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 $2,280 per month in Lisbon vs $373 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,294 per month in Lisbon vs $568 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,307 per month in Lisbon vs $764 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 512% more than Bahir Dar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Lisbon sits 71% above the global median, while Bahir Dar is 72% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.75 €13.74

$3.40 ETB 543

363.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.5 €55.3

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.45 €9.11

Cappuccino

$2.91 €2.54

$0.98 ETB 157

196.94%

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

$2.29 €2.00

$0.41 ETB 65.8

458.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 €1.31

$0.52 ETB 83.7

188.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 €3.11

$0.74 ETB 117

381.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 €3.46

$1.99 ETB 317

98.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 €0.94

$0.98 ETB 157

10.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.76 €1.54

$0.99 ETB 158

77.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 €1.48

$1.02 ETB 163

66.67%

Eggs

$3.25 €2.83

$1.77 ETB 282

83.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.25 €11.55

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.70 €6.72

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.77 €13.75

$10.14 ETB 1,619

55.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 €1.99

$2.97 ETB 474

-23.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 €1.44

$1.01 ETB 162

64.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.02 €1.76

$2.04 ETB 326

-0.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.47 €2.16

$0.78 ETB 125

216.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 €1.56

$0.62 ETB 99.6

188.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 €1.80

$1.17 ETB 187

76.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 €1.72

$1.01 ETB 161

95.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 €0.73

$0.48 ETB 76.9

72.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.55 €5.71

Wine (Bottle)

$5.57 €4.85

$4.07 ETB 649

36.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 €1.16

$0.84 ETB 133

58.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 €2.62

$1.99 ETB 317

51.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.27 €1.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.35 €40.41

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.23 €3.69

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 €0.74

$0.48 ETB 76.7

77.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.83 €16.41

$1.97 ETB 315

855.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.02 €1.76

$1.03 ETB 164

96.12%

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

$35.0K €30.5K

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

$39.6K €34.6K

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

$148 €129

$101 ETB 16.1K

46.38%

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

$20.52 €17.89

$9.95 ETB 1,590

106.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.52 €34.46

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.17 €42.00

$50.9 ETB 8,133

-5.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 €16.03

$61.1 ETB 9,754

-69.89%

Cinema Ticket

$9.10 €7.93

$6.14 ETB 980

48.21%

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

$615 €536

$50.4 ETB 8,047

1119.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K €14.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 €88.6

$49.40 ETB 7,889

105.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.09 €36.69

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 €80.5

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 €106

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,612 €1,405

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 €1,093

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,069 €2,676

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,037 €1,776

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,751 €6,757

$2,008 ETB 320.7K

286.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,286 €3,737

$1,489 ETB 237.8K

187.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,602 €1,396

$198 ETB 31.6K

710.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bahir Dar: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 710% 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 512% 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 $3,420 per month in Lisbon and $559 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 $2,280 in Lisbon and $373 in Bahir Dar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 114% 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 $373, than in Lisbon at $2,280. 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 $373 versus $2,280 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.