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 $377 per month in Bahir Dar vs $793 in Hawassa, rent included.

A couple spends around $564 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,222 in Hawassa, rent included.

A family of three spends $751 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,650 in Hawassa, rent included.

Bahir Dar is about 53% 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 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 ETB 547

$4.45 ETB 705

-22.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.62 ETB 5,645

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.63 ETB 1,051

Cappuccino

$0.99 ETB 156

$1.25 ETB 198

-20.80%

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

$0.39 ETB 61.3

$0.63 ETB 99.5

-38.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ETB 82.8

$0.43 ETB 68.9

20.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.71 ETB 113

$1.02 ETB 162

-30.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ETB 324

$2.99 ETB 474

-31.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 ETB 161

$1.45 ETB 230

-30.34%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 ETB 157

$1.30 ETB 205

-23.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ETB 155

$1.02 ETB 162

-3.92%

Eggs

$1.70 ETB 270

$1.53 ETB 243

11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.99 ETB 1,108

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.85 ETB 2,196

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.18 ETB 1,614

$13.16 ETB 2,086

-22.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 ETB 461

$6.79 ETB 1,076

-57.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ETB 163

$0.97 ETB 153

6.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 ETB 326

$2.16 ETB 343

-4.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 ETB 123

$0.98 ETB 155

-20.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 ETB 98.9

$0.69 ETB 109

-10.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 ETB 187

$1.81 ETB 288

-34.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ETB 162

$0.70 ETB 111

45.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ETB 81.2

$0.64 ETB 101

-20.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.09 ETB 648

Wine (Bottle)

$4.04 ETB 640

$5.56 ETB 881

-27.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ETB 130

$1.00 ETB 159

-18.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ETB 322

$1.91 ETB 303

6.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 ETB 227

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 ETB 76.2

$0.29 ETB 46.44

65.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.06 ETB 326

$1.95 ETB 309

5.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 ETB 154

$1.23 ETB 196

-21.14%

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

$54.8K ETB 8.7M

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

$54.4K ETB 8.6M

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

$102 ETB 16.1K

$161 ETB 25.6K

-37.00%

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

$10.04 ETB 1,591

$11.88 ETB 1,882

-15.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$129 ETB 20.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.82 ETB 7,896

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$59.6 ETB 9,446

Cinema Ticket

$5.97 ETB 947

$5.78 ETB 917

3.29%

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

$49.85 ETB 7,901

$80.9 ETB 12.8K

-38.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.4K ETB 6.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.55 ETB 7,853

$47.67 ETB 7,556

3.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.4 ETB 12.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.9 ETB 14.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ETB 18.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,989 ETB 315.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,514 ETB 240.0K

$500 ETB 79.3K

202.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$201 ETB 31.8K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Hawassa: June 6, 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 111% 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 $565 per month in Bahir Dar and $1,190 in Hawassa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $377 in Bahir Dar and $793 in Hawassa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 106% 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 $377 in Bahir Dar and $793 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.