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 $823 per month in Hawassa vs $378 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,195 per month in Hawassa vs $562 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,567 per month in Hawassa vs $746 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Hawassa costs about 118% more than Bahir Dar, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Hawassa and Bahir Dar are more affordable than the global median – Hawassa 40% lower, Bahir Dar 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.01 ETB 645

$3.59 ETB 577

11.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.04 ETB 6,754

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.38 ETB 1,026

Cappuccino

$0.91 ETB 146

$0.97 ETB 156

-6.19%

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

$0.62 ETB 100

$0.38 ETB 61.5

63.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ETB 109

$0.48 ETB 77.1

41.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.79 ETB 127

$0.78 ETB 125

1.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 ETB 359

$2.05 ETB 329

8.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 ETB 170

$1.01 ETB 162

4.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ETB 194

$1.02 ETB 164

18.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ETB 165

$0.99 ETB 159

4.04%

Eggs

$1.54 ETB 247

$1.71 ETB 274

-9.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.22 ETB 1,160

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.91 ETB 1,593

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.30 ETB 1,493

$10.16 ETB 1,632

-8.46%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 ETB 853

$2.94 ETB 472

80.61%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 ETB 110

$0.98 ETB 157

-29.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 ETB 353

$2.03 ETB 326

8.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 ETB 112

$0.84 ETB 135

-16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.50 ETB 80.7

$0.64 ETB 103

-21.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ETB 176

$1.13 ETB 182

-2.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ETB 110

$0.99 ETB 159

-31.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ETB 92.4

$0.48 ETB 77.6

18.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.89 ETB 1,267

Wine (Bottle)

$5.74 ETB 922

$4.06 ETB 653

41.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ETB 106

$0.82 ETB 131

-19.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 ETB 198

$1.94 ETB 312

-36.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 ETB 208

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.75

$0.51 ETB 82.6

-43.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 ETB 326

$2.04 ETB 328

-0.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 ETB 156

$0.97 ETB 157

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

$55.1K ETB 8.9M

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

$54.6K ETB 8.8M

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

$203 ETB 32.7K

$101 ETB 16.3K

100.87%

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

$7.42 ETB 1,191

$10.13 ETB 1,627

-26.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$210 ETB 33.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 ETB 8,088

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$59.2 ETB 9,512

Cinema Ticket

$3.68 ETB 592

$5.98 ETB 960

-38.46%

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

$134 ETB 21.6K

$49.53 ETB 7,957

171.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.4K ETB 4.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.25 ETB 5,342

$50.3 ETB 8,077

-33.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.7 ETB 11.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 ETB 12.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ETB 13.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,990 ETB 319.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$497 ETB 79.9K

$1,507 ETB 242.1K

-66.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$199 ETB 32.0K

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 Hawassa: September 13, 2026

Last update for Bahir Dar: September 14, 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 118% more than Bahir Dar, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,234 per month in Hawassa and $567 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 $823 in Hawassa and $378 in Bahir Dar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 65% 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 $823 in Hawassa and $378 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.