Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Addis Ababa and Matosinhos

For one person, living is cheaper in Addis Ababa: $1,307 a month against $1,926 in Matosinhos, rent and utilities included – about $7,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Addis Ababa
🇪🇹 Ethiopia
$1,307
/mo nomad
Matosinhos
🇵🇹 Portugal
$1,926
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Addis Ababa and in Matosinhos

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Addis Ababa and in Matosinhos actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,307 in Addis Ababa versus $1,926 in Matosinhos.

  • Addis Ababa $1,307
  • Matosinhos $1,926

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,926 in Addis Ababa versus $2,803 in Matosinhos.

  • Addis Ababa $1,926
  • Matosinhos $2,803

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,544 in Addis Ababa versus $3,680 in Matosinhos.

  • Addis Ababa $2,544
  • Matosinhos $3,680

Living in Addis Ababa costs roughly 32% less than in Matosinhos, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

The two cities straddle the global median: Addis Ababa is 3% below, Matosinhos is 43% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Addis Ababa
Matosinhos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.92 ETB 630
$13.41 €11.93
-70.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.93 ETB 6,730
$47.70 €42.43
-12.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.68 ETB 1,072
$9.91 €8.81
-32.59%
Cappuccino
$0.88 ETB 142
$2.69 €2.40
-67.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ETB 100
$2.07 €1.84
-69.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ETB 102
$1.51 €1.34
-57.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.82 ETB 131
$2.19 €1.94
-62.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 ETB 365
$3.30 €2.94
-30.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Addis Ababa
Matosinhos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 ETB 170
$1.11 €0.98
-4.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 ETB 195
$1.68 €1.50
-27.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.22 ETB 357
$1.70 €1.52
30.59%
Eggs
$1.76 ETB 282
$3.36 €2.99
-47.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.19 ETB 1,153
$11.61 €10.33
-38.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.25 ETB 1,645
$7.21 €6.42
42.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.26 ETB 1,486
$14.34 €12.76
-35.43%
Apples (1kg)
$5.42 ETB 871
$2.18 €1.94
148.62%
Banana (1kg)
$0.65 ETB 104
$1.50 €1.33
-56.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ETB 352
$1.79 €1.59
22.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.70 ETB 112
$2.47 €2.20
-71.66%
Potato (1kg)
$0.50 ETB 80.4
$1.62 €1.44
-69.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 ETB 167
$1.86 €1.66
-44.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 ETB 104
$1.53 €1.36
-57.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ETB 97.0
$0.77 €0.68
-22.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.20 ETB 1,316
$6.43 €5.72
27.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.76 ETB 924
$5.55 €4.94
3.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 ETB 109
$1.37 €1.22
-50.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 ETB 204
$2.07 €1.84
-38.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Addis Ababa
Matosinhos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 ETB 83.7
$2.70 €2.40
-80.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.49 ETB 3,449
$44.17 €39.29
-51.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ETB 218
$4.47 €3.98
-69.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 ETB 46.70
$0.81 €0.72
-64.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.02 ETB 325
$14.19 €12.62
-85.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 ETB 144
$2.13 €1.89
-57.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$56.0K ETB 9.0M
$33.7K €30.0K
66.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$56.5K ETB 9.1M
$38.1K €33.9K
48.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Addis Ababa
Matosinhos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 ETB 33.1K
$158 €141
30.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.16 ETB 1,149
$22.04 €19.60
-67.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$216 ETB 34.6K
$32.78 €29.15
557.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Addis Ababa
Matosinhos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.41 ETB 7,128
$62.3 €55.4
-28.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.94 ETB 5,929
$22.15 €19.70
66.77%
Cinema Ticket
$3.73 ETB 599
$9.20 €8.18
-59.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Addis Ababa
Matosinhos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$134 ETB 21.5K
$567 €504
-76.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.4K ETB 4.9M
$10.5K €9,324
190.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Addis Ababa
Matosinhos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.22 ETB 5,331
$95.9 €85.3
-65.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.9 ETB 11.2K
$36.94 €32.86
89.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 ETB 12.7K
$92.2 €82.0
-14.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.0 ETB 13.5K
$102 €90.4
-17.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Addis Ababa
Matosinhos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$711 ETB 114.1K
$1,160 €1,032
-38.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$391 ETB 62.8K
$973 €866
-59.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,255 ETB 361.9K
$2,225 €1,979
1.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$786 ETB 126.2K
$1,571 €1,397
-49.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,965 ETB 315.4K
$4,329 €3,850
-54.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,004 ETB 161.1K
$3,785 €3,367
-73.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Addis Ababa
Matosinhos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$200 ETB 32.1K
$1,565 €1,392
-87.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
18.5
3.67
404.09%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Addis Ababa: October 12, 2026

Last update for Matosinhos: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Addis Ababa
$429
Matosinhos
$213 50.3% $216
Accommodation & Living
Addis Ababa
$391
Matosinhos
$973 149% $582
Groceries & Markets
Addis Ababa
$213
Matosinhos
$248 16% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Addis Ababa
$120
Matosinhos
$147 22.7% $27
Eating Out
Addis Ababa
$76
Matosinhos
$201 166% $126
Sport & Entertainment
Addis Ababa
$52
Matosinhos
$81 55.5% $29
Getting Around
Addis Ababa
$26
Matosinhos
$64 141% $37

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $711 in Addis Ababa and $1,160 in Matosinhos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Matosinhos pays 684% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $42.00 in Addis Ababa vs $48.00 in Matosinhos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 vs $248 per month, with Addis Ababa cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇪🇹 Addis Ababa
🇵🇹 Matosinhos
🕒 Local time
08:31 8:31 AM
06:31 6:31 AM
2 h behind Addis Ababa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,500,000 Capital
172,586
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to ETB – Ethiopian Birr Converter

Ethiopian Birr exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 160 ETB (1,000 ETB = 6.23 USD). 1 EUR = 180 ETB (1,000 ETB = 5.54 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Addis Ababa Matosinhos 5,860 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Addis Ababa
  • Matosinhos

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Matosinhos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Addis Ababa and in Matosinhos?
Addis Ababa and Matosinhos differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($1,307 vs $1,926 including rent). Addis Ababa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 684% lower in Matosinhos. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Addis Ababa and in Matosinhos?
Rent for a central apartment: $711 in Addis Ababa versus $1,160 in Matosinhos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Addis Ababa or Matosinhos?
All in, you'll spend $1,307 per month in Addis Ababa versus $1,926 in Matosinhos – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Addis Ababa and in Matosinhos?
A monthly transit pass in Addis Ababa runs roughly 106% less than in Matosinhos. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,307 in Addis Ababa versus $1,926 in Matosinhos, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Addis Ababa but tight or insufficient in Matosinhos. The gap between the two cities makes Addis Ababa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Addis Ababa and Matosinhos?
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.
Is Addis Ababa or Matosinhos safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Addis Ababa and Matosinhos are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Addis Ababa or Matosinhos?
Expats usually find Addis Ababa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Matosinhos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Addis Ababa vs other spots: cost of living compared

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