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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ETB 690

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.42 ETB 5,536

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.64 ETB 1,038

Cappuccino

$1.25 ETB 195

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

$0.68 ETB 106

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ETB 68.5

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ETB 154

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 ETB 478

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 ETB 224

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 ETB 201

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 ETB 331

Eggs

$2.51 ETB 392

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.02 ETB 1,097

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.81 ETB 2,158

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.21 ETB 2,065

Apples (1kg)

$6.65 ETB 1,040

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ETB 161

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 ETB 343

Tomato (1kg)

$0.97 ETB 151

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 ETB 99.8

Onion (1kg)

$1.84 ETB 287

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 ETB 99.7

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 ETB 105

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 ETB 642

Wine (Bottle)

$5.77 ETB 901

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ETB 164

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ETB 284

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ETB 68.6

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.16 ETB 1,901

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 ETB 224

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 45.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 ETB 307

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ETB 194

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

$55.9K ETB 8.7M

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

$53.3K ETB 8.3M

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

$159 ETB 24.8K

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

$12.05 ETB 1,884

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$132 ETB 20.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.3 ETB 10.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.15 ETB 5,650

Cinema Ticket

$5.74 ETB 898

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

$80.4 ETB 12.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.7K ETB 6.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.94 ETB 7,493

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.4 ETB 11.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 ETB 14.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ETB 17.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$748 ETB 116.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$506 ETB 79.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,793 ETB 280.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$904 ETB 141.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,920 ETB 300.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,022 ETB 159.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$202 ETB 31.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Harar: April 28, 2026

Last update for Addis Ababa: April 26, 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.