Side-by-side city decision # San Sebastián vs Addis Ababa. A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit. Share comparison Copy link San SebastiánSpain5/6 VS Addis AbabaEthiopia1/6 $2,295San Sebastián monthly budget $910Addis Ababa monthly budget 310 MbpsSan Sebastián internet 24 MbpsAddis Ababa internet Decision summary San Sebastián San Sebastián leads on more of the six headline signals. Cost Best budget Addis Ababa Speed Fastest internet San Sebastián Vibe Best nomad vibe San Sebastián Safety Highest safety San Sebastián Air Cleanest air San Sebastián Walk Most walkable San Sebastián Quick read ## Two cities at a glance The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison. [San Sebastián](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/spain/san-sebastian.md) Spain 5/6 Budget$2,295 Internet310 Mbps Vibe8/10 [Addis Ababa](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/ethiopia/addis-ababa.md) Ethiopia 1/6 Budget$910 Internet24 Mbps Vibe6/10 Full comparison ## Compare what matters Green marks the stronger numeric result. Text-only categories are presented without a winner. Differences only ### Monthly budget and costs 7 signals MetricSan SebastiánAddis Ababa Total estimated budget $2,295 $910 1-bed center rent $1,500 $550 Coworking desk $250 $120 Local meal $17.5 $4.5 Cappuccino $2.4 $1.7 Gym membership $55 $35 Transport budget $35 $30 ### Work and infrastructure 2 signals MetricSan SebastiánAddis Ababa Internet speed 310 Mbps 24 Mbps Nomad vibe 8/10 6/10 ### Quality of life 5 signals MetricSan SebastiánAddis Ababa Safety index 82/100 45/100 Air quality 88/100 38/100 Walkability 9/10 5/10 Female safety 9/10 5/10 LGBTQ+ friendly 9/10 2/10 ### Culture and climate 4 signals MetricSan SebastiánAddis Ababa Healthcare quality Excellent Average English proficiency Good Average Climate type Oceanic Subtropical highland Best time to visit Jun - Sep Oct - Feb Beyond the numbers ## What each city asks you to trade Costs and scores help narrow the choice. These practical strengths and limitations finish the picture. [San Sebastián](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/spain/san-sebastian.md) Spain → ### Strengths * Exceptional pintxos culture and high-quality local food * Very safe, compact, and highly walkable central districts * Fast fiber internet and reliable mobile coverage * Excellent public healthcare and private medical options * Beautiful beaches, coastal paths, and nearby mountain hikes * Progressive, welcoming atmosphere with strong quality of life ### Trade-offs * Rent is among the highest in Spain, especially near the beach * Wet weather is common throughout the year * Summer brings crowds, festival noise, and scarce short-term rentals * Coworking choice is smaller than in Barcelona or Madrid * Local social circles can take time to enter * Basque and Spanish are more useful than English outside tourist areas ### Common visa routes * Spain Digital Nomad Visa * Schengen short-stay visa exemption or Schengen Visa * Spanish Non-Lucrative Residence Visa [Addis Ababa](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/ethiopia/addis-ababa.md) Ethiopia → ### Strengths * Relatively affordable rent and everyday dining * Excellent Ethiopian coffee culture * Mild highland temperatures for much of the year * Rich history, music, and food scene * Convenient rides are inexpensive * Strong regional flight connections through Ethiopian Airlines ### Trade-offs * Internet speeds and reliability can be inconsistent * Power cuts and mobile-network disruptions occur * Traffic is congested and pedestrian infrastructure is uneven * Tap water is not safe to drink * Card acceptance remains limited outside major businesses * LGBTQ+ travelers face serious legal and social risks ### Common visa routes * Tourist eVisa * Business Visa * Conference Visa Reading the result ## Use this as a planning benchmark The headline score compares six directional signals. It does not weight personal priorities, visa eligibility, household size or individual lifestyle choices. Costs are monthly estimates, not guaranteed prices. Higher is better for quality scores and connectivity. Lower is better for budgets and individual expenses.