How Ethiopia compares across key indices
Cost of Living
31 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
55/100
Healthcare
45/100
Quality of Life
75/200
How far your money goes in Ethiopia
Cost of Living
31
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
23
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
31
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
33
100 = NYC dining
How safe residents feel in Ethiopia - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
55/100
Crime Index
55/100
Lower is better
0 point drop from day to night
Ethiopia has 233 modeled cities; this view starts with 40 curated or popular options. Monthly costs for a single person range from $632 in Yirga ‘Alem to $841 in Addis Ababa. Dessie leads on safety, scoring 55/100. Jimma ranks highest for quality of life at 81/200.
Yirga ‘Alem
$632/mo
Dessie
55/100
Jimma
81/200
Addis Ababa
60/100
| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Addis Ababa | $841 | 48/100 | 78/200 | 60/100 | 67 |
| Jijiga | $690 | 54/100 | 80/200 | 49/100 | 56 |
| Gonder | $690 | 54/100 | 81/200 | 49/100 | 55 |
| Mek'ele | $689 | 54/100 | 80/200 | 48/100 | 55 |
| Nazrēt | $689 | 54/100 | 80/200 | 48/100 | 55 |
| Warder | $688 | 54/100 | 81/200 | 48/100 | 55 |
| Awasa | $686 | 54/100 | 81/200 | 48/100 | 55 |
| Bahir Dar | $680 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 48/100 | 54 |
| Dire Dawa | $679 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 48/100 | 54 |
| Dessie | $672 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 47/100 | 53 |
| Jimma | $669 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 47/100 | 53 |
| Shashamane | $663 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 46/100 | 52 |
| Bishoftu | $663 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 46/100 | 52 |
| Sodo | $662 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 46/100 | 52 |
| Arba Minch | $661 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 46/100 | 52 |
| Hosa’ina | $659 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 46/100 | 52 |
| Dīla | $654 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 45/100 | 51 |
| Harar | $654 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 45/100 | 51 |
| Nek’emtē | $653 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 45/100 | 51 |
| Ārabī | $652 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 45/100 | 51 |
| Debre Birhan | $651 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 45/100 | 51 |
| Debre Mark’os | $650 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 45/100 | 51 |
| Āsela | $650 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 45/100 | 51 |
| Kombolcha | $648 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 44/100 | 50 |
| Debre Tabor | $646 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 44/100 | 50 |
| Ādīgrat | $646 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 44/100 | 50 |
| Weldiya | $640 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 44/100 | 50 |
| Sebeta | $640 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 44/100 | 49 |
| Burayu | $640 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 44/100 | 49 |
| Inda Silasē | $639 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 44/100 | 49 |
| Hāgere Hiywet | $639 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 44/100 | 49 |
| Arsi Negele | $638 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 43/100 | 49 |
| Gambēla | $638 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 43/100 | 49 |
| Aksum | $637 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 43/100 | 49 |
| Ziway | $635 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 43/100 | 49 |
| Butajīra | $635 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 43/100 | 49 |
| Adwa | $634 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 43/100 | 49 |
| Gununo | $633 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 43/100 | 49 |
| Āreka | $633 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 43/100 | 49 |
| Yirga ‘Alem | $632 | 55/100 | 81/200 | 43/100 | 49 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Verified school profiles for families comparing language model, grade range, credentials, and admissions next steps in Ethiopia. Tuition appears only when published in verified public sources.
28
Verified records
5
Cities covered
5
Credential signals
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary, Middle school, High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
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Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
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Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Addis Ababa
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Addis Ababa
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.
Healthcare system overview for Ethiopia
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Air quality, water, and environmental conditions in Ethiopia
Pollution Index
55/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
27.3ug/m3
Unhealthy for sensitive
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Common questions about living in Ethiopia, answered with data
Ethiopia has a cost of living index of 31 relative to New York City (100). It is significantly cheaper than the US. Monthly costs for a single person start around $639 in Inda Silasē and reach $841 in Addis Ababa.
Inda Silasē is the most affordable city in Ethiopia in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $639 for a single person including rent. Weldiya is the next most affordable at $640/mo.
Ethiopia has a safety index of 55/100, making it generally safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Dessie scores highest on safety at 55/100.
Jimma ranks highest for quality of life in Ethiopia, scoring 81/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $669/mo for a single person. For budget-conscious expats, Inda Silasē offers the lowest monthly costs at $639/mo.
Ethiopia scores 45/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it adequate by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Yes. Ethiopia's cost of living is roughly 69% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 77% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
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Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources
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