Cost of Living Comparison Between Assela and Adama Cost of Living Comparison Between Assela and Adama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $817 per month in Assela vs $1,093 in Adama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,242 per month in Assela vs $1,744 in Adama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,667 per month in Assela vs $2,395 in Adama, rent included.

Assela is about 25% cheaper than Adama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Assela and Adama are more affordable than the global median – Assela 39% lower, Adama 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.59 ETB 727

$3.06 ETB 485

50.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.32 ETB 5,599

$34.62 ETB 5,487

2.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.54 ETB 1,036

$5.11 ETB 810

27.98%

Cappuccino

$1.30 ETB 205

$1.27 ETB 202

2.36%

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

$0.69 ETB 110

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ETB 74.2

$0.31 ETB 49.47

51.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 ETB 160

$1.03 ETB 163

-1.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 ETB 488

$3.06 ETB 486

0.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ETB 219

$1.40 ETB 221

-1.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 ETB 210

$1.34 ETB 212

-1.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 ETB 336

$2.14 ETB 339

-0.93%

Eggs

$2.49 ETB 395

$2.48 ETB 394

0.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ETB 1,106

$7.18 ETB 1,139

-2.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.67 ETB 2,166

$13.83 ETB 2,192

-1.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.17 ETB 2,087

$13.55 ETB 2,148

-2.80%

Apples (1kg)

$6.72 ETB 1,064

$6.58 ETB 1,042

2.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 ETB 161

$0.98 ETB 155

4.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ETB 360

$2.23 ETB 354

1.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.99 ETB 157

$0.91 ETB 144

8.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 ETB 108

$0.64 ETB 101

6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 ETB 304

$1.81 ETB 287

6.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ETB 109

$0.64 ETB 102

7.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ETB 108

$0.65 ETB 102

4.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.95 ETB 626

$4.12 ETB 652

-4.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.66 ETB 897

$5.72 ETB 907

-1.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ETB 157

$1.04 ETB 164

-4.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ETB 291

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ETB 225

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.54

$0.29 ETB 46.38

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 ETB 325

$2.03 ETB 322

0.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 ETB 206

$1.29 ETB 205

0.78%

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

$54.0K ETB 8.6M

$55.5K ETB 8.8M

-2.76%

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

$53.8K ETB 8.5M

$53.7K ETB 8.5M

0.30%

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

$157 ETB 24.9K

$159 ETB 25.1K

-1.02%

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

$12.04 ETB 1,909

$12.06 ETB 1,912

-0.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$129 ETB 20.5K

$129 ETB 20.4K

0.41%

Cinema Ticket

$5.76 ETB 914

$5.59 ETB 886

3.04%

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

$80.2 ETB 12.7K

$81.2 ETB 12.9K

-1.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.8K ETB 6.3M

$41.1K ETB 6.5M

-3.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.74 ETB 7,409

$46.90 ETB 7,434

-0.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.9 ETB 11.7K

$74.5 ETB 11.8K

-0.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.5 ETB 15.0K

$91.7 ETB 14.5K

3.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ETB 17.8K

$116 ETB 18.5K

-3.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$502 ETB 79.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$297 ETB 47.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 ETB 160.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ETB 125.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$99.5 ETB 15.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Assela: July 12, 2026

Last update for Adama: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Assela versus $35.00 in Adama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $265 vs $266 – making Assela the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Assela vs Adama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $817 in Assela, $1,093 in Adama – roughly 34% apart. Adama costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,225 per month in Assela and $1,640 in Adama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Assela and $35.00 in Adama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 0% more in Adama, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Assela, where all-in costs run around $817, than in Adama at $1,093. In Assela it covers expenses comfortably, while in Adama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Assela – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Assela. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Adama makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.