😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,363 in United Kingdom versus $786 in Ethiopia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,474 in United Kingdom versus $1,185 in Ethiopia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,585 in United Kingdom versus $1,584 in Ethiopia.
😐Living in United Kingdom is roughly 201% more expensive than Ethiopia on average.
📊United Kingdom (76% above) and Ethiopia (41% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United Kingdom
Ethiopia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.41£15.17
$4.40ETB 693
363.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.0£64.7
$35.21ETB 5,548
147.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.13£7.53
$6.64ETB 1,046
52.56%
Cappuccino
$4.70£3.49
$1.16ETB 183
305.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36£1.75
$0.60ETB 94.4
293.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76£1.30
$0.46ETB 73.0
282.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.66£4.95
$1.02ETB 160
552.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.43£4.78
$2.03ETB 321
216.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
Ethiopia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70£1.27
$1.42ETB 224
19.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63£1.21
$1.29ETB 203
26.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.29£1.70
$1.68ETB 264
36.31%
Eggs
$4.03£2.99
$2.48ETB 391
62.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.77£7.26
$7.22ETB 1,138
35.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92£6.63
$12.54ETB 1,976
-28.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.31£10.64
$13.08ETB 2,062
9.40%
Apples(1kg)
$3.05£2.26
$6.25ETB 985
-51.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61£1.19
$0.98ETB 155
64.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.84£2.11
$2.30ETB 363
23.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.53£2.62
$0.85ETB 134
315.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61£1.19
$0.64ETB 100
151.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.57£1.17
$1.88ETB 296
-16.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17£0.87
$0.73ETB 115
60.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56£1.16
$0.67ETB 106
132.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$20.03£14.89
$3.92ETB 618
410.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.90£8.10
$5.37ETB 847
102.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90£2.16
$0.84ETB 133
245.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38£2.51
$1.84ETB 290
83.70%
🚌 Getting Around
United Kingdom
Ethiopia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.17£2.35
$0.27ETB 42.41
1074.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$95.2£70.8
$12.42ETB 1,957
666.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45£4.05
$1.48ETB 233
268.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59£1.18
$0.31ETB 49.27
412.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.31£20.30
$1.96ETB 308
1293.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99£1.48
$1.25ETB 197
59.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K£28.1K
$53.3KETB 8.4M
-29.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.2K£29.9K
$53.3KETB 8.4M
-24.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Kingdom
Ethiopia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$323£240
$135ETB 21.2K
139.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.22£12.80
$11.93ETB 1,880
44.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.23£31.39
$155ETB 24.4K
-72.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
Ethiopia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.03£34.21
$62.1ETB 9,791
-25.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.67£11.65
$36.89ETB 5,813
-57.52%
Cinema Ticket
$13.48£10.02
$5.12ETB 807
163.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Kingdom
Ethiopia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,713£1,274
$77.2ETB 12.2K
2119.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.8K£15.5K
$39.8KETB 6.3M
-47.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
Ethiopia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.3£67.8
$48.27ETB 7,607
89.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.88£33.36
$76.6ETB 12.1K
-41.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102£75.9
$98.9ETB 15.6K
3.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104£77.3
$117ETB 18.4K
-10.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
Ethiopia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,417£1,053
$682ETB 107.4K
107.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,132£841
$379ETB 59.8K
198.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,308£1,715
$1,406ETB 221.6K
64.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,839£1,367
$891ETB 140.4K
106.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,727£4,257
$1,790ETB 282.1K
219.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,523£3,362
$1,005ETB 158.4K
349.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Kingdom
Ethiopia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,333£2,477
$203ETB 32.0K
1540.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.75
17
-66.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for United Kingdom: May 30, 2026
Last update for Ethiopia: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,265 in United Kingdom, $212 in Ethiopia. Capital cities: $3,019 in London vs $758 in Addis Ababa.
💰National salary averages: $3,219 in United Kingdom, $184 in Ethiopia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 497% higher in United Kingdom.
⭐Dining out costs 320% more in United Kingdom.
⭐Public transport is 2225% more expensive in United Kingdom.
⭐Salaries are 1649% higher in United Kingdom, giving United Kingdom stronger purchasing power.
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
United Kingdom vs Ethiopia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Ethiopia and United Kingdom?
At $692 per month in Ethiopia and $2,785 in United Kingdom, there's a 303% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Ethiopia is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in United Kingdom beats Ethiopia across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Ethiopia or United Kingdom?
In Ethiopia, $1,500 covers most cities easily. In United Kingdom, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Ethiopia or United Kingdom?
It depends on what you're after. Ethiopia wins on affordability; United Kingdom may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.
United Kingdom vs other spots: cost of living compared