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: $1,429 in Addis Ababa versus $379 in Bahir Dar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,079 in Addis Ababa versus $563 in Bahir Dar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,730 in Addis Ababa versus $747 in Bahir Dar.

Living in Addis Ababa is roughly 277% more expensive than in Bahir Dar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Addis Ababa is 7% above, Bahir Dar is 72% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.44 ETB 704

$3.52 ETB 558

26.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.55 ETB 5,634

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 ETB 1,058

Cappuccino

$1.30 ETB 206

$0.97 ETB 154

34.02%

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

$0.63 ETB 100

$0.38 ETB 60.6

65.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ETB 68.4

$0.49 ETB 77.0

-12.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 ETB 154

$0.73 ETB 115

32.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ETB 465

$2.06 ETB 326

42.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 ETB 231

$1.02 ETB 162

43.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ETB 211

$0.99 ETB 157

34.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ETB 341

$0.99 ETB 157

117.17%

Eggs

$2.40 ETB 380

$1.70 ETB 270

41.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.12 ETB 1,128

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.71 ETB 2,173

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.07 ETB 2,071

$10.19 ETB 1,615

28.26%

Apples (1kg)

$6.66 ETB 1,055

$2.91 ETB 462

128.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ETB 165

$0.98 ETB 156

6.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 ETB 348

$2.03 ETB 322

7.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 ETB 155

$0.76 ETB 121

28.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ETB 99.9

$0.62 ETB 97.9

1.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 ETB 303

$1.17 ETB 186

63.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ETB 105

$0.98 ETB 156

-32.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ETB 108

$0.51 ETB 81.4

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 ETB 629

Wine (Bottle)

$5.68 ETB 901

$4.08 ETB 646

39.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ETB 164

$0.78 ETB 124

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ETB 290

$1.95 ETB 309

-6.15%

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

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.37

$0.51 ETB 80.9

-43.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 ETB 323

$1.97 ETB 313

3.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ETB 198

$1.03 ETB 163

21.36%

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

$55.6K ETB 8.8M

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

$54.3K ETB 8.6M

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

$163 ETB 25.8K

$100 ETB 15.9K

61.90%

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

$12.23 ETB 1,938

$10.06 ETB 1,595

21.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$129 ETB 20.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 ETB 11.0K

$49.45 ETB 7,838

40.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.29 ETB 5,752

$60.7 ETB 9,627

-40.25%

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 ETB 923

$6.10 ETB 967

-4.59%

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

$80.5 ETB 12.8K

$49.33 ETB 7,819

63.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.0K ETB 6.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.75 ETB 7,568

$49.82 ETB 7,897

-4.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.4 ETB 11.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.4 ETB 14.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ETB 18.4K

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

$2,023 ETB 320.7K

-2.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$992 ETB 157.2K

$1,485 ETB 235.3K

-33.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$200 ETB 31.7K

$203 ETB 32.2K

-1.55%

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 Bahir Dar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Bahir Dar pays 2% 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 277% in total monthly costs ($1,429 vs $379 including rent). Bahir Dar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 2% 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 $80.5 in Addis Ababa versus $49.33 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 $1,429 per month in Addis Ababa versus $379 in Bahir Dar – a 277% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $379 in Bahir Dar versus $1,429 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 277% less than in Addis Ababa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.