Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahir Dar and Addis Ababa Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahir Dar and Addis Ababa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $372 in Bahir Dar versus $1,383 in Addis Ababa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $560 in Bahir Dar versus $2,083 in Addis Ababa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $748 in Bahir Dar versus $2,783 in Addis Ababa.

Living in Bahir Dar costs roughly 73% less than in Addis Ababa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bahir Dar is 72% below, Addis Ababa is 3% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.60 ETB 567

$4.55 ETB 718

-20.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.04 ETB 5,522

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.41 ETB 1,010

Cappuccino

$1.02 ETB 161

$1.24 ETB 196

-17.74%

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

$0.42 ETB 65.9

$0.69 ETB 109

-39.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ETB 76.3

$0.43 ETB 67.7

11.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.78 ETB 123

$0.99 ETB 156

-21.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ETB 313

$2.97 ETB 468

-33.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 ETB 160

$1.44 ETB 228

-29.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 ETB 160

$1.33 ETB 210

-24.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ETB 156

$2.17 ETB 343

-54.38%

Eggs

$1.76 ETB 277

$2.43 ETB 383

-27.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.29 ETB 1,148

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.73 ETB 2,164

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.96 ETB 1,569

$13.09 ETB 2,063

-23.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 ETB 463

$6.68 ETB 1,053

-55.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 ETB 160

$0.98 ETB 154

4.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 ETB 310

$2.19 ETB 345

-10.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 ETB 122

$0.99 ETB 157

-22.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 ETB 105

$0.68 ETB 107

-1.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ETB 185

$1.81 ETB 286

-35.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ETB 155

$0.68 ETB 108

44.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ETB 81.6

$0.64 ETB 101

-18.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.02 ETB 633

Wine (Bottle)

$4.03 ETB 636

$5.77 ETB 909

-30.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ETB 121

$0.99 ETB 156

-22.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ETB 313

$1.89 ETB 298

4.76%

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)

$1.48 ETB 234

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 ETB 81.2

$0.27 ETB 42.16

92.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 ETB 312

$2.05 ETB 323

-3.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 ETB 160

$1.24 ETB 195

-17.74%

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

$55.4K ETB 8.7M

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

$54.0K ETB 8.5M

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

$100 ETB 15.8K

$157 ETB 24.8K

-36.06%

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

$9.90 ETB 1,560

$12.11 ETB 1,908

-18.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$129 ETB 20.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.5 ETB 7,963

$69.5 ETB 11.0K

-27.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$59.1 ETB 9,311

$36.71 ETB 5,786

60.94%

Cinema Ticket

$5.97 ETB 941

$5.86 ETB 923

1.88%

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

$50.3 ETB 7,927

$81.1 ETB 12.8K

-38.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$41.1K ETB 6.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 ETB 8,024

$46.81 ETB 7,377

8.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.1 ETB 11.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.3 ETB 14.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 ETB 18.2K

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)

$2,032 ETB 320.3K

$1,981 ETB 312.2K

2.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,514 ETB 238.6K

$1,009 ETB 159.0K

50.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$198 ETB 31.2K

$206 ETB 32.5K

-3.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Bahir Dar: June 1, 2026

Last update for Addis Ababa: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Addis Ababa pays 4% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Addis Ababa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bahir Dar and Addis Ababa differ by about 272% in total monthly costs ($372 vs $1,383 including rent). Bahir Dar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Addis Ababa earns 4% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $50.3 in Bahir Dar versus $81.1 in Addis Ababa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $372 per month in Bahir Dar versus $1,383 in Addis Ababa – a 272% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $372 in Bahir Dar versus $1,383 in Addis Ababa, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bahir Dar but tight or insufficient in Addis Ababa. The gap between the two cities makes Bahir Dar 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, Bahir Dar 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 Bahir Dar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 272% less than in Addis Ababa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.