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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.50 ETB 713

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.53 ETB 5,473

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.43 ETB 1,019

Cappuccino

$1.24 ETB 197

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

$0.69 ETB 110

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ETB 74.7

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ETB 163

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 ETB 461

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 ETB 228

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 ETB 206

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.10 ETB 333

Eggs

$2.41 ETB 382

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.30 ETB 1,157

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.78 ETB 2,185

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.34 ETB 2,115

Apples (1kg)

$6.76 ETB 1,071

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ETB 154

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 ETB 342

Tomato (1kg)

$0.97 ETB 154

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 ETB 107

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 ETB 302

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 ETB 102

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ETB 102

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 ETB 618

Wine (Bottle)

$5.57 ETB 883

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ETB 164

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ETB 293

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ETB 69.6

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.14 ETB 1,924

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 ETB 229

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ETB 42.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 ETB 323

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ETB 204

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

$54.6K ETB 8.6M

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

$53.0K ETB 8.4M

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

$158 ETB 25.1K

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

$11.79 ETB 1,868

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$132 ETB 20.9K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.3 ETB 11.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.95 ETB 5,699

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ETB 907

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

$82.2 ETB 13.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.9K ETB 6.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.01 ETB 7,610

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.7 ETB 12.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.9 ETB 14.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ETB 17.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$748 ETB 118.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$502 ETB 79.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,787 ETB 283.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$905 ETB 143.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ETB 313.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,021 ETB 161.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$205 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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Harar: June 7, 2026

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 Harar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For families, Harar is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Addis Ababa, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

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

It comes down to priorities – Harar wins on affordability, Addis Ababa on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.