Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahir Dar and Adama Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahir Dar and Adama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $373 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,032 in Adama, rent included.

A couple spends around $573 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,685 in Adama, rent included.

A family of three spends $772 per month in Bahir Dar vs $2,338 in Adama, rent included.

Bahir Dar is about 64% cheaper than Adama, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Bahir Dar and Adama are more affordable than the global median – Bahir Dar 73% lower, Adama 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 ETB 546

$2.96 ETB 476

14.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.08 ETB 6,758

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.02 ETB 807

Cappuccino

$1.01 ETB 163

$0.88 ETB 142

14.77%

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

$0.41 ETB 66.3

$0.59 ETB 95.1

-30.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ETB 82.3

$0.31 ETB 50.0

64.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.74 ETB 119

$0.78 ETB 126

-5.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ETB 313

$2.22 ETB 357

-12.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 ETB 157

$0.82 ETB 131

19.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ETB 156

$1.22 ETB 196

-20.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ETB 164

$2.12 ETB 340

-51.89%

Eggs

$1.71 ETB 275

$1.81 ETB 291

-5.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.31 ETB 1,173

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.97 ETB 1,601

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.83 ETB 1,579

$9.34 ETB 1,500

5.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 ETB 495

$5.26 ETB 845

-41.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 ETB 163

$0.69 ETB 111

46.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ETB 326

$2.14 ETB 344

-5.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 ETB 125

$0.71 ETB 114

9.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 ETB 103

$0.46 ETB 73.7

39.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ETB 187

$1.09 ETB 174

6.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ETB 165

$0.65 ETB 104

58.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ETB 83.7

$0.57 ETB 91.1

-8.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.93 ETB 1,273

Wine (Bottle)

$3.96 ETB 636

$5.52 ETB 886

-28.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ETB 125

$0.72 ETB 116

8.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ETB 312

$1.21 ETB 195

60.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.34 ETB 215

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 ETB 78.3

$0.27 ETB 43.00

81.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 ETB 329

$2.03 ETB 326

0.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 ETB 159

$0.89 ETB 142

11.24%

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

$55.3K ETB 8.9M

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

$56.2K ETB 9.0M

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

$100 ETB 16.1K

$206 ETB 33.1K

-51.34%

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

$9.81 ETB 1,575

$7.19 ETB 1,155

36.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$212 ETB 34.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.32 ETB 7,920

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$59.3 ETB 9,523

Cinema Ticket

$5.85 ETB 940

$3.81 ETB 611

53.54%

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

$49.73 ETB 7,986

$136 ETB 21.8K

-63.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.2K ETB 4.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.08 ETB 7,883

$33.57 ETB 5,391

46.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.4 ETB 11.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.5 ETB 12.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.5 ETB 13.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$350 ETB 56.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ETB 32.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,001 ETB 160.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$791 ETB 127.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ETB 320.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,505 ETB 241.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$202 ETB 32.5K

$102 ETB 16.3K

98.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.5

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

Last update for Bahir Dar: August 30, 2026

Last update for Adama: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 99% higher in Bahir Dar, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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

Bahir Dar vs Adama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $373 in Bahir Dar, $1,032 in Adama – roughly 176% apart. Adama costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $560 per month in Bahir Dar and $1,548 in Adama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $49.73 per month in Bahir Dar and $136 in Adama. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $373 in Bahir Dar and $1,032 in Adama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bahir Dar, where all-in costs run around $373, than in Adama at $1,032. In Bahir Dar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Adama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bahir Dar – 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 Bahir Dar. 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.