Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Ethiopia Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Ethiopia

😐 Solo nomad: United States is 48.6% more expensive than Ethiopia without rent, and 116.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: United States is 62% more expensive than Ethiopia without rent, and 102.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Ethiopia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.97 $19.97
$4.37 ETB 683
356.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.7 $74.7
$34.38 ETB 5,374
117.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.40 $11.40
$6.38 ETB 997
78.68%
Cappuccino
$5.37 $5.37
$1.14 ETB 179
371.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$0.59 ETB 92.3
345.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$0.43 ETB 67.5
379.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.90 $5.90
$1.02 ETB 160
478.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.02 $7.02
$2.03 ETB 318
245.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Ethiopia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.43 ETB 224
-23.78%
White Bread (500g)
$3.55 $3.55
$1.25 ETB 195
184.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.73 $4.73
$1.77 ETB 277
167.23%
Eggs
$4.30 $4.30
$2.48 ETB 387
73.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.01 $13.01
$7.22 ETB 1,129
80.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.22 $12.22
$12.65 ETB 1,977
-3.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.36 $16.36
$12.82 ETB 2,003
27.61%
Apples (1kg)
$5.21 $5.21
$6.42 ETB 1,004
-18.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 $1.70
$0.99 ETB 154
71.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$2.31 ETB 361
98.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.97 $4.97
$0.86 ETB 134
477.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.98 $2.98
$0.64 ETB 99.9
365.62%
Onion (1kg)
$3.04 $3.04
$1.88 ETB 294
61.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$0.74 ETB 115
205.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$0.62 ETB 97.4
250.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.83 $9.83
$4.10 ETB 641
139.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.17 $15.17
$5.93 ETB 927
155.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$0.82 ETB 128
132.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 $3.58
$1.86 ETB 291
92.47%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Ethiopia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.49 $2.49
$0.29 ETB 45.34
758.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.1 $66.1
$12.28 ETB 1,920
438.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.82 $3.82
$1.44 ETB 226
165.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 $1.78
$0.29 ETB 44.77
513.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.48 $29.48
$1.98 ETB 310
1388.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.31 ETB 205
-30.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$51.5K ETB 8.0M
-42.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$53.7K ETB 8.4M
-51.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Ethiopia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 $206
$134 ETB 21.0K
53.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.9 $56.9
$12.17 ETB 1,902
367.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.8 $72.8
$160 ETB 25.0K
-54.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Ethiopia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.23 $45.23
$62.7 ETB 9,806
-27.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.84 $21.84
$36.60 ETB 5,720
-40.33%
Cinema Ticket
$13.79 $13.79
$4.87 ETB 761
183.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Ethiopia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,355 $1,355
$77.6 ETB 12.1K
1645.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.6K $22.6K
$41.0K ETB 6.4M
-45.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Ethiopia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 $51.3
$46.81 ETB 7,316
9.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.37 $42.37
$75.4 ETB 11.8K
-43.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 $88.6
$97.8 ETB 15.3K
-9.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$117 ETB 18.2K
-1.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Ethiopia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,763 $1,763
$681 ETB 106.4K
159.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,432 $1,432
$378 ETB 59.0K
279.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,827 $2,827
$1,397 ETB 218.4K
102.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,358 $2,358
$901 ETB 140.8K
161.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,391 $3,391
$1,919 ETB 299.9K
76.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
$1,083 ETB 169.3K
141.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Ethiopia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,326 $4,326
$196 ETB 30.7K
2103.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
17
-61.71%

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

Last update for United States: March 3, 2026

Last update for Ethiopia: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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