Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahir Dar and Addis Ababa

For one person, living is cheaper in Bahir Dar: $375 a month against $1,307 in Addis Ababa, rent and utilities included – about $11,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Addis Ababa
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Addis Ababa Living Index

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Bahir Dar

🇪🇹 Ethiopia

$375

/mo nomad

Addis Ababa

🇪🇹 Ethiopia

$1,307

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bahir Dar and in Addis Ababa

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bahir Dar and in Addis Ababa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $375 in Bahir Dar versus $1,307 in Addis Ababa.

Bahir Dar $375
Addis Ababa $1,307

Estimated couple costs with rent: $569 in Bahir Dar versus $1,926 in Addis Ababa.

Bahir Dar $569
Addis Ababa $1,926

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $763 in Bahir Dar versus $2,544 in Addis Ababa.

Bahir Dar $763
Addis Ababa $2,544

Living in Bahir Dar costs roughly 71% less than in Addis Ababa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahir Dar 72% lower, Addis Ababa 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ETB 564

$3.92 ETB 630

-10.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.93 ETB 6,730

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.68 ETB 1,072

Cappuccino

$0.99 ETB 159

$0.88 ETB 142

12.50%

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

$0.41 ETB 66.0

$0.63 ETB 100

-34.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ETB 83.9

$0.64 ETB 102

-18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.72 ETB 116

$0.82 ETB 131

-12.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 ETB 323

$2.28 ETB 365

-11.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 ETB 158

$1.06 ETB 170

-6.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 ETB 157

$1.22 ETB 195

-19.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ETB 165

$2.22 ETB 357

-53.60%

Eggs

$1.72 ETB 276

$1.76 ETB 282

-2.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.19 ETB 1,153

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.25 ETB 1,645

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.04 ETB 1,612

$9.26 ETB 1,486

8.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 ETB 468

$5.42 ETB 871

-46.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 ETB 164

$0.65 ETB 104

56.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 ETB 329

$2.19 ETB 352

-6.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.83 ETB 133

$0.70 ETB 112

18.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ETB 101

$0.50 ETB 80.4

26.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 ETB 180

$1.04 ETB 167

7.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ETB 164

$0.65 ETB 104

56.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ETB 82.2

$0.60 ETB 97.0

-15.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.20 ETB 1,316

Wine (Bottle)

$3.90 ETB 626

$5.76 ETB 924

-32.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ETB 134

$0.68 ETB 109

23.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 ETB 316

$1.27 ETB 204

55.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ETB 83.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.49 ETB 3,449

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ETB 218

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 ETB 76.9

$0.29 ETB 46.70

65.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 ETB 324

$2.02 ETB 325

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 ETB 164

$0.90 ETB 144

13.33%

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

$56.0K ETB 9.0M

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

$56.5K ETB 9.1M

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

$102 ETB 16.4K

$206 ETB 33.1K

-50.58%

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

$9.82 ETB 1,576

$7.16 ETB 1,149

37.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$216 ETB 34.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.9 ETB 8,167

$44.41 ETB 7,128

14.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$60.5 ETB 9,711

$36.94 ETB 5,929

63.81%

Cinema Ticket

$5.90 ETB 947

$3.73 ETB 599

58.18%

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

$49.85 ETB 8,001

$134 ETB 21.5K

-62.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.4K ETB 4.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.1 ETB 8,032

$33.22 ETB 5,331

50.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.9 ETB 11.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.1 ETB 12.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.0 ETB 13.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$711 ETB 114.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 ETB 62.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,255 ETB 361.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$786 ETB 126.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,988 ETB 319.1K

$1,965 ETB 315.4K

1.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,476 ETB 237.0K

$1,004 ETB 161.1K

47.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$200 ETB 32.1K

0.18%

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: October 12, 2026

Last update for Addis Ababa: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Bahir Dar

–

Addis Ababa

$429 32.8%

Accommodation & Living

Bahir Dar

–

Addis Ababa

$391 29.9%

Groceries & Markets

Bahir Dar

–

Addis Ababa

$213 16.3%

Clothing & Footwear

Bahir Dar

–

Addis Ababa

$120 9.2%

Eating Out

Bahir Dar

–

Addis Ababa

$76 5.8%

Sport & Entertainment

Bahir Dar

–

Addis Ababa

$52 4%

Getting Around

Bahir Dar

–

Addis Ababa

$26 2%

Cost Breakdown

Bahir Dar pays 0% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Good to know

🇪🇹 Bahir Dar

🇪🇹 Addis Ababa

🕒 Local time

16:50 4:50 PM

Same time as Bahir Dar

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

350,000

3,500,000 Capital

💱 Currency

Ethiopian Birr ETB Br

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 ETB = 6.23 USD

1,000 ETB = 5.54 EUR

1,000 ETB = 6.23 USD

1,000 ETB = 5.54 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Bahir Dar Addis Ababa 320 km

From you

Bahir Dar
Addis Ababa

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 249% in total monthly costs ($375 vs $1,307 including rent). Bahir Dar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 0% 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 $49.85 in Bahir Dar versus $134 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 $375 per month in Bahir Dar versus $1,307 in Addis Ababa – a 249% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $375 in Bahir Dar versus $1,307 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 249% less than in Addis Ababa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.