🇪🇹Cost of Living in Dire Dawa
Ethiopia · Population: 500,000 · Cost Index: 18/100
Cost of Living in Dire Dawa
Ethiopia · Africa
Ethiopia's second-largest city, Dire Dawa is a historic railway town situated in the eastern lowlands near the Somali border. Its warm climate, multicultural population, and bustling Kefira Market offer an authentic Ethiopian experience at some of the lowest living costs in Africa.
500,000
Population
18
Cost Index
48
Safety Index
32
Quality of Life
Average Monthly Cost: $450 (single person, excluding rent)
Cost Breakdown
Housing
1-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)
$180.001-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)
$90.003-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)
$400.003-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)
$200.00Food & Groceries
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant(per meal)
$1.50Meal for 2 at Mid-Range Restaurant(per meal)
$10.00McMeal at McDonald's(per meal)
$4.00Milk (1 liter)(per liter)
$0.90Bread (500g loaf)(per loaf)
$0.50Rice (1 kg)(per kg)
$1.10Eggs (12)(per dozen)
$1.60Chicken Breast (1 kg)(per kg)
$3.50Apples (1 kg)(per kg)
$2.80Banana (1 kg)(per kg)
$0.60Transportation
Monthly Public Transit Pass(per month)
$8.00One-Way Ticket (Local Transport)(per trip)
$0.10Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)(base fare)
$0.60Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)(per km)
$0.30Gasoline (1 liter)(per liter)
$0.95Utilities
Basic Utilities (85m² Apartment)(per month)
$28.00Mobile Phone Plan(per month)
$7.00Internet (60 Mbps+)(per month)
$22.00Healthcare
Doctor Visit(per visit)
$8.00Dentist Visit(per visit)
$12.00Prescription Medicine (avg)(per prescription)
$3.00Entertainment
Fitness Club Monthly(per month)
$15.00Cinema Ticket(per ticket)
$2.00Cappuccino(per cup)
$0.90Beer (0.5l) at Restaurant(per glass)
$1.00Clothing
Pair of Jeans (Levi's)(per pair)
$22.00Summer Dress (Chain Store)(per item)
$15.00Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas)(per pair)
$50.00Compare Dire Dawa with another city
See how Dire Dawa stacks up against any other city in our database.
Quick Facts
- Currency
- ETB
- Language
- Amharic/Oromo
- Cost Index
- 18/100
- Safety Index
- 48/100
- Quality of Life
- 32/100
Data last updated: 2026-01-15. Prices are approximate and shown in USD.