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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.95 ETB 635

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.00 ETB 6,912

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.42 ETB 1,032

Cappuccino

$0.94 ETB 151

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

$0.62 ETB 100

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ETB 103

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.79 ETB 127

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ETB 352

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 ETB 170

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ETB 197

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 ETB 340

Eggs

$1.82 ETB 293

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.24 ETB 1,163

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.27 ETB 1,651

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.06 ETB 1,457

Apples (1kg)

$5.35 ETB 860

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 ETB 102

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 ETB 347

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 ETB 112

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 ETB 74.6

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 ETB 174

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 ETB 103

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ETB 90.3

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.84 ETB 1,260

Wine (Bottle)

$5.67 ETB 911

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ETB 115

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 ETB 204

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ETB 83.5

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.76 ETB 3,337

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 ETB 210

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.96

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 ETB 325

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 ETB 153

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

$55.9K ETB 9.0M

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

$56.6K ETB 9.1M

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

$202 ETB 32.5K

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

$7.10 ETB 1,142

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$251 ETB 40.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.38 ETB 7,135

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.68 ETB 5,897

Cinema Ticket

$3.80 ETB 610

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

$139 ETB 22.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.3K ETB 4.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.47 ETB 5,381

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.7 ETB 11.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 ETB 12.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.1 ETB 13.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$703 ETB 113.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$353 ETB 56.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,298 ETB 369.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 ETB 112.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,950 ETB 313.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,002 ETB 161.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$202 ETB 32.5K

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: August 16, 2026

Last update for Addis Ababa: August 16, 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.