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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $368 per month in Bahir Dar vs $822 in Hawassa, rent included.

A couple spends around $566 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,230 in Hawassa, rent included.

A family of three spends $765 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,638 in Hawassa, rent included.

Bahir Dar is about 55% cheaper than Hawassa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bahir Dar and Hawassa are more affordable than the global median – Bahir Dar 73% lower, Hawassa 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.46 ETB 541

$4.41 ETB 689

-21.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.09 ETB 5,484

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.58 ETB 1,029

Cappuccino

$1.02 ETB 159

$1.23 ETB 193

-17.07%

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

$0.41 ETB 64.4

$0.64 ETB 100

-35.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ETB 80.7

$0.43 ETB 67.5

20.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.78 ETB 122

$1.02 ETB 160

-23.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 ETB 315

$2.97 ETB 464

-32.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 ETB 153

$1.39 ETB 218

-29.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ETB 152

$1.34 ETB 209

-27.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ETB 154

$1.03 ETB 161

-3.88%

Eggs

$1.78 ETB 279

$1.60 ETB 251

11.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.21 ETB 1,127

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.92 ETB 2,175

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.11 ETB 1,580

$13.28 ETB 2,075

-23.87%

Apples (1kg)

$3.06 ETB 478

$6.76 ETB 1,057

-54.73%

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 ETB 154

$0.97 ETB 152

2.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ETB 318

$2.16 ETB 338

-6.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 ETB 123

$0.90 ETB 141

-12.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 ETB 104

$0.67 ETB 105

-1.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 ETB 184

$1.91 ETB 299

-38.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ETB 152

$0.68 ETB 107

42.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ETB 80.8

$0.63 ETB 98.1

-17.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.02 ETB 629

Wine (Bottle)

$4.01 ETB 627

$5.76 ETB 900

-30.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ETB 128

$1.00 ETB 156

-18.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ETB 322

$1.84 ETB 288

11.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ETB 233

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 ETB 80.3

$0.27 ETB 42.05

88.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 ETB 318

$2.05 ETB 320

-0.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 ETB 158

$1.24 ETB 194

-18.55%

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

$55.1K ETB 8.6M

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

$53.0K ETB 8.3M

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

$99.3 ETB 15.5K

$158 ETB 24.7K

-37.19%

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

$10.15 ETB 1,587

$11.98 ETB 1,872

-15.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$131 ETB 20.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.85 ETB 7,792

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$58.9 ETB 9,205

Cinema Ticket

$6.06 ETB 947

$5.54 ETB 866

9.39%

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

$50.2 ETB 7,845

$81.7 ETB 12.8K

-38.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.9K ETB 6.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.56 ETB 7,746

$47.79 ETB 7,470

3.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.0 ETB 11.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.5 ETB 14.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ETB 18.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,988 ETB 310.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,511 ETB 236.2K

$503 ETB 78.5K

200.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$199 ETB 31.2K

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Hawassa: April 25, 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 Hawassa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hawassa costs about 123% more than Bahir Dar, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $551 per month in Bahir Dar and $1,232 in Hawassa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $368 in Bahir Dar and $822 in Hawassa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 107% more in Hawassa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $368 in Bahir Dar and $822 in Hawassa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Bahir Dar – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bahir Dar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hawassa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.