🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $786 in Ethiopia versus $2,363 in United Kingdom.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,185 in Ethiopia versus $3,474 in United Kingdom.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,584 in Ethiopia versus $4,585 in United Kingdom.
🙂Living in Ethiopia costs about 67% less than in United Kingdom on average.
📊Ethiopia (41% below) and United Kingdom (76% above) straddle the global median.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ethiopia
United Kingdom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40ETB 693
$20.41£15.17
-78.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.21ETB 5,548
$87.0£64.7
-59.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.64ETB 1,046
$10.13£7.53
-34.45%
Cappuccino
$1.16ETB 183
$4.70£3.49
-75.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60ETB 94.4
$2.36£1.75
-74.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46ETB 73.0
$1.76£1.30
-73.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.02ETB 160
$6.66£4.95
-84.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03ETB 321
$6.43£4.78
-68.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ethiopia
United Kingdom
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42ETB 224
$1.70£1.27
-16.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29ETB 203
$1.63£1.21
-20.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.68ETB 264
$2.29£1.70
-26.64%
Eggs
$2.48ETB 391
$4.03£2.99
-38.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.22ETB 1,138
$9.77£7.26
-26.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.54ETB 1,976
$8.92£6.63
40.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.08ETB 2,062
$14.31£10.64
-8.60%
Apples(1kg)
$6.25ETB 985
$3.05£2.26
104.92%
Banana(1kg)
$0.98ETB 155
$1.61£1.19
-39.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30ETB 363
$2.84£2.11
-19.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.85ETB 134
$3.53£2.62
-75.92%
Potato(1kg)
$0.64ETB 100
$1.61£1.19
-60.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88ETB 296
$1.57£1.17
19.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73ETB 115
$1.17£0.87
-37.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67ETB 106
$1.56£1.16
-57.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.92ETB 618
$20.03£14.89
-80.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.37ETB 847
$10.90£8.10
-50.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84ETB 133
$2.90£2.16
-71.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84ETB 290
$3.38£2.51
-45.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Ethiopia
United Kingdom
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27ETB 42.41
$3.17£2.35
-91.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.42ETB 1,957
$95.2£70.8
-86.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48ETB 233
$5.45£4.05
-72.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31ETB 49.27
$1.59£1.18
-80.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.96ETB 308
$27.31£20.30
-92.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25ETB 197
$1.99£1.48
-37.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$53.3KETB 8.4M
$37.8K£28.1K
41.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$53.3KETB 8.4M
$40.2K£29.9K
32.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ethiopia
United Kingdom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$135ETB 21.2K
$323£240
-58.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.93ETB 1,880
$17.22£12.80
-30.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$155ETB 24.4K
$42.23£31.39
267.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ethiopia
United Kingdom
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.1ETB 9,791
$46.03£34.21
34.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.89ETB 5,813
$15.67£11.65
135.42%
Cinema Ticket
$5.12ETB 807
$13.48£10.02
-62.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ethiopia
United Kingdom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$77.2ETB 12.2K
$1,713£1,274
-95.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$39.8KETB 6.3M
$20.8K£15.5K
91.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ethiopia
United Kingdom
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.27ETB 7,607
$91.3£67.8
-47.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$76.6ETB 12.1K
$44.88£33.36
70.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.9ETB 15.6K
$102£75.9
-3.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117ETB 18.4K
$104£77.3
12.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ethiopia
United Kingdom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682ETB 107.4K
$1,417£1,053
-51.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379ETB 59.8K
$1,132£841
-66.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,406ETB 221.6K
$2,308£1,715
-39.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$891ETB 140.4K
$1,839£1,367
-51.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,790ETB 282.1K
$5,727£4,257
-68.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,005ETB 158.4K
$4,523£3,362
-77.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ethiopia
United Kingdom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$203ETB 32.0K
$3,333£2,477
-93.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17
5.75
195.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ethiopia: June 1, 2026
Last update for United Kingdom: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $212 in Ethiopia, $1,265 in United Kingdom. Capital cities: $758 in Addis Ababa vs $3,019 in London.
💰National salary averages: $184 in Ethiopia, $3,219 in United Kingdom. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 497% higher in United Kingdom.
⭐Dining out costs 320% more in United Kingdom.
⭐Public transport is 2225% more expensive in United Kingdom.
⭐Salaries are 1649% higher in United Kingdom, giving United Kingdom stronger purchasing power.
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 United Kingdom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Ethiopia and United Kingdom?
At $692 per month in Ethiopia and $2,785 in United Kingdom, there's a 303% 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?
Ethiopia is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 United Kingdom beats 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 United Kingdom?
In Ethiopia, $1,500 covers most cities easily. In United Kingdom, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Ethiopia or United Kingdom?
It depends on what you're after. Ethiopia wins on affordability; United Kingdom may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.