Cost of Living in Addis Ababa (2026) — Monthly Budget

Wondering how far your salary goes in Addis Ababa? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.

What things cost

One-bed apartment, Bole or KazanchisETB 25,000–70,000 / month — quoted in birr, and moving with the currency

Ride-hailing across the cityETB 200–600 per trip

MacchiatoETB 30–80

Local restaurant mealETB 250–700

Groceries, one personETB 12,000–30,000 / month, with imported goods far higher

Good to know

Population

≈4–5 million (Addis Ababa city administration)

Altitude

≈2,355 m — among the highest capital cities in the world

Languages

Amharic is the federal working language, written in the Ge'ez script; English is widely used in business and higher education

Currency

Ethiopian birr (ETB), floated to a market-determined rate in July 2024

Time zone

EAT (GMT+3) — but the Ethiopian clock counts from dawn and the Ethiopian calendar has 13 months

Power plug

Types C, E, F and L, 220 V / 50 Hz

Driving side

Right

Climate

Highland subtropical — mild days, cold nights, a heavy rainy season roughly June to September

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

A note on budgeting

Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Addis Ababa checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.