Cost of Living Comparison Between Ethiopia and South Africa Cost of Living Comparison Between Ethiopia and South Africa

Name: South Africa
Address: ZA

😐 Solo nomad: Ethiopia is 28% more expensive than South Africa without rent, and 13.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Ethiopia is 18.6% more expensive than South Africa without rent, and 17.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.52 ETB 698

$8.84 R 145

-48.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.49 ETB 5,329

$38.50 R 631

-10.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.60 ETB 1,020

$5.07 R 83.2

30.18%

Cappuccino

$1.15 ETB 178

$2.04 R 33.40

-43.63%

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

$0.63 ETB 97.6

$1.04 R 17.02

-39.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ETB 66.2

$0.74 R 12.08

-41.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 ETB 151

$2.31 R 37.83

-57.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ETB 315

$2.47 R 40.57

-17.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 ETB 221

$1.07 R 17.55

33.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ETB 198

$1.01 R 16.51

26.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 ETB 262

$1.57 R 25.79

8.28%

Eggs

$2.48 ETB 383

$2.33 R 38.26

6.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.25 ETB 1,120

$7.68 R 126

-5.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.79 ETB 1,976

$4.47 R 73.4

186.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.03 ETB 2,013

$6.60 R 108

97.42%

Apples (1kg)

$6.15 ETB 950

$1.56 R 25.55

294.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 ETB 157

$1.45 R 23.80

-29.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 ETB 353

$1.51 R 24.79

50.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 ETB 141

$1.49 R 24.39

-38.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 ETB 103

$1.21 R 19.91

-44.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 ETB 285

$1.33 R 21.80

39.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ETB 108

$1.08 R 17.70

-35.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 ETB 103

$0.94 R 15.34

-28.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.89 ETB 601

$2.85 R 46.74

36.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.43 ETB 993

$4.89 R 80.3

31.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ETB 127

$1.38 R 22.64

-40.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 ETB 277

$1.69 R 27.65

5.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 ETB 41.68

$1.73 R 28.33

-84.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.73 ETB 1,966

$45.33 R 743

-71.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ETB 229

$1.10 R 18.01

35.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 ETB 47.96

$1.10 R 18.03

-71.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 ETB 313

$4.69 R 76.9

-56.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ETB 204

$1.30 R 21.32

1.54%

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

$52.8K ETB 8.2M

$20.6K R 337.3K

156.96%

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

$54.4K ETB 8.4M

$24.2K R 396.4K

124.92%

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

$134 ETB 20.7K

$110 R 1,811

21.50%

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

$12.28 ETB 1,897

$32.07 R 526

-61.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$157 ETB 24.2K

$40.81 R 669

283.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ETB 9,555

$31.33 R 514

97.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.71 ETB 5,517

$9.44 R 155

278.28%

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 ETB 755

$6.90 R 113

-29.13%

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

$77.7 ETB 12.0K

$187 R 3,074

-58.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.0K ETB 6.2M

$4,385 R 71.9K

813.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.51 ETB 7,341

$49.70 R 815

-4.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$77.3 ETB 11.9K

$31.23 R 512

147.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.3 ETB 15.2K

$93.0 R 1,526

5.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ETB 18.0K

$79.7 R 1,307

46.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$690 ETB 106.6K

$443 R 7,265

55.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 ETB 58.6K

$369 R 6,048

2.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,367 ETB 211.2K

$890 R 14.6K

53.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$877 ETB 135.4K

$724 R 11.9K

20.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,203 ETB 340.4K

$1,125 R 18.5K

95.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,348 ETB 208.3K

$823 R 13.5K

63.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$204 ETB 31.5K

$1,486 R 24.4K

-86.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.55

47.19%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ethiopia: January 11, 2026

Last update for South Africa: January 12, 2026

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ethiopia and South Africa Cost of Living Comparison Between Ethiopia and South Africa

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