Cost of Living Comparison Between Harar and Addis Ababa Cost of Living Comparison Between Harar and Addis Ababa

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.08 ETB 656

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.15 ETB 6,774

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.34 ETB 1,018

Cappuccino

$0.94 ETB 150

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

$0.63 ETB 101

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ETB 111

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.84 ETB 134

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 ETB 351

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 ETB 175

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 ETB 187

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 ETB 356

Eggs

$1.73 ETB 278

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.46 ETB 1,198

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.30 ETB 1,655

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.14 ETB 1,469

Apples (1kg)

$5.35 ETB 860

Banana (1kg)

$0.68 ETB 109

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 ETB 346

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 ETB 111

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 ETB 79.1

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ETB 170

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ETB 111

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ETB 98.8

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.98 ETB 1,282

Wine (Bottle)

$5.73 ETB 921

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ETB 113

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 ETB 204

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ETB 83.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.83 ETB 3,348

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ETB 216

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ETB 43.18

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.95 ETB 314

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 ETB 146

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

$56.1K ETB 9.0M

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

$55.0K ETB 8.8M

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

$208 ETB 33.4K

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

$7.49 ETB 1,203

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$215 ETB 34.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.37 ETB 7,130

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.71 ETB 5,899

Cinema Ticket

$3.70 ETB 595

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

$138 ETB 22.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K ETB 4.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.70 ETB 5,415

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.7 ETB 11.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.0 ETB 12.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.2 ETB 13.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$705 ETB 113.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ETB 63.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 ETB 360.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$780 ETB 125.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,967 ETB 316.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$995 ETB 159.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$205 ETB 32.9K

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 Harar: September 27, 2026

Last update for Addis Ababa: September 28, 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

Harar vs Addis Ababa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For families, Harar is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Addis Ababa, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Harar and Addis Ababa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Harar wins on affordability, Addis Ababa on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.