Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Addis Ababa and San Luis Potosi

For one person, living costs are similar in Addis Ababa and in San Luis Potosi: $1,307 and $1,296 a month, rent and utilities included.

Addis Ababa
🇪🇹 Ethiopia
$1,307
/mo nomad
San Luis Potosi
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,296
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Addis Ababa and in San Luis Potosi

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 San Luis Potosi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,307 in Addis Ababa versus $1,296 in San Luis Potosi.

  • Addis Ababa $1,307
  • San Luis Potosi $1,296

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,926 in Addis Ababa versus $2,017 in San Luis Potosi.

  • Addis Ababa $1,926
  • San Luis Potosi $2,017

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,544 in Addis Ababa versus $2,738 in San Luis Potosi.

  • Addis Ababa $2,544
  • San Luis Potosi $2,738

Living in Addis Ababa is roughly 1% more expensive than in San Luis Potosi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities sit below the global median: Addis Ababa 3% lower, San Luis Potosi 4% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.92 ETB 630
$13.62 MX$252
-71.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.93 ETB 6,730
$42.31 MX$782
-0.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.68 ETB 1,072
$9.08 MX$168
-26.43%
Cappuccino
$0.88 ETB 142
$3.27 MX$60.5
-73.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ETB 100
$1.36 MX$25.05
-53.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ETB 102
$0.89 MX$16.45
-28.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.82 ETB 131
$2.62 MX$48.33
-68.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 ETB 365
$4.63 MX$85.6
-50.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 ETB 170
$1.55 MX$28.66
-31.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 ETB 195
$2.57 MX$47.56
-52.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.22 ETB 357
$1.80 MX$33.33
23.33%
Eggs
$1.76 ETB 282
$2.63 MX$48.54
-33.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.19 ETB 1,153
$8.14 MX$150
-11.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.25 ETB 1,645
$9.93 MX$183
3.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.26 ETB 1,486
$11.59 MX$214
-20.10%
Apples (1kg)
$5.42 ETB 871
$3.33 MX$61.5
62.76%
Banana (1kg)
$0.65 ETB 104
$1.64 MX$30.29
-60.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ETB 352
$2.22 MX$41.06
-1.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.70 ETB 112
$2.59 MX$47.93
-72.97%
Potato (1kg)
$0.50 ETB 80.4
$2.58 MX$47.76
-80.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 ETB 167
$3.16 MX$58.5
-67.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 ETB 104
$1.13 MX$20.84
-42.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ETB 97.0
$1.33 MX$24.62
-54.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.20 ETB 1,316
$4.03 MX$74.5
103.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.76 ETB 924
$13.79 MX$255
-58.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 ETB 109
$2.04 MX$37.71
-66.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 ETB 204
$3.95 MX$73.0
-67.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 ETB 83.7
$0.89 MX$16.37
-41.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.49 ETB 3,449
$71.0 MX$1,311
-69.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ETB 218
$0.84 MX$15.59
61.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 ETB 46.70
$1.59 MX$29.42
-81.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.02 ETB 325
$9.58 MX$177
-78.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 ETB 144
$1.40 MX$25.89
-35.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$56.0K ETB 9.0M
$21.0K MX$388.5K
166.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$56.5K ETB 9.1M
$24.4K MX$451.5K
131.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 ETB 33.1K
$41.92 MX$775
391.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.16 ETB 1,149
$15.91 MX$294
-55.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$216 ETB 34.6K
$30.96 MX$572
596.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.41 ETB 7,128
$29.64 MX$548
49.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.94 ETB 5,929
$27.33 MX$505
35.16%
Cinema Ticket
$3.73 ETB 599
$5.76 MX$107
-35.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$134 ETB 21.5K
$264 MX$4,884
-49.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.4K ETB 4.9M
$3,582 MX$66.2K
749.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.22 ETB 5,331
$54.2 MX$1,001
-38.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.9 ETB 11.2K
$38.16 MX$705
83.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 ETB 12.7K
$98.7 MX$1,825
-19.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.0 ETB 13.5K
$78.1 MX$1,443
7.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$711 ETB 114.1K
$650 MX$12.0K
9.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$391 ETB 62.8K
$458 MX$8,469
-14.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,255 ETB 361.9K
$1,189 MX$22.0K
89.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$786 ETB 126.2K
$774 MX$14.3K
1.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,965 ETB 315.4K
$1,418 MX$26.2K
38.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,004 ETB 161.1K
$880 MX$16.3K
14.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$200 ETB 32.1K
$869 MX$16.1K
-77.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
18.5
12.68
45.90%

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

Last update for Addis Ababa: October 12, 2026

Last update for San Luis Potosi: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Addis Ababa
$429
San Luis Potosi
$89 79.3% $340
Accommodation & Living
Addis Ababa
$391
San Luis Potosi
$458 17.1% $67
Groceries & Markets
Addis Ababa
$213
San Luis Potosi
$296 38.9% $83
Clothing & Footwear
Addis Ababa
$120
San Luis Potosi
$121 1.1% $1.3
Eating Out
Addis Ababa
$76
San Luis Potosi
$207 173% $131
Sport & Entertainment
Addis Ababa
$52
San Luis Potosi
$41 20.6% $11
Getting Around
Addis Ababa
$26
San Luis Potosi
$83 216% $57

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $711 in Addis Ababa and $650 in San Luis Potosi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Luis Potosi pays 335% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $42.00 in Addis Ababa vs $42.00 in San Luis Potosi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 vs $296 per month, with Addis Ababa cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇪🇹 Addis Ababa
🇲🇽 San Luis Potosi
🕒 Local time
16:57 4:57 PM
07:57 7:57 AM
9 h behind Addis Ababa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,500,000 Capital
845,941
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to ETB – Ethiopian Birr Converter

Ethiopian Birr exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 160 ETB (1,000 ETB = 6.23 USD). 1 EUR = 180 ETB (1,000 ETB = 5.54 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.78 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Addis Ababa San Luis Potosi 14,420 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Addis Ababa
  • San Luis Potosi

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 San Luis Potosi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Addis Ababa and in San Luis Potosi?
Addis Ababa and San Luis Potosi differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($1,307 vs $1,296 including rent). San Luis Potosi 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 335% lower in San Luis Potosi. 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 San Luis Potosi?
Rent for a central apartment: $711 in Addis Ababa versus $650 in San Luis Potosi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Addis Ababa or San Luis Potosi?
All in, you'll spend $1,307 per month in Addis Ababa versus $1,296 in San Luis Potosi – a 1% 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 San Luis Potosi?
A monthly transit pass in San Luis Potosi runs roughly 230% less than in Addis Ababa. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,296 in San Luis Potosi versus $1,307 in Addis Ababa, a $1,000 budget is realistic in San Luis Potosi but tight or insufficient in Addis Ababa. The gap between the two cities makes San Luis Potosi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Addis Ababa and San Luis Potosi?
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 San Luis Potosi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Addis Ababa and San Luis Potosi 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 San Luis Potosi?
Expats usually find San Luis Potosi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Addis Ababa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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