Cost of Living in Addis Ababa

Summary of cost of living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia:

Restaurants
Edit Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 5.26 $ 3.00-14.00
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course 32.50 $ 15.00-40.00
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) 6.24 $ 6.00-7.00
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) 1.00 $ 0.50-2.00
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 1.95 $ 1.30-3.00
Cappuccino (regular) 1.13 $ 0.50-2.30
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) 0.76 $ 0.50-1.05
Water (12 oz small bottle) 0.47 $ 0.27-1.00
Markets
Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) 6.05 $ 3.79-7.57
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) 1.07 $ 0.69-1.81
Rice (white), (1 lb) 1.01 $ 0.45-1.81
Eggs (regular) (12) 2.60 $ 1.20-3.36
Local Cheese (1 lb) 4.14 $ 2.27-9.07
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 5.52 $ 3.18-9.07
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) 6.34 $ 3.63-10.43
Apples (1 lb) 3.30 $ 1.81-4.99
Banana (1 lb) 0.49 $ 0.27-0.91
Oranges (1 lb) 1.05 $ 0.45-1.81
Tomato (1 lb) 0.38 $ 0.20-0.66
Potato (1 lb) 0.29 $ 0.09-0.77
Onion (1 lb) 0.79 $ 0.23-1.22
Lettuce (1 head) 0.59 $ 0.25-1.00
Water (1.5 liter bottle) 0.61 $ 0.30-1.10
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 8.50 $ 5.25-21.00
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) 1.15 $ 0.68-1.90
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 2.09 $ 1.00-3.40
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) 4.00 $ 3.00-6.20
Transportation
Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) 0.50 $ 0.10-0.70
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) 10.00 $ 2.70-12.00
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) 1.46 $ 1.20-2.00
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) 0.44 $ 0.32-0.64
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) 2.00 $ 1.29-2.00
Gasoline (1 gallon) 4.88 $ 3.30-5.68
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) 25,000.00 $ 25,000.00-55,000.00
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) 52,833.33 $ 42,000.00-65,000.00
Utilities (Monthly)
Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment 163.25 $ 100.00-350.00
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data 12.22 $ 8.00-18.00
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) 130.20 $ 40.00-450.00
Sports And Leisure
Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 90.59 $ 30.00-150.00
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) 36.25 $ 25.00-40.00
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat 6.70 $ 3.50-9.00
Childcare
Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child 81.47 $ 50.00-126.00
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child 43,916.67 $ 33,750.00-56,000.00
Clothing And Shoes
Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) 48.33 $ 37.00-86.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) 75.17 $ 35.00-150.00
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 108.84 $ 65.00-150.00
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes 119.32 $ 70.00-150.00
Rent Per Month
Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre 645.10 $ 300.00-1,100.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre 422.74 $ 201.94-1,000.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre 1,542.67 $ 900.00-3,000.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre 810.67 $ 471.00-1,200.00
Buy Apartment Price
Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 247.24 $ 180.88-335.10
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 189.74 $ 135.03-269.51
Salaries And Financing
Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 232.62 $
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate 16.17 11.00-18.00

Prices in Addis Ababa

This city had 629 entries in the past 12 months by 61 different contributors.
Last update: November 2024
Sources and References
Distribution of Expenses Using Our Statistical Model:
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6 Comments so far
ourmaninafrica on Nov 26, 2023:
Really, I have no idea what your sources are. My rent around Bole, a tiny apartment of 45 sq meters is 120$/month.
The price has increased but so has the exchange rate. Over the years I’m now paying 20$ more than 10 years ago.
As an individual I can easily live on 50$/ week or 200$/month.
I’m not a financial expert but anybody can do the maths once you realize that a bank employee earns 300-400$/month, a hotel receptionist less than 100$/month and a factory worker about 50$/month. My driver has to pay his mortgage for his condominium, which is about 4$/month for 24 years. After that he owns the place.
Yes, I know that some UN expats have a monthly allowance of 1500$ for house rent. And yes, you could buy a pot of Nescafé or Nutella for 30$ at the expat supermarket. But that doesn’t imply that Addis Ababa is an expensive city.
Life in the country side is even cheaper, expect to rent a three bedroom villa for 150-200$.
FYI, I have been living and working in this beautiful country since 1991. Welcome to Ethiopia.
jone on Apr 02, 2023:
I have been visiting Ethiopia since 1984 to 2022. Ethiopia, yes, was cheap in the eighties and nineties as well, but now it is one of the most expensive countries in the world. Addis Ababa is one of the most expensive cities, more expensive than Dubai, Riyadh, Tbilisi, Kiev, Bangkok, Guangzhou, Tashkent and many cities around the world Add to that the police who are chasing you and asking for money from you without the slightest right.
traveler man on Jun 20, 2022:
I visited several countries around the world, estimated at 44, and Ethiopia is considered one of the most expensive, despite the poor capabilities and infrastructure, unfortunately.
Anonymous on Aug 16, 2021:
I noticed some people saying Addis is "cheap". Rent at USD55, or average income being around USD60... I just want to say that these prices are meant for International people, expats and people working in NGOs and International Organization. And when you want to go to places with International standards (not local), the prices are much much much higher if not equivalent to places in the US or Europe.
Martin Hoeck on Jun 25, 2021:
Addis Ababa is now hugely expensive for everything. Some restaurants have added almost 80% to cost but in return the quality in many is below normal. Example - giving stale bread, reducing portions etc etc. If they have no Chips they still charge for them. Bole Airport is disgustingly high prices with very poor quality...totally dreadful.
Anonymous on Feb 23, 2021:
The capital is really cheap hands-down. Pay no attention to people giving costs on here. I'm from Addis my rent only $55usd monthly electric water combined $13usd monthly taxi anywhere in Addis less than $1usd.I don't know why people post over inflated prices because no truth to it. Outside of Addis less than half the price.