Cost Of Living For a Family in Adis Abeba 2024

Average monthly spending for families in Adis Abeba

We consider a family to be a member of four members, two adults and two children. This is the most common type of family. From the figures below, it should be fairly easy to calculate the average spending for families of different sizes.

How much money does a family need in a month to survive in Adis Abeba?

Families in Adis Abeba spend around 15,000 ETB per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a family can survive with a monthly budget as low as 5,100 ETB or as high as 96,000 ETB. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Family expenditure to income ratio in Adis Abeba

Analysing the how affordable it is for families to live in Adis Abeba

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Families usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a family of four ranges between 70% to 80%.

Families in Adis Abeba spend around 96% of their monthly income. Some families spend as low as 89% of their income while some as high as 110%.

How do families spend their money in Adis Abeba?

We asked thousands of families about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for families

Families in Adis Abeba typically spend from 18% to 33% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 23% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 4,700 ETB with expenditure ranging from 1,600 ETB to 31,000 ETB. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for families

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Adis Abeba ranges from 4% to 9% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most families. The average monthly cost of utilities is 740 ETB with 260 ETB and 4,800 ETB being the upper and lower limits for a family of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for families

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a family resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a family would expect to spend from 510 ETB to 9,600 ETB in a month on commuting with 1,500 ETB being the norm for most families. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 2% or as high as 6%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for families

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical family in a month in Adis Abeba is 2,600 ETB. The cost of groceries can range between 930 ETB to 17,000 ETB. Families spend on average about 22% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 15% and 28% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for families

Families in Adis Abeba allocate 8% to 17% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 12%. The range of medical expenses range from 460 ETB to 7,700 ETB with 1,500 ETB being the norm for most families.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for families

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 260 ETB to 4,800 ETB with 740 ETB being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 0.00% to 6% of total expenses with an average of 2% for most families.

Education and schooling expenditure for families

Spending on education can vary drastically between different families. On average, education constitutes 13% of the monthly expenditure of families with 6% and 21% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 2,100 ETB per month with 720 ETB being the minimum spent amount and 13,000 ETB being the maximum.

What percentage of families in Adis Abeba are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of families that reported their ability to save money

Almost 48% of surveyed families in Adis Abeba said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 52% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do families manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families that are able to save money can put anywhere from 9.5% to 30% of their monthly income to their savings, with 17% being the average for most families. The average monthly amount of money that families can put aside is 4,100 ETB with 1,400 ETB and 27,000 ETB being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Adis Abeba

Reasons that make it difficult for families to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping families from maximizing their savings in Adis Abeba. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 4% of the families said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 7% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 10% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 12% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 13% of families blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 8% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 5% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 23% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 15% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 2% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 1% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for families in Adis Abeba

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Adis Abeba

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked families one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Adis Abeba?

Around 44% of surveyed families think that living in Adis Abeba is affordable with proper budgeting while 56% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Adis Abeba

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked families how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options55%

Few low-cost options45%

Based on the survey, 55% of the families living in Adis Abeba have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 45% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Families

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked families of Adis Abeba whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes41%

No59%

Based on the survey, 59% of the families living in Adis Abeba said that they don't have an emergency fund while 41% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Ethiopia

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy37%

We asked family guardians and parents in Adis Abeba whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 63% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 37% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether families of Ethiopia have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 63% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 37% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance63%

Easily manages finances37%

Financial goals of families in Adis Abeba

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Adis Abeba, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 9% of families said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 49% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 12% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 6% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 19% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 5% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 4% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 17% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Adis Abeba

Percentage of families who are in debt

According to the survey, 36% of the families in Adis Abeba have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 64% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Adis Abeba

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 34% of a family's monthly income in Adis Abeba goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 4% of the debtors in Adis Abeba pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 22% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 17% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 19% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 7% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Adis Abeba

5% of debtors in Adis Abeba confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 33% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 10% of people and personal loans rose at 47%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 5% of debtors in Adis Abeba.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Adis Abeba

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked families of Adis Abeba how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Adis Abeba

