😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,429 in Addis Ababa versus $1,143 in San Luis Potosi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,079 in Addis Ababa versus $1,858 in San Luis Potosi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,730 in Addis Ababa versus $2,574 in San Luis Potosi.
🌍Living in Addis Ababa is roughly 25% more expensive than in San Luis Potosi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Addis Ababa is 7% above, San Luis Potosi is 14% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.44ETB 704
$11.60MX$203
-61.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.55ETB 5,634
$53.1MX$931
-33.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.67ETB 1,058
$9.98MX$175
-33.17%
Cappuccino
$1.30ETB 206
$2.88MX$50.5
-54.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63ETB 100
$1.28MX$22.49
-50.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43ETB 68.4
$0.93MX$16.27
-53.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.97ETB 154
$2.66MX$46.59
-63.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93ETB 465
$4.41MX$77.3
-33.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46ETB 231
$1.63MX$28.51
-10.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33ETB 211
$2.40MX$42.02
-44.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.15ETB 341
$1.53MX$26.74
40.52%
Eggs
$2.40ETB 380
$1.94MX$34.03
23.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.12ETB 1,128
$9.26MX$162
-23.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.71ETB 2,173
$8.75MX$153
56.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.07ETB 2,071
$10.72MX$188
21.92%
Apples(1kg)
$6.66ETB 1,055
$2.94MX$51.6
126.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.04ETB 165
$1.53MX$26.89
-32.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19ETB 348
$1.79MX$31.45
22.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.98ETB 155
$1.91MX$33.47
-48.69%
Potato(1kg)
$0.63ETB 99.9
$2.19MX$38.31
-71.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.91ETB 303
$2.14MX$37.59
-10.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66ETB 105
$1.33MX$23.39
-50.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68ETB 108
$0.99MX$17.39
-31.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97ETB 629
$3.93MX$68.8
1.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.68ETB 901
$14.32MX$251
-60.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04ETB 164
$1.68MX$29.52
-38.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83ETB 290
$3.41MX$59.8
-46.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.44ETB 69.8
$0.63MX$11.03
-30.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.19ETB 1,932
$69.9MX$1,226
-82.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.43ETB 226
$0.77MX$13.56
85.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29ETB 46.37
$1.18MX$20.75
-75.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.04ETB 323
$8.56MX$150
-76.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25ETB 198
$1.31MX$22.98
-4.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.6KETB 8.8M
$25.6KMX$448.5K
117.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$54.3KETB 8.6M
$21.7KMX$381.0K
149.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$163ETB 25.8K
$45.44MX$796
257.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.23ETB 1,938
$27.96MX$490
-56.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$129ETB 20.5K
$30.89MX$541
318.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.4ETB 11.0K
$26.73MX$469
159.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.29ETB 5,752
$15.59MX$273
132.78%
Cinema Ticket
$5.82ETB 923
$4.88MX$85.5
19.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$80.5ETB 12.8K
$217MX$3,801
-62.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$40.0KETB 6.3M
$3,435MX$60.2K
1063.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.75ETB 7,568
$58.8MX$1,031
-18.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$74.4ETB 11.8K
$42.38MX$743
75.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.4ETB 14.5K
$98.0MX$1,717
-6.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116ETB 18.4K
$73.1MX$1,281
58.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$732ETB 116.0K
$410MX$7,189
78.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$511ETB 81.1K
$353MX$6,194
44.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,816ETB 287.9K
$830MX$14.6K
118.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$885ETB 140.3K
$694MX$12.2K
27.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,969ETB 312.1K
$1,478MX$25.9K
33.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$992ETB 157.2K
$934MX$16.4K
6.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$200ETB 31.7K
$898MX$15.7K
-77.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17
11.5
47.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Addis Ababa: July 13, 2026
Last update for San Luis Potosi: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $732 in Addis Ababa and $410 in San Luis Potosi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰San Luis Potosi pays 349% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Addis Ababa vs $53.0 in San Luis Potosi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $265 vs $270 per month, with Addis Ababa cheaper across the board.
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 25% in total monthly costs ($1,429 vs $1,143 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 349% 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: $732 in Addis Ababa versus $410 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 $1,429 per month in Addis Ababa versus $1,143 in San Luis Potosi – a 25% 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 474% 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 $1,143 in San Luis Potosi versus $1,429 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 25% less than in Addis Ababa. 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