Cost of Living Comparison Between Assela and Addis Ababa Cost of Living Comparison Between Assela and Addis Ababa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $817 in Assela versus $1,429 in Addis Ababa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,242 in Assela versus $2,079 in Addis Ababa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,667 in Assela versus $2,730 in Addis Ababa.

Living in Assela costs roughly 43% less than in Addis Ababa, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Assela is 39% below, Addis Ababa is 7% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.59 ETB 727

$4.44 ETB 704

3.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.32 ETB 5,599

$35.55 ETB 5,634

-0.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.54 ETB 1,036

$6.67 ETB 1,058

-1.95%

Cappuccino

$1.30 ETB 205

$1.30 ETB 206

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

$0.69 ETB 110

$0.63 ETB 100

9.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ETB 74.2

$0.43 ETB 68.4

9.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 ETB 160

$0.97 ETB 154

4.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 ETB 488

$2.93 ETB 465

5.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ETB 219

$1.46 ETB 231

-5.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 ETB 210

$1.33 ETB 211

-0.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 ETB 336

$2.15 ETB 341

-1.40%

Eggs

$2.49 ETB 395

$2.40 ETB 380

3.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ETB 1,106

$7.12 ETB 1,128

-1.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.67 ETB 2,166

$13.71 ETB 2,173

-0.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.17 ETB 2,087

$13.07 ETB 2,071

0.77%

Apples (1kg)

$6.72 ETB 1,064

$6.66 ETB 1,055

0.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 ETB 161

$1.04 ETB 165

-1.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ETB 360

$2.19 ETB 348

3.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.99 ETB 157

$0.98 ETB 155

1.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 ETB 108

$0.63 ETB 99.9

7.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 ETB 304

$1.91 ETB 303

0.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ETB 109

$0.66 ETB 105

4.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ETB 108

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.95 ETB 626

$3.97 ETB 629

-0.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.66 ETB 897

$5.68 ETB 901

-0.35%

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

$1.83 ETB 290

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ETB 69.8

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.19 ETB 1,932

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ETB 225

$1.43 ETB 226

-0.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.54

$0.29 ETB 46.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 ETB 325

$2.04 ETB 323

0.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 ETB 206

$1.25 ETB 198

4.00%

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

$54.0K ETB 8.6M

$55.6K ETB 8.8M

-2.87%

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

$53.8K ETB 8.5M

$54.3K ETB 8.6M

-0.91%

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

$157 ETB 24.9K

$163 ETB 25.8K

-3.41%

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

$12.04 ETB 1,909

$12.23 ETB 1,938

-1.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$129 ETB 20.5K

0.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 ETB 11.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.29 ETB 5,752

Cinema Ticket

$5.76 ETB 914

$5.82 ETB 923

-1.03%

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

$80.2 ETB 12.7K

$80.5 ETB 12.8K

-0.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.8K ETB 6.3M

$40.0K ETB 6.3M

-0.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.74 ETB 7,409

$47.75 ETB 7,568

-2.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.9 ETB 11.7K

$74.4 ETB 11.8K

-0.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.5 ETB 15.0K

$91.4 ETB 14.5K

3.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ETB 17.8K

$116 ETB 18.4K

-3.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 ETB 116.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ETB 81.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,816 ETB 287.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$885 ETB 140.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,969 ETB 312.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$992 ETB 157.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$200 ETB 31.7K

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 Addis Ababa: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $35.00 in Assela vs $36.00 in Addis Ababa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $265 vs $265 per month, with Assela 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

Assela vs Addis Ababa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Assela and Addis Ababa differ by about 75% in total monthly costs ($817 vs $1,429 including rent). Assela is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,225 in Assela and $2,143 in Addis Ababa to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Addis Ababa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $817 per month in Assela versus $1,429 in Addis Ababa – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $817 in Assela versus $1,429 in Addis Ababa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Assela but tight or insufficient in Addis Ababa. The gap between the two cities makes Assela the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Assela and Addis Ababa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Assela gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Addis Ababa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.