Travel budget and cost of living in Ethiopia how much does a trip cost?

Travel budget in Ethiopia

Ethiopia: calculate your travel budget

Ethiopia: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Ethiopia for 2 people.

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).

Cost of living in Ethiopia in 2025

Cost of living: Ethiopia VS Belgium

On average, the cost of living in Ethiopia in 2025 is 36% less than in Belgium.

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices Belgium in in Belgium and Belgium by types of expenses:

Cost of living in Ethiopia by city

See the table below for the variation in the cost of living in different cities in Ethiopia compared to the national average.

Local prices in Ethiopia by expense type

Ethiopia: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 4.3/person
($ 2 to $ 10)

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81% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 24

3 course dinner

$ 21/person
($ 17 to $ 27)

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56% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 47

McDonald's meal

$ 6/person
($ 5 to $ 7)

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56% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 14

Local beer

$ 0.9 for 500ml
($ 0.5 to $ 2)

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83% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 5.8

Imported beer

$ 1.7 for 330ml
($ 0.8 to $ 2.6)

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23% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.3

Cappuccino

$ 1/cup
($ 0.5 to $ 2)

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75% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 4.2

Fizzy drink

$ 0.6/can
($ 0.5 to $ 1)

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81% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 3.3

Water bottle

$ 0.5/bottle
($ 0.3 to $ 1)

---

83% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 3

Ethiopia: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 71/night
($ 42 to $ 172)

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32% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 105

2-star hotel

$ 81/night
($ 62 to $ 125)

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44% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 145

3-star hotel

$ 82/night
($ 63 to $ 126)

---

47% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 155

4-star hotel

$ 89/night
($ 73 to $ 122)

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52% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 186

5-star hotel

$ 93/night
($ 59 to $ 157)

---

61% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 243

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 71/month
($ 42 to $ 172)

---

41% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 121

Room with kitchen

$ 81/month
($ 52 to $ 147)

---

59% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 198

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 106/month
($ 76 to $ 171)

---

45% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 193

Cottage or guest house

$ 74/month
($ 50 to $ 129)

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56% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 169

Family room

$ 183/month
($ 143 to $ 270)

---

28% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 256

Ethiopia: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 1.4/litre
($ 0.9 to $ 2)

---

5% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 1.3

Bread

$ 1.2/500g
($ 0.5 to $ 2.6)

---

53% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.6

Rice

$ 2.1/kg
($ 1 to $ 4.1)

---

12% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.3

Eggs

$ 2.3/12 eggs
($ 1.2 to $ 3.3)

---

44% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 4.1

Chicken

$ 13/kg
($ 7.6 to $ 21)

---

3% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 13

Apples

$ 6.3/kg
($ 3 to $ 12)

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123% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.8

Tomatoes

$ 0.8/kg
($ 0.3 to $ 1.2)

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73% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 3.2

Potatoes

$ 0.6/kg
($ 0.2 to $ 1)

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74% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.4

Water bottle

$ 0.7
($ 0.2 to $ 2)

---

31% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 1

Ethiopia: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 0.2/ticket
($ 0.1 to $ 0.5)

---

90% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 3

Taxi (per km)

$ 0.3/km
($ 0.2 to $ 0.5)

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89% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.9

Petrol

$ 1.3/litre
($ 0.7 to $ 1.5)

---

35% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 1.9

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 1.4
($ 1 to $ 2)

---

75% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 5.8

Car hire

$ 40/24hrs
($ 38 to $ 43)

---

33% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 60

Ethiopia: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 5/ticket
($ 3 to $ 8.4)

---

66% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 16

Tennis

$ 38/hr
($ 26 to $ 52)

---

68% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 22

Ethiopia: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 5.1/pack
($ 3 to $ 8.8)

---

61% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 14

Levi's jeans

$ 47
($ 26 to $ 88)

---

56% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 106

Summer dress

$ 78
($ 30 to $ 152)

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62% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 48