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: $806 in Assela versus $1,383 in Addis Ababa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,237 in Assela versus $2,083 in Addis Ababa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,669 in Assela versus $2,783 in Addis Ababa.

Living in Assela costs roughly 42% less than in Addis Ababa, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Assela is 40% below, Addis Ababa is 3% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.60 ETB 725

$4.55 ETB 718

1.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.67 ETB 5,622

$35.04 ETB 5,522

1.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.32 ETB 996

$6.41 ETB 1,010

-1.40%

Cappuccino

$1.29 ETB 203

$1.24 ETB 196

4.03%

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

$0.64 ETB 101

$0.69 ETB 109

-7.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ETB 68.3

$0.43 ETB 67.7

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 ETB 154

$0.99 ETB 156

-1.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ETB 462

$2.97 ETB 468

-1.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 ETB 228

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 ETB 209

$1.33 ETB 210

-0.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ETB 343

Eggs

$2.46 ETB 388

$2.43 ETB 383

1.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.00 ETB 1,104

$7.29 ETB 1,148

-3.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.87 ETB 2,185

$13.73 ETB 2,164

1.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.40 ETB 2,112

$13.09 ETB 2,063

2.37%

Apples (1kg)

$6.84 ETB 1,078

$6.68 ETB 1,053

2.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ETB 162

$0.98 ETB 154

5.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 ETB 345

Tomato (1kg)

$0.97 ETB 153

$0.99 ETB 157

-2.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ETB 99.6

$0.68 ETB 107

-7.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.88 ETB 296

$1.81 ETB 286

3.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ETB 110

$0.68 ETB 108

2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ETB 108

$0.64 ETB 101

7.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 ETB 636

$4.02 ETB 633

0.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.70 ETB 899

$5.77 ETB 909

-1.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ETB 156

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ETB 290

$1.89 ETB 298

-2.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ETB 67.9

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.21 ETB 1,925

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 ETB 228

$1.48 ETB 234

-2.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ETB 42.53

$0.27 ETB 42.16

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 ETB 312

$2.05 ETB 323

-3.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ETB 204

$1.24 ETB 195

4.03%

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

$55.2K ETB 8.7M

$55.4K ETB 8.7M

-0.49%

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

$54.6K ETB 8.6M

$54.0K ETB 8.5M

1.02%

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

$159 ETB 25.0K

$157 ETB 24.8K

1.03%

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

$11.83 ETB 1,864

$12.11 ETB 1,908

-2.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$131 ETB 20.6K

$129 ETB 20.3K

1.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.5 ETB 11.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.71 ETB 5,786

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ETB 910

$5.86 ETB 923

-1.54%

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

$79.9 ETB 12.6K

$81.1 ETB 12.8K

-1.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$41.0K ETB 6.5M

$41.1K ETB 6.5M

-0.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.94 ETB 7,398

$46.81 ETB 7,377

0.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.1 ETB 11.8K

$74.1 ETB 11.7K

1.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ETB 14.8K

$93.3 ETB 14.7K

0.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 ETB 18.1K

$115 ETB 18.2K

-0.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$758 ETB 119.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 ETB 78.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,819 ETB 286.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$890 ETB 140.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,981 ETB 312.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,009 ETB 159.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$206 ETB 32.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Assela: June 1, 2026

Last update for Addis Ababa: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $36.00 in Assela vs $35.00 in Addis Ababa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $265 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

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

Assela and Addis Ababa differ by about 72% in total monthly costs ($806 vs $1,383 including rent). Assela is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,208 in Assela and $2,075 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.

Shoppers in Addis Ababa pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $806 per month in Assela versus $1,383 in Addis Ababa – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $806 in Assela versus $1,383 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 72% less than in Addis Ababa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.