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 $822 per month in Hawassa vs $368 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,230 per month in Hawassa vs $566 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,638 per month in Hawassa vs $765 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Hawassa costs about 123% more than Bahir Dar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hawassa and Bahir Dar are more affordable than the global median – Hawassa 39% lower, Bahir Dar 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ETB 689

$3.46 ETB 541

27.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.09 ETB 5,484

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.58 ETB 1,029

Cappuccino

$1.23 ETB 193

$1.02 ETB 159

20.59%

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

$0.64 ETB 100

$0.41 ETB 64.4

56.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ETB 67.5

$0.52 ETB 80.7

-17.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ETB 160

$0.78 ETB 122

30.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ETB 464

$2.01 ETB 315

47.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 ETB 218

$0.98 ETB 153

41.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 ETB 209

$0.97 ETB 152

38.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ETB 161

$0.99 ETB 154

4.04%

Eggs

$1.60 ETB 251

$1.78 ETB 279

-10.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.21 ETB 1,127

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.92 ETB 2,175

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.28 ETB 2,075

$10.11 ETB 1,580

31.36%

Apples (1kg)

$6.76 ETB 1,057

$3.06 ETB 478

120.92%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ETB 152

$0.99 ETB 154

-2.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 ETB 338

$2.03 ETB 318

6.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 ETB 141

$0.79 ETB 123

13.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 ETB 105

$0.66 ETB 104

1.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 ETB 299

$1.18 ETB 184

61.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ETB 107

$0.97 ETB 152

-29.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ETB 98.1

$0.52 ETB 80.8

21.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.02 ETB 629

Wine (Bottle)

$5.76 ETB 900

$4.01 ETB 627

43.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ETB 156

$0.82 ETB 128

21.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ETB 288

$2.06 ETB 322

-10.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ETB 233

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ETB 42.05

$0.51 ETB 80.3

-47.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 ETB 320

$2.04 ETB 318

0.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ETB 194

$1.01 ETB 158

22.77%

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

$55.1K ETB 8.6M

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

$53.0K ETB 8.3M

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

$158 ETB 24.7K

$99.3 ETB 15.5K

59.20%

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

$11.98 ETB 1,872

$10.15 ETB 1,587

18.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$131 ETB 20.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.85 ETB 7,792

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$58.9 ETB 9,205

Cinema Ticket

$5.54 ETB 866

$6.06 ETB 947

-8.58%

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

$81.7 ETB 12.8K

$50.2 ETB 7,845

62.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.9K ETB 6.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ETB 7,470

$49.56 ETB 7,746

-3.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.0 ETB 11.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.5 ETB 14.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ETB 18.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,988 ETB 310.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$503 ETB 78.5K

$1,511 ETB 236.2K

-66.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$199 ETB 31.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Hawassa: April 25, 2026

Last update for Bahir Dar: April 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

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

Hawassa costs about 123% 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 $1,232 per month in Hawassa and $551 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 $822 in Hawassa and $368 in Bahir Dar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 107% 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 $822 in Hawassa and $368 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.