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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $373 in Bahir Dar versus $836 in Assela.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $573 in Bahir Dar versus $1,195 in Assela.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $772 in Bahir Dar versus $1,554 in Assela.

Living in Bahir Dar costs roughly 55% less than in Assela, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bahir Dar 73% lower, Assela 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 ETB 546

$3.94 ETB 632

-13.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.27 ETB 6,949

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.66 ETB 1,070

Cappuccino

$1.01 ETB 163

$0.95 ETB 152

6.32%

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

$0.41 ETB 66.3

$0.60 ETB 95.9

-31.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ETB 82.3

$0.63 ETB 102

-19.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.74 ETB 119

$0.77 ETB 123

-3.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ETB 313

$2.28 ETB 366

-14.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 ETB 157

$1.07 ETB 172

-8.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ETB 156

$1.20 ETB 193

-19.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ETB 164

$2.11 ETB 338

-51.66%

Eggs

$1.71 ETB 275

$1.72 ETB 277

-0.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.27 ETB 1,167

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.10 ETB 1,621

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.83 ETB 1,579

$9.16 ETB 1,471

7.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 ETB 495

$5.27 ETB 846

-41.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 ETB 163

$0.63 ETB 101

60.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ETB 326

$2.20 ETB 353

-7.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 ETB 125

$0.67 ETB 107

16.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 ETB 103

$0.50 ETB 79.9

28.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ETB 187

$1.06 ETB 170

9.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ETB 165

$0.66 ETB 106

56.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ETB 83.7

$0.57 ETB 91.4

-8.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.92 ETB 1,273

Wine (Bottle)

$3.96 ETB 636

$5.48 ETB 881

-27.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ETB 125

$0.66 ETB 105

18.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ETB 312

$1.23 ETB 198

57.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 ETB 210

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 ETB 78.3

$0.27 ETB 43.34

81.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 ETB 329

$1.99 ETB 319

3.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 ETB 159

$0.97 ETB 156

2.06%

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

$54.3K ETB 8.7M

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

$54.9K ETB 8.8M

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

$100 ETB 16.1K

$208 ETB 33.4K

-51.80%

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

$9.81 ETB 1,575

$7.28 ETB 1,170

34.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$210 ETB 33.8K

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

$3.86 ETB 620

51.55%

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

$49.73 ETB 7,986

$137 ETB 22.0K

-63.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K ETB 4.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.08 ETB 7,883

$33.35 ETB 5,356

47.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.0 ETB 11.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 ETB 12.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.1 ETB 13.3K

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

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 Assela: August 31, 2026

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 Assela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bahir Dar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 124% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $560 in Bahir Dar and $1,254 in Assela to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 70% higher in Assela. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Childcare runs $49.73 in Bahir Dar versus $137 in Assela. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bahir Dar gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 Assela 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 124% less than in Assela. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.