Cost of Living Comparison Between Addis Ababa and Jimma Cost of Living Comparison Between Addis Ababa and Jimma

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,282 in Addis Ababa versus $1,052 in Jimma.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,880 in Addis Ababa versus $1,461 in Jimma.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,478 in Addis Ababa versus $1,870 in Jimma.

Living in Addis Ababa is roughly 22% more expensive than in Jimma, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Addis Ababa 7% lower, Jimma 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.11 ETB 659

$4.62 ETB 742

-11.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.92 ETB 6,894

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.45 ETB 1,036

Cappuccino

$0.95 ETB 153

$1.14 ETB 183

-16.67%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 ETB 102

$0.56 ETB 89.2

12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ETB 109

$0.48 ETB 77.2

41.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.82 ETB 132

$2.95 ETB 473

-72.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ETB 370

$1.43 ETB 230

61.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 ETB 178

$1.14 ETB 183

-2.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ETB 196

$0.37 ETB 60.0

229.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ETB 349

$1.17 ETB 189

85.47%

Eggs

$1.72 ETB 277

$4.12 ETB 661

-58.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.51 ETB 1,206

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.16 ETB 1,631

$11.78 ETB 1,891

-13.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.17 ETB 1,472

$11.39 ETB 1,829

-19.49%

Apples (1kg)

$5.25 ETB 843

$2.37 ETB 381

121.52%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 ETB 102

$1.15 ETB 185

-45.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 ETB 353

$3.42 ETB 549

-35.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 ETB 113

$0.60 ETB 97.0

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 ETB 79.0

$0.60 ETB 96.9

-18.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ETB 175

$3.48 ETB 559

-68.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ETB 106

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ETB 92.4

$0.56 ETB 90.5

3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.04 ETB 1,291

Wine (Bottle)

$5.68 ETB 913

$6.91 ETB 1,110

-17.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 ETB 108

$1.19 ETB 192

-43.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 ETB 203

$1.42 ETB 229

-10.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ETB 83.3

$0.24 ETB 38.55

116.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.84 ETB 3,347

$13.92 ETB 2,235

49.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ETB 216

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.58

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.95 ETB 313

$1.70 ETB 273

14.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 ETB 142

$1.70 ETB 274

-48.24%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$55.5K ETB 8.9M

$51.8K ETB 8.3M

7.15%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$55.4K ETB 8.9M

$57.8K ETB 9.3M

-4.10%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$208 ETB 33.4K

$62.9 ETB 10.1K

230.89%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$7.26 ETB 1,166

$37.35 ETB 5,998

-80.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$211 ETB 33.8K

$310 ETB 49.8K

-32.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.06 ETB 7,077

$34.34 ETB 5,515

28.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.68 ETB 5,730

Cinema Ticket

$3.73 ETB 599

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$137 ETB 22.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.5K ETB 4.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.94 ETB 5,290

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.0 ETB 11.2K

$92.6 ETB 14.9K

-24.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ETB 12.5K

$141 ETB 22.7K

-44.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.5 ETB 13.3K

$116 ETB 18.7K

-29.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$721 ETB 115.7K

$211 ETB 33.9K

241.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 ETB 64.4K

$159 ETB 25.6K

151.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,289 ETB 367.6K

$434 ETB 69.7K

427.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$759 ETB 121.9K

$315 ETB 50.6K

140.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,954 ETB 313.8K

$2,308 ETB 370.6K

-15.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$996 ETB 160.0K

$1,167 ETB 187.4K

-14.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$200 ETB 32.2K

$233 ETB 37.5K

-14.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.5

105.56%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Addis Ababa: August 30, 2026

Last update for Jimma: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $721 in Addis Ababa and $211 in Jimma. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jimma pays 16% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Addis Ababa vs Jimma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Addis Ababa and Jimma differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($1,282 vs $1,052 including rent). Jimma is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 16% lower in Jimma. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $721 in Addis Ababa versus $211 in Jimma. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Jimma runs roughly 50% less than in Addis Ababa. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $1,282 per month in Addis Ababa versus $1,052 in Jimma – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,052 in Jimma versus $1,282 in Addis Ababa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jimma but tight or insufficient in Addis Ababa. The gap between the two cities makes Jimma the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Jimma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Addis Ababa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.