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: $379 in Bahir Dar versus $1,429 in Addis Ababa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $563 in Bahir Dar versus $2,079 in Addis Ababa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $747 in Bahir Dar versus $2,730 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 7% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.52 ETB 558

$4.44 ETB 704

-20.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.55 ETB 5,634

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 ETB 1,058

Cappuccino

$0.97 ETB 154

$1.30 ETB 206

-25.38%

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

$0.38 ETB 60.6

$0.63 ETB 100

-39.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ETB 77.0

$0.43 ETB 68.4

13.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.73 ETB 115

$0.97 ETB 154

-24.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ETB 326

$2.93 ETB 465

-29.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 ETB 162

$1.46 ETB 231

-30.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 ETB 157

$1.33 ETB 211

-25.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ETB 157

$2.15 ETB 341

-53.95%

Eggs

$1.70 ETB 270

$2.40 ETB 380

-29.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.12 ETB 1,128

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.71 ETB 2,173

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.19 ETB 1,615

$13.07 ETB 2,071

-22.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 ETB 462

$6.66 ETB 1,055

-56.31%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 ETB 156

$1.04 ETB 165

-5.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ETB 322

$2.19 ETB 348

-7.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 ETB 121

$0.98 ETB 155

-22.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 ETB 97.9

$0.63 ETB 99.9

-1.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ETB 186

$1.91 ETB 303

-38.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ETB 156

$0.66 ETB 105

48.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ETB 81.4

$0.68 ETB 108

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 ETB 629

Wine (Bottle)

$4.08 ETB 646

$5.68 ETB 901

-28.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ETB 124

$1.04 ETB 164

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ETB 309

$1.83 ETB 290

6.56%

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)

$1.43 ETB 226

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 ETB 80.9

$0.29 ETB 46.37

75.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 ETB 313

$2.04 ETB 323

-3.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 ETB 163

$1.25 ETB 198

-17.60%

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

$55.6K ETB 8.8M

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

$54.3K ETB 8.6M

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

$100 ETB 15.9K

$163 ETB 25.8K

-38.23%

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

$10.06 ETB 1,595

$12.23 ETB 1,938

-17.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$129 ETB 20.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.45 ETB 7,838

$69.4 ETB 11.0K

-28.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$60.7 ETB 9,627

$36.29 ETB 5,752

67.37%

Cinema Ticket

$6.10 ETB 967

$5.82 ETB 923

4.81%

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

$49.33 ETB 7,819

$80.5 ETB 12.8K

-38.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.0K ETB 6.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.82 ETB 7,897

$47.75 ETB 7,568

4.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.4 ETB 11.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.4 ETB 14.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ETB 18.4K

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)

$2,023 ETB 320.7K

$1,969 ETB 312.1K

2.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,485 ETB 235.3K

$992 ETB 157.2K

49.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$203 ETB 32.2K

$200 ETB 31.7K

1.57%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Addis Ababa: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Bahir Dar pays 2% 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 277% in total monthly costs ($379 vs $1,429 including rent). Bahir Dar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 2% 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 $49.33 in Bahir Dar versus $80.5 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 $379 per month in Bahir Dar versus $1,429 in Addis Ababa – a 277% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $379 in Bahir Dar versus $1,429 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 277% less than in Addis Ababa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.