Cost of Living Comparison Between Hawassa and Bahir Dar Cost of Living Comparison Between Hawassa and Bahir Dar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $793 per month in Hawassa vs $377 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,222 per month in Hawassa vs $564 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,650 per month in Hawassa vs $751 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Hawassa costs about 111% more than Bahir Dar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hawassa and Bahir Dar are more affordable than the global median – Hawassa 41% lower, Bahir Dar 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.45 ETB 705

$3.45 ETB 547

28.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.62 ETB 5,645

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.63 ETB 1,051

Cappuccino

$1.25 ETB 198

$0.99 ETB 156

26.26%

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

$0.63 ETB 99.5

$0.39 ETB 61.3

61.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ETB 68.9

$0.52 ETB 82.8

-17.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ETB 162

$0.71 ETB 113

43.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ETB 474

$2.04 ETB 324

46.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 ETB 230

$1.01 ETB 161

43.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 ETB 205

$0.99 ETB 157

31.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ETB 162

$0.98 ETB 155

4.08%

Eggs

$1.53 ETB 243

$1.70 ETB 270

-10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.99 ETB 1,108

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.85 ETB 2,196

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.16 ETB 2,086

$10.18 ETB 1,614

29.27%

Apples (1kg)

$6.79 ETB 1,076

$2.91 ETB 461

133.33%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ETB 153

$1.03 ETB 163

-5.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 ETB 343

$2.06 ETB 326

4.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 ETB 155

$0.78 ETB 123

25.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 ETB 109

$0.62 ETB 98.9

11.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 ETB 288

$1.18 ETB 187

53.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ETB 111

$1.02 ETB 162

-31.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ETB 101

$0.51 ETB 81.2

25.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.09 ETB 648

Wine (Bottle)

$5.56 ETB 881

$4.04 ETB 640

37.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ETB 159

$0.82 ETB 130

21.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ETB 303

$2.03 ETB 322

-5.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 ETB 227

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.44

$0.48 ETB 76.2

-39.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.95 ETB 309

$2.06 ETB 326

-5.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ETB 196

$0.97 ETB 154

26.80%

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

$54.8K ETB 8.7M

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

$54.4K ETB 8.6M

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

$161 ETB 25.6K

$102 ETB 16.1K

58.73%

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

$11.88 ETB 1,882

$10.04 ETB 1,591

18.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$129 ETB 20.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.82 ETB 7,896

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$59.6 ETB 9,446

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ETB 917

$5.97 ETB 947

-3.18%

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

$80.9 ETB 12.8K

$49.85 ETB 7,901

62.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.4K ETB 6.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.67 ETB 7,556

$49.55 ETB 7,853

-3.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.4 ETB 12.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.9 ETB 14.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ETB 18.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,989 ETB 315.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$500 ETB 79.3K

$1,514 ETB 240.0K

-66.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$201 ETB 31.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Hawassa: June 6, 2026

Last update for Bahir Dar: June 8, 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

Hawassa vs Bahir Dar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hawassa costs about 111% more than Bahir Dar, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,190 per month in Hawassa and $565 in Bahir Dar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $793 in Hawassa and $377 in Bahir Dar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 106% more in Hawassa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $793 in Hawassa and $377 in Bahir Dar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Bahir Dar – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bahir Dar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hawassa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.