Cost of Living Comparison Between Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar Cost of Living Comparison Between Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,282 in Addis Ababa versus $373 in Bahir Dar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,880 in Addis Ababa versus $573 in Bahir Dar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,478 in Addis Ababa versus $772 in Bahir Dar.

Living in Addis Ababa is roughly 243% more expensive than in Bahir Dar, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Addis Ababa 7% lower, Bahir Dar 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.11 ETB 659

$3.40 ETB 546

20.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.92 ETB 6,894

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.45 ETB 1,036

Cappuccino

$0.95 ETB 153

$1.01 ETB 163

-5.94%

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

$0.63 ETB 102

$0.41 ETB 66.3

53.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ETB 109

$0.51 ETB 82.3

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.82 ETB 132

$0.74 ETB 119

10.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ETB 370

$1.95 ETB 313

18.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 ETB 178

$0.98 ETB 157

13.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ETB 196

$0.97 ETB 156

25.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ETB 349

$1.02 ETB 164

112.75%

Eggs

$1.72 ETB 277

$1.71 ETB 275

0.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.51 ETB 1,206

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.16 ETB 1,631

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.17 ETB 1,472

$9.83 ETB 1,579

-6.71%

Apples (1kg)

$5.25 ETB 843

$3.08 ETB 495

70.45%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 ETB 102

$1.01 ETB 163

-37.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 ETB 353

$2.03 ETB 326

8.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 ETB 113

$0.78 ETB 125

-10.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 ETB 79.0

$0.64 ETB 103

-23.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ETB 175

$1.16 ETB 187

-6.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ETB 106

$1.03 ETB 165

-35.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ETB 92.4

$0.52 ETB 83.7

11.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.04 ETB 1,291

Wine (Bottle)

$5.68 ETB 913

$3.96 ETB 636

43.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 ETB 108

$0.78 ETB 125

-14.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 ETB 203

$1.94 ETB 312

-34.54%

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

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.58

$0.49 ETB 78.3

-40.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.95 ETB 313

$2.05 ETB 329

-4.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 ETB 142

$0.99 ETB 159

-11.11%

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

$55.5K ETB 8.9M

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

$55.4K ETB 8.9M

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

$208 ETB 33.4K

$100 ETB 16.1K

107.80%

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

$7.26 ETB 1,166

$9.81 ETB 1,575

-25.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$211 ETB 33.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.06 ETB 7,077

$49.32 ETB 7,920

-10.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.68 ETB 5,730

$59.3 ETB 9,523

-39.83%

Cinema Ticket

$3.73 ETB 599

$5.85 ETB 940

-36.24%

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

$137 ETB 22.0K

$49.73 ETB 7,986

175.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.5K ETB 4.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.94 ETB 5,290

$49.08 ETB 7,883

-32.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.0 ETB 11.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ETB 12.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.5 ETB 13.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$721 ETB 115.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 ETB 64.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,289 ETB 367.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$759 ETB 121.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,954 ETB 313.8K

$1,995 ETB 320.4K

-2.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$996 ETB 160.0K

$1,505 ETB 241.8K

-33.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$200 ETB 32.2K

$202 ETB 32.5K

-0.89%

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 Bahir Dar: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Bahir Dar pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Bahir Dar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar differ by about 243% in total monthly costs ($1,282 vs $373 including rent). Bahir Dar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 1% lower in Bahir Dar. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $137 in Addis Ababa versus $49.73 in Bahir Dar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $1,282 per month in Addis Ababa versus $373 in Bahir Dar – a 243% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $373 in Bahir Dar versus $1,282 in Addis Ababa, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bahir Dar but tight or insufficient in Addis Ababa. The gap between the two cities makes Bahir Dar 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 Bahir Dar 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 Bahir Dar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 243% less than in Addis Ababa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.