What the rate covers
The rate is for concrete that a crew mixes with a machine on site and places in the formwork. It covers cement, sand, gravel, water, labour and the mixer. It does not cover formwork or rebar. The list prices those separately: wooden formwork is ETB 1,213.23 per m², and rebar is on the rebar page.
C-25 and C-30 are strength classes. C-25 is the common class for the frame of a house or a low building. C-30 is stronger and uses more cement, so it costs more: ETB 20,906.87 per m³ for a beam or slab. Lean concrete (C-7) is a thin, weak layer under footings. The list prices it by the square metre: ETB 779.95 per m².
Columns cost more than slabs
Concrete in a column or a shear wall costs more to place than concrete in a slab: ETB 20,600.21 per m³ against ETB 19,898.87 per m³. The crew lifts it higher and pours it in smaller amounts.
The price over time
C-25 concrete for a beam or slab went from ETB 9,326.76 in 2016 E.C. Q1 (Jul to Sep 2023) to ETB 19,898.87 per m³, a change of +113.4%. Cement is the main cost in concrete, so the rate follows the cement price.
The rates are direct cost only. The bureau tells users to add overhead (up to 10 percent of direct cost for contractors of grade 3 and above) and profit (7 to 13 percent, by project size). VAT of 15 percent comes on top.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cubic metre of concrete cost in Ethiopia?
The official Addis Ababa rate for C-25 concrete in a beam or slab is ETB 19,898.87 per m³, mixed and placed, without VAT, for 2018 E.C. Q4 (Apr to Jun 2026). Formwork and rebar are extra.
What is the difference between C-25 and C-30 concrete?
The number is the strength of the concrete in megapascals after 28 days. C-30 uses more cement and costs more: ETB 20,906.87 per m³ against ETB 19,898.87 per m³ for C-25.
How much has the price of C-25 concrete changed in Addis Ababa?
The official rate moved from ETB 9,326.76 in 2016 E.C. Q1 (Jul to Sep 2023) to ETB 19,898.87 per m³ in 2018 E.C. Q4 (Apr to Jun 2026). That is a change of +113.4%.
Sources
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2018 E.C. Q4
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2018 E.C. Q2
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2017 E.C. Q4
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2017 E.C. Q3
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2017 E.C. Q2
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2017 E.C. Q1
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2016 E.C. Q4
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2016 E.C. Q3
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2016 E.C. Q2
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2016 E.C. Q1
These prices are reference figures for a budget. They are not a quote. Prices change every week, so get a written price from a supplier before you buy.