ETB 160

-3.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ETB 465

$3.08 ETB 488

-4.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 ETB 231

$1.38 ETB 219

5.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ETB 211

$1.32 ETB 210

0.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ETB 341

$2.12 ETB 336

1.42%

Eggs

$2.40 ETB 380

$2.49 ETB 395

-3.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.12 ETB 1,128

$6.98 ETB 1,106

2.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.71 ETB 2,173

$13.67 ETB 2,166

0.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.07 ETB 2,071

$13.17 ETB 2,087

-0.76%

Apples (1kg)

$6.66 ETB 1,055

$6.72 ETB 1,064

-0.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ETB 165

$1.02 ETB 161

1.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 ETB 348

$2.27 ETB 360

-3.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 ETB 155

$0.99 ETB 157

-1.01%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ETB 99.9

$0.68 ETB 108

-7.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 ETB 303

$1.92 ETB 304

-0.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ETB 105

$0.69 ETB 109

-4.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ETB 108

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 ETB 629

$3.95 ETB 626

0.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.68 ETB 901

$5.66 ETB 897

0.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ETB 164

$0.99 ETB 157

5.05%

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 46.54

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 ETB 323

$2.05 ETB 325

-0.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ETB 198

$1.30 ETB 206

-3.85%

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

$55.6K ETB 8.8M

$54.0K ETB 8.6M

2.95%

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

$54.3K ETB 8.6M

$53.8K ETB 8.5M

0.92%

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

$163 ETB 25.8K

$157 ETB 24.9K

3.53%

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

$12.23 ETB 1,938

$12.04 ETB 1,909

1.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$129 ETB 20.5K

-0.07%

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

$5.76 ETB 914

1.04%

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

$80.5 ETB 12.8K

$80.2 ETB 12.7K

0.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.0K ETB 6.3M

$39.8K ETB 6.3M

0.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.75 ETB 7,568

$46.74 ETB 7,409

2.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.4 ETB 11.8K

$73.9 ETB 11.7K

0.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.4 ETB 14.5K

$94.5 ETB 15.0K

-3.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ETB 18.4K

$113 ETB 17.8K

3.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 ETB 116.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ETB 81.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,816 ETB 287.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$885 ETB 140.3K

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

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 Assela: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $36.00 in Addis Ababa vs $35.00 in Assela. Groceries flip the comparison at $265 vs $265, with Addis Ababa cheaper for home cooking.

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 75% in total monthly costs ($1,429 vs $817 including rent). Assela is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,143 in Addis Ababa and $1,225 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Addis Ababa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,429 per month in Addis Ababa versus $817 in Assela – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $817 in Assela versus $1,429 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 75% less than in Addis Ababa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.