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 $378 per month in Bahir Dar vs $823 in Hawassa, rent included.

A couple spends around $562 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,195 in Hawassa, rent included.

A family of three spends $746 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,567 in Hawassa, rent included.

Bahir Dar is about 54% cheaper than Hawassa, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Bahir Dar and Hawassa are more affordable than the global median – Bahir Dar 72% lower, Hawassa 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 ETB 577

$4.01 ETB 645

-10.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.04 ETB 6,754

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.38 ETB 1,026

Cappuccino

$0.97 ETB 156

$0.91 ETB 146

6.59%

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

$0.38 ETB 61.5

$0.62 ETB 100

-38.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ETB 77.1

$0.68 ETB 109

-29.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.78 ETB 125

$0.79 ETB 127

-1.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ETB 329

$2.23 ETB 359

-8.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 ETB 162

$1.06 ETB 170

-4.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ETB 164

$1.21 ETB 194

-15.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ETB 159

$1.03 ETB 165

-3.88%

Eggs

$1.71 ETB 274

$1.54 ETB 247

11.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.22 ETB 1,160

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.91 ETB 1,593

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.16 ETB 1,632

$9.30 ETB 1,493

9.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 ETB 472

$5.31 ETB 853

-44.63%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 ETB 157

$0.69 ETB 110

42.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ETB 326

$2.20 ETB 353

-7.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.84 ETB 135

$0.70 ETB 112

20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 ETB 103

$0.50 ETB 80.7

28.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ETB 182

$1.10 ETB 176

2.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ETB 159

$0.68 ETB 110

45.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ETB 77.6

$0.57 ETB 92.4

-15.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.89 ETB 1,267

Wine (Bottle)

$4.06 ETB 653

$5.74 ETB 922

-29.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ETB 131

$0.66 ETB 106

24.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ETB 312

$1.23 ETB 198

57.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 ETB 208

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 ETB 82.6

$0.29 ETB 46.75

75.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 ETB 328

$2.03 ETB 326

0.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 ETB 157

$0.97 ETB 156

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

$55.1K ETB 8.9M

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

$54.6K ETB 8.8M

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

$101 ETB 16.3K

$203 ETB 32.7K

-50.22%

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

$10.13 ETB 1,627

$7.42 ETB 1,191

36.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$210 ETB 33.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 ETB 8,088

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$59.2 ETB 9,512

Cinema Ticket

$5.98 ETB 960

$3.68 ETB 592

62.50%

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

$49.53 ETB 7,957

$134 ETB 21.6K

-63.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.4K ETB 4.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 ETB 8,077

$33.25 ETB 5,342

51.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.7 ETB 11.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 ETB 12.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ETB 13.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,990 ETB 319.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,507 ETB 242.1K

$497 ETB 79.9K

202.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$199 ETB 32.0K

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: September 14, 2026

Last update for Hawassa: September 13, 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 118% more than Bahir Dar, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $567 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 $378 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 65% 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 $378 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.