Cost of Living Comparison Between Ethiopia and SpainCost of Living Comparison Between Ethiopia and Spain
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $776 in Ethiopia versus $1,689 in Spain.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,155 in Ethiopia versus $2,496 in Spain.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,534 in Ethiopia versus $3,303 in Spain.
🌍Living in Ethiopia costs about 54% less than in Spain on average.
📊Ethiopia (44% below) and Spain (22% above) straddle the global median.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ethiopia
Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.93ETB 632
$17.71€15.27
-77.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.71ETB 6,865
$57.6€49.61
-25.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.55ETB 1,052
$11.81€10.18
-44.54%
Cappuccino
$0.87ETB 139
$2.43€2.10
-64.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56ETB 90.6
$2.76€2.38
-79.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56ETB 89.7
$1.84€1.59
-69.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.83ETB 134
$3.52€3.03
-76.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04ETB 327
$4.16€3.58
-50.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ethiopia
Spain
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08ETB 173
$1.21€1.04
-10.74%
White Bread(500g)
$0.97ETB 156
$1.54€1.32
-37.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72ETB 277
$1.64€1.41
4.88%
Eggs
$1.81ETB 291
$3.59€3.10
-49.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.55ETB 1,213
$14.81€12.77
-49.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.39ETB 1,671
$8.49€7.32
22.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.37ETB 1,667
$16.68€14.38
-37.83%
Apples(1kg)
$4.49ETB 721
$2.53€2.18
77.47%
Banana(1kg)
$0.73ETB 117
$2.09€1.80
-65.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41ETB 388
$2.13€1.84
13.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.67ETB 108
$2.55€2.20
-73.73%
Potato(1kg)
$0.55ETB 88.4
$1.82€1.57
-69.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40ETB 226
$2.00€1.72
-30.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75ETB 121
$1.37€1.18
-45.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62ETB 99.5
$0.81€0.70
-23.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.03ETB 1,292
$6.71€5.79
19.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.23ETB 841
$5.64€4.87
-7.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.75ETB 120
$1.29€1.11
-41.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48ETB 238
$2.10€1.81
-29.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Ethiopia
Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35ETB 55.8
$1.76€1.51
-80.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.38ETB 2,794
$34.25€29.52
-49.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36ETB 218
$4.55€3.92
-70.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29ETB 47.23
$1.47€1.27
-80.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.01ETB 323
$25.66€22.12
-92.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99ETB 160
$1.79€1.54
-44.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.6KETB 8.9M
$36.4K€31.4K
52.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$55.2KETB 8.9M
$30.6K€26.4K
80.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ethiopia
Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145ETB 23.3K
$152€131
-4.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42ETB 1,515
$18.49€15.94
-49.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$230ETB 37.0K
$33.57€28.94
585.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ethiopia
Spain
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.94ETB 7,063
$47.38€40.84
-7.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.43ETB 5,856
$15.56€13.41
134.13%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92ETB 791
$9.96€8.59
-50.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ethiopia
Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$120ETB 19.3K
$548€473
-78.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$30.5KETB 4.9M
$10.8K€9,343
181.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ethiopia
Spain
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.02ETB 5,789
$90.1€77.6
-60.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.1ETB 10.3K
$37.31€32.16
71.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.6ETB 12.3K
$92.0€79.3
-16.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.1ETB 13.8K
$111€96.1
-22.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ethiopia
Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$648ETB 104.1K
$1,049€905
-38.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$348ETB 56.0K
$836€720
-58.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,826ETB 293.6K
$1,663€1,433
9.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709ETB 114.0K
$1,250€1,078
-43.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,831ETB 294.3K
$4,240€3,655
-56.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,023ETB 164.5K
$2,711€2,337
-62.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ethiopia
Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$201ETB 32.3K
$2,021€1,742
-90.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17
3.28
418.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ethiopia: September 5, 2026
Last update for Spain: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $181 in Ethiopia, $931 in Spain. Capital cities: $703 in Addis Ababa vs $1,577 in Madrid.
💰National salary averages: $185 in Ethiopia, $2,035 in Spain. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 414% higher in Spain.
⭐Dining out costs 146% more in Spain.
⭐Public transport is 520% more expensive in Spain.
⭐Salaries are 1000% higher in Spain, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Spain.
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
Ethiopia vs Spain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Ethiopia and Spain?
At $655 per month in Ethiopia and $1,823 in Spain, there's a 178% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Ethiopia: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Spain is consistently higher than in Ethiopia across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Ethiopia or in Spain?
In Ethiopia, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in Spain it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Ethiopia or to Spain?
It depends on what you're after: Ethiopia wins on affordability; Spain may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.