Rent Cost in Adis Abeba

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

790 ETB

1,200 ETB

3,100 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$14

$21

$55

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,200 ETB

1,900 ETB

4,700 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$21

$33

$83

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,600 ETB

2,400 ETB

6,300 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$28

$42

$110

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,900 ETB

3,100 ETB

8,600 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$33

$55

$150

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

3,800 ETB

9,400 ETB

19,000 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$66

$170

$330

Townhouse monthly rent cost

3,100 ETB

4,700 ETB

13,000 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$55

$83

$240

House monthly rent cost

3,800 ETB

9,400 ETB

19,000 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$66

$170

$330

Villa monthly rent cost

4,700 ETB

12,000 ETB

19,000 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$83

$210

$330

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Adis Abeba ranges between 790 ETB and 3,100 ETB, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 1,200 ETB to 4,700 ETB. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 1,600 ETB and 6,300 ETB per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 1,900 ETB to 8,600 ETB. The average rent of a townhouse in Adis Abeba is around 4,700 ETB while house rental costs can be as high as 9,400 ETB per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 4,700 ETB to 19,000 ETB per month.

Apartment and house prices in Adis Abeba

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

160,000 ETB

240,000 ETB

470,000 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2,800

$4,200

$8,300

1-bedroom apartment price

190,000 ETB

310,000 ETB

1.2M ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3,300

$5,500

$21,000

2-bedroom apartment price

310,000 ETB

940,000 ETB

1.9M ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5,500

$17,000

$33,000

3-bedroom apartment price

1M ETB

1.6M ETB

4.7M ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$18,000

$28,000

$83,000

Townhouse price

1.3M ETB

3.1M ETB

12M ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$24,000

$55,000

$210,000

House price

1.6M ETB

9.4M ETB

13M ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$28,000

$170,000

$240,000

Villa price

1.9M ETB

10M ETB

16M ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$33,000

$180,000

$280,000

The average price of a studio apartment in Adis Abeba can range from 160,000 ETB to 470,000 ETB depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 190,000 ETB to 1.2M ETB. A villa can cost you 10M ETB on average with prices ranging from 1.9M ETB to 16M ETB.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Adis Abeba can be x90 to x202 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x90 multiples of the average monthly salary in Adis Abeba.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Adis Abeba is around 31%. This means that people pay 31% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 20% to 41% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Adis Abeba

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Adis Abeba

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

260 ETB

740 ETB

4,800 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.5

$13

$84

Internet and cable cost

43 ETB

85 ETB

110 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.75

$1.5

$2

Mobile phone bill and charges

34 ETB

57 ETB

170 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.60

$1

$3

The average monthly energy and water consumption of families is around 740 ETB. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 43 ETB to 110 ETB with 85 ETB being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 57 ETB but can range between 34 ETB and 170 ETB depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Adis Abeba is around 7.4%. This means that people pay 7.4% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 4.2% to 12% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Adis Abeba

Prices and cost of goods and services in Adis Abeba

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

8.5 ETB

17 ETB

28 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.15

$0.30

$0.50

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Adis Abeba is approximatly 17 ETB with meal cost ranging from 8.5 ETB to 28 ETB. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

30 ETB

45 ETB

90 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.53

$0.79

$1.6

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 30 ETB and 90 ETB with 45 ETB being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Adis Abeba.

Fine dining meal for one price

60 ETB

90 ETB

360 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1

$1.6

$6.3

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 60 ETB to 360 ETB with the average cost being 90 ETB for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Adis Abeba.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

7.1 ETB

11 ETB

17 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.13

$0.20

$0.30

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Adis Abeba is around 11 ETB. Price ranges between 7.1 ETB and 17 ETB depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

5.7 ETB

6.8 ETB

8.5 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.10

$0.12

$0.15

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Adis Abeba is 6.8 ETB. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 8.5 ETB and the minimum being 5.7 ETB depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

4.3 ETB

5.7 ETB

8.5 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.08

$0.10

$0.15

A dozen eggs costs around 5.7 ETB on average with 4.3 ETB and 8.5 ETB being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

9.7 ETB

13 ETB

18 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.17

$0.22

$0.31

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Adis Abeba is between 9.7 ETB and 18 ETB depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 13 ETB.

Pack of beef price

11 ETB

17 ETB

34 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.20

$0.30

$0.60

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 17 ETB. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

4.6 ETB

6.3 ETB

8.9 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.08

$0.11

$0.16

A bag of rice in Adis Abeba costs around 6.3 ETB on average with prices rangeing between 4.6 ETB and 8.9 ETB depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

1.7 ETB

2.3 ETB

4.3 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.03

$0.04

$0.08

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 1.7 ETB to 4.3 ETB. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

3 ETB

4 ETB

6.6 ETB

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.05

$0.07

$0.12

A bag of apples costs 4 ETB on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Adis Abeba is around 29%. This means that families spend 29% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 20% to 35% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for families