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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,268 per month in Lisbon vs $377 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,348 per month in Lisbon vs $576 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,429 per month in Lisbon vs $775 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 502% more than Bahir Dar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Lisbon sits 64% above the global median, while Bahir Dar is 73% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.55 €15.12

$3.56 ETB 572

392.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.5 €55.6

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.65 €10.04

Cappuccino

$3.26 €2.81

$0.99 ETB 159

229.29%

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

$2.49 €2.15

$0.41 ETB 66.0

507.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 €1.44

$0.51 ETB 82.5

227.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 €2.99

$0.78 ETB 125

344.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 €3.08

$1.98 ETB 318

80.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 €1.02

$0.98 ETB 157

20.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 €1.68

$0.98 ETB 158

98.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 €1.35

$1.02 ETB 165

52.94%

Eggs

$4.01 €3.46

$1.71 ETB 275

134.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.27 €11.44

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.42 €7.26

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.23 €15.72

$9.93 ETB 1,597

83.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 €2.00

$2.98 ETB 478

-22.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 €1.49

$1.01 ETB 163

71.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 €1.67

$2.05 ETB 330

-5.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.64 €2.27

$0.84 ETB 134

214.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 €1.64

$0.63 ETB 102

201.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 €1.82

$1.13 ETB 182

86.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 €1.24

$0.97 ETB 156

48.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 €0.69

$0.48 ETB 77.1

66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.01 €6.04

Wine (Bottle)

$5.92 €5.11

$4.05 ETB 651

46.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 €1.18

$0.77 ETB 124

76.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 €1.85

$1.95 ETB 313

10.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 €2.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.22 €39.85

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 €3.61

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 €0.95

$0.48 ETB 77.5

129.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.26 €14.88

$1.94 ETB 312

789.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.25 €1.94

$0.98 ETB 158

129.59%

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

$34.5K €29.7K

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

$41.6K €35.9K

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

$171 €147

$101 ETB 16.3K

69.00%

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

$19.01 €16.38

$10.16 ETB 1,633

87.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.28 €29.55

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.65 €42.80

$49.38 ETB 7,939

0.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.51 €16.81

$59.7 ETB 9,590

-67.30%

Cinema Ticket

$10.10 €8.71

$6.12 ETB 984

65.03%

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

$699 €603

$49.38 ETB 7,938

1315.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.8K €15.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.2

$49.86 ETB 8,015

109.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.97 €41.35

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 €87.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 €111

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,661 €1,432

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,228 €1,059

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,915 €2,513

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,023 €1,744

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,129 €7,007

$2,034 ETB 326.9K

299.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,635 €3,996

$1,509 ETB 242.5K

207.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,619 €1,396

$202 ETB 32.5K

701.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.78

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026

Last update for Bahir Dar: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 702% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

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

Lisbon costs about 502% more than Bahir Dar, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,402 per month in Lisbon 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 $2,268 in Lisbon and $377 in Bahir Dar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 128% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bahir Dar, where all-in costs run around $377, than in Lisbon at $2,268. In Bahir Dar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bahir Dar costs $377 versus $2,268 in Lisbon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.