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: $373 in Bahir Dar versus $1,282 in Addis Ababa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $573 in Bahir Dar versus $1,880 in Addis Ababa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $772 in Bahir Dar versus $2,478 in Addis Ababa.

Living in Bahir Dar costs roughly 71% less than in Addis Ababa, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahir Dar 73% lower, Addis Ababa 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 ETB 546

$4.11 ETB 659

-17.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.92 ETB 6,894

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.45 ETB 1,036

Cappuccino

$1.01 ETB 163

$0.95 ETB 153

6.32%

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

$0.41 ETB 66.3

$0.63 ETB 102

-34.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ETB 82.3

$0.68 ETB 109

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.74 ETB 119

$0.82 ETB 132

-9.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ETB 313

$2.31 ETB 370

-15.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 ETB 157

$1.11 ETB 178

-11.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ETB 156

$1.22 ETB 196

-20.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ETB 164

$2.17 ETB 349

-53.00%

Eggs

$1.71 ETB 275

$1.72 ETB 277

-0.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.51 ETB 1,206

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.16 ETB 1,631

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.83 ETB 1,579

$9.17 ETB 1,472

7.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 ETB 495

$5.25 ETB 843

-41.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 ETB 163

$0.63 ETB 102

60.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ETB 326

$2.20 ETB 353

-7.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 ETB 125

$0.70 ETB 113

11.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 ETB 103

$0.49 ETB 79.0

30.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ETB 187

$1.09 ETB 175

6.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ETB 165

$0.66 ETB 106

56.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ETB 83.7

$0.58 ETB 92.4

-10.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.04 ETB 1,291

Wine (Bottle)

$3.96 ETB 636

$5.68 ETB 913

-30.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ETB 125

$0.67 ETB 108

16.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ETB 312

$1.27 ETB 203

52.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ETB 83.3

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.84 ETB 3,347

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ETB 216

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 ETB 78.3

$0.29 ETB 46.58

68.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 ETB 329

$1.95 ETB 313

5.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 ETB 159

$0.88 ETB 142

12.50%

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

$55.5K ETB 8.9M

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

$55.4K ETB 8.9M

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

$100 ETB 16.1K

$208 ETB 33.4K

-51.88%

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

$9.81 ETB 1,575

$7.26 ETB 1,166

35.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$211 ETB 33.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.32 ETB 7,920

$44.06 ETB 7,077

11.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$59.3 ETB 9,523

$35.68 ETB 5,730

66.20%

Cinema Ticket

$5.85 ETB 940

$3.73 ETB 599

56.84%

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

$49.73 ETB 7,986

$137 ETB 22.0K

-63.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.5K ETB 4.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.08 ETB 7,883

$32.94 ETB 5,290

49.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.0 ETB 11.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ETB 12.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.5 ETB 13.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$721 ETB 115.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 ETB 64.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,289 ETB 367.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$759 ETB 121.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ETB 320.4K

$1,954 ETB 313.8K

2.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,505 ETB 241.8K

$996 ETB 160.0K

51.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$202 ETB 32.5K

$200 ETB 32.2K

0.89%

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 Addis Ababa: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Bahir Dar pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 243% in total monthly costs ($373 vs $1,282 including rent). Bahir Dar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 1% higher in Bahir Dar, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $49.73 in Bahir Dar versus $137 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 $373 per month in Bahir Dar versus $1,282 in Addis Ababa – a 243% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $373 in Bahir Dar versus $1,282 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 243% less than in Addis Ababa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.