Cost of Living Comparison Between Addis Ababa and San Luis Potosi Cost of Living Comparison Between Addis Ababa and San Luis Potosi

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$4.44 ETB 704
$11.60 MX$203
-61.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.55 ETB 5,634
$53.1 MX$931
-33.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.67 ETB 1,058
$9.98 MX$175
-33.17%
Cappuccino
$1.30 ETB 206
$2.88 MX$50.5
-54.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ETB 100
$1.28 MX$22.49
-50.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ETB 68.4
$0.93 MX$16.27
-53.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.97 ETB 154
$2.66 MX$46.59
-63.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 ETB 465
$4.41 MX$77.3
-33.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 ETB 231
$1.63 MX$28.51
-10.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.33 ETB 211
$2.40 MX$42.02
-44.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.15 ETB 341
$1.53 MX$26.74
40.52%
Eggs
$2.40 ETB 380
$1.94 MX$34.03
23.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.12 ETB 1,128
$9.26 MX$162
-23.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.71 ETB 2,173
$8.75 MX$153
56.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.07 ETB 2,071
$10.72 MX$188
21.92%
Apples (1kg)
$6.66 ETB 1,055
$2.94 MX$51.6
126.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ETB 165
$1.53 MX$26.89
-32.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ETB 348
$1.79 MX$31.45
22.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.98 ETB 155
$1.91 MX$33.47
-48.69%
Potato (1kg)
$0.63 ETB 99.9
$2.19 MX$38.31
-71.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.91 ETB 303
$2.14 MX$37.59
-10.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ETB 105
$1.33 MX$23.39
-50.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 ETB 108
$0.99 MX$17.39
-31.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 ETB 629
$3.93 MX$68.8
1.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.68 ETB 901
$14.32 MX$251
-60.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 ETB 164
$1.68 MX$29.52
-38.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 ETB 290
$3.41 MX$59.8
-46.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ETB 69.8
$0.63 MX$11.03
-30.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.19 ETB 1,932
$69.9 MX$1,226
-82.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.43 ETB 226
$0.77 MX$13.56
85.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 ETB 46.37
$1.18 MX$20.75
-75.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.04 ETB 323
$8.56 MX$150
-76.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ETB 198
$1.31 MX$22.98
-4.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.6K ETB 8.8M
$25.6K MX$448.5K
117.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$54.3K ETB 8.6M
$21.7K MX$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)
$163 ETB 25.8K
$45.44 MX$796
257.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.23 ETB 1,938
$27.96 MX$490
-56.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$129 ETB 20.5K
$30.89 MX$541
318.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.4 ETB 11.0K
$26.73 MX$469
159.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.29 ETB 5,752
$15.59 MX$273
132.78%
Cinema Ticket
$5.82 ETB 923
$4.88 MX$85.5
19.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$80.5 ETB 12.8K
$217 MX$3,801
-62.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$40.0K ETB 6.3M
$3,435 MX$60.2K
1063.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.75 ETB 7,568
$58.8 MX$1,031
-18.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$74.4 ETB 11.8K
$42.38 MX$743
75.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.4 ETB 14.5K
$98.0 MX$1,717
-6.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 ETB 18.4K
$73.1 MX$1,281
58.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$732 ETB 116.0K
$410 MX$7,189
78.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$511 ETB 81.1K
$353 MX$6,194
44.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,816 ETB 287.9K
$830 MX$14.6K
118.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$885 ETB 140.3K
$694 MX$12.2K
27.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,969 ETB 312.1K
$1,478 MX$25.9K
33.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$992 ETB 157.2K
$934 MX$16.4K
6.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Addis Ababa
San Luis Potosi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$200 ETB 31.7K
$898 MX$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.

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