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 $373 per month in Bahir Dar vs $823 in Hawassa, rent included.

A couple spends around $568 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,230 in Hawassa, rent included.

A family of three spends $764 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,637 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 72% lower, Hawassa 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 ETB 543

$4.46 ETB 713

-23.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.65 ETB 5,534

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.53 ETB 1,044

Cappuccino

$0.98 ETB 157

$1.28 ETB 205

-23.44%

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

$0.41 ETB 65.8

$0.64 ETB 103

-35.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ETB 83.7

$0.44 ETB 69.8

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.74 ETB 117

$1.02 ETB 163

-27.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ETB 317

$3.06 ETB 488

-34.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 ETB 157

$1.39 ETB 223

-29.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 ETB 158

$1.33 ETB 213

-25.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ETB 163

$0.99 ETB 158

3.03%

Eggs

$1.77 ETB 282

$1.58 ETB 253

12.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.01 ETB 1,119

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.95 ETB 2,227

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.14 ETB 1,619

$13.27 ETB 2,118

-23.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 ETB 474

$6.81 ETB 1,088

-56.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 ETB 162

$1.03 ETB 165

-1.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 ETB 326

$2.28 ETB 364

-10.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 ETB 125

$1.00 ETB 159

-22.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 ETB 99.6

$0.63 ETB 100

-1.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ETB 187

$1.91 ETB 306

-38.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ETB 161

$0.70 ETB 112

44.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ETB 76.9

$0.63 ETB 101

-23.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.88 ETB 620

Wine (Bottle)

$4.07 ETB 649

$5.46 ETB 871

-25.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ETB 133

$1.00 ETB 159

-16.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ETB 317

$1.92 ETB 307

3.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ETB 240

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 ETB 76.7

$0.27 ETB 42.71

77.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 ETB 315

$1.97 ETB 314

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 ETB 164

$1.30 ETB 208

-20.77%

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)

$54.5K ETB 8.7M

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

$101 ETB 16.1K

$156 ETB 25.0K

-35.40%

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

$9.95 ETB 1,590

$11.85 ETB 1,892

-16.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$130 ETB 20.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.9 ETB 8,133

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$61.1 ETB 9,754

Cinema Ticket

$6.14 ETB 980

$5.61 ETB 895

9.45%

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

$50.4 ETB 8,047

$82.5 ETB 13.2K

-38.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.7K ETB 6.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.40 ETB 7,889

$47.78 ETB 7,630

3.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.7 ETB 12.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.3 ETB 14.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ETB 18.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,008 ETB 320.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,489 ETB 237.8K

$501 ETB 80.0K

197.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$198 ETB 31.6K

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 26, 2026

Last update for Hawassa: July 28, 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 121% 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 $559 per month in Bahir Dar and $1,234 in Hawassa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $373 in Bahir Dar and $823 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 $373 in Bahir Dar and $823 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.