Photo: David Stanley · CC BY 2.0
Cost of Living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Addis Ababa is a city in Ethiopia, where a single person can expect to spend about $580 per month including rent, food, and local transport. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $795 per month, or $555 outside the centre. Internet is slow at around 9 Mbps median download speed. On safety, Addis Ababa scores 42/100 — below average on safety for residents and visitors. Expect summer highs near 72°F and winter highs around 75°F, with roughly 234 sunny days a year.
Addis Ababa Cost of Living Breakdown
🍽️ Dining
🛒 Groceries
🚌 Transportation
⚡ Utilities & Tech
🎬 Lifestyle
👔 Clothing
🏠 Housing
📊 Summary
Lifestyle & Quality of Life in Addis Ababa
How Addis Ababa Ranks Among 340 Cities
Of the 340 cities Voyica tracks, Addis Ababa is cheaper than 97% of them, but sits in the bottom 1% for internet speed.
| Metric | Addis Ababa | World rank | Rank in Africa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $580 | #11 of 340 | #3 of 20 |
| Safety | 42/100 | #272 of 340 | #16 of 20 |
| Healthcare | 28/100 | #335 of 340 | #19 of 20 |
| Internet speed | 9 Mbps | #339 of 340 | #20 of 20 |
| Walkability | 38/100 | #272 of 340 | #12 of 20 |
| Public transit | 25/100 | #224 of 340 | #7 of 20 |
| Food scene | 72/100 | #178 of 340 | #8 of 20 |
| Air quality | 58/100 | #310 of 340 | #17 of 20 |
Rank 1 = most affordable, safest, and so on. Computed across every city in Voyica's dataset (June 2026 snapshot); ties share a rank.
Cheaper Alternatives to Addis Ababa
Cities with a similar mix of safety, food, culture, walkability and climate that cost at least 15% less per month than Addis Ababa.
- Luxor, Egypt — $440/mo, 24% cheaper, safety 58/100
Addis Ababa FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Addis Ababa?
A single person should budget around $580 per month in Addis Ababa, covering rent, groceries, transport, and basic lifestyle costs.
How much is rent in Addis Ababa?
A one-bedroom apartment in central Addis Ababa averages $795 per month, dropping to about $555 outside the centre. A three-bedroom in the centre runs about $2,104.
Is Addis Ababa safe?
Addis Ababa scores 42/100 on safety, which is below average on safety. Tourist safety is rated 45/100.
How fast is the internet in Addis Ababa?
Median download speeds in Addis Ababa are around 9 Mbps — slow for remote work and video calls. There are roughly 15 coworking spaces in the city.
Does Ethiopia offer a digital nomad visa?
Ethiopia does not currently offer a dedicated digital nomad visa. US passport holders can usually stay 30 days visa-free.
What is the weather like in Addis Ababa?
Addis Ababa sees summer highs around 72°F and winter highs near 75°F, with about 234 mostly sunny days a year and at least 1 mm of rain on about 65 days.
Addis Ababa in our travel guides
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