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: $1,429 in Addis Ababa versus $1,022 in Jimma.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,079 in Addis Ababa versus $1,412 in Jimma.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,730 in Addis Ababa versus $1,802 in Jimma.

Living in Addis Ababa is roughly 40% more expensive than in Jimma, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Addis Ababa is 7% above, Jimma is 24% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.44 ETB 704

$4.71 ETB 746

-5.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.55 ETB 5,634

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 ETB 1,058

Cappuccino

$1.30 ETB 206

$1.13 ETB 178

15.04%

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

$0.63 ETB 100

$0.60 ETB 94.9

5.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ETB 68.4

$0.48 ETB 75.5

-10.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 ETB 154

$1.22 ETB 193

-20.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ETB 465

$1.48 ETB 235

97.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 ETB 231

$1.18 ETB 187

23.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ETB 211

$0.40 ETB 63.0

232.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ETB 341

$1.15 ETB 182

86.96%

Eggs

$2.40 ETB 380

$4.23 ETB 671

-43.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.12 ETB 1,128

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.71 ETB 2,173

$11.41 ETB 1,808

20.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.07 ETB 2,071

$11.53 ETB 1,828

13.36%

Apples (1kg)

$6.66 ETB 1,055

$2.38 ETB 377

179.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ETB 165

$1.15 ETB 182

-9.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 ETB 348

$3.39 ETB 537

-35.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 ETB 155

$0.59 ETB 93.7

66.10%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ETB 99.9

$0.59 ETB 94.1

6.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 ETB 303

$3.44 ETB 545

-44.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ETB 105

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ETB 108

$0.55 ETB 87.5

23.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 ETB 629

Wine (Bottle)

$5.68 ETB 901

$6.94 ETB 1,101

-18.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ETB 164

$1.14 ETB 180

-8.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ETB 290

$1.42 ETB 225

28.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ETB 69.8

$0.24 ETB 38.25

83.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.19 ETB 1,932

$13.72 ETB 2,174

-11.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 ETB 226

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 ETB 323

$1.72 ETB 272

18.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ETB 198

$1.69 ETB 269

-26.04%

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

$55.6K ETB 8.8M

$53.1K ETB 8.4M

4.70%

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

$54.3K ETB 8.6M

$56.9K ETB 9.0M

-4.58%

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

$163 ETB 25.8K

$63.4 ETB 10.1K

156.27%

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

$12.23 ETB 1,938

$15.13 ETB 2,398

-19.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$129 ETB 20.5K

$310 ETB 49.1K

-58.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 ETB 11.0K

$34.16 ETB 5,415

103.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.29 ETB 5,752

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 ETB 923

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

$80.5 ETB 12.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.0K ETB 6.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.75 ETB 7,568

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.4 ETB 11.8K

$91.7 ETB 14.5K

-18.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.4 ETB 14.5K

$137 ETB 21.7K

-33.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ETB 18.4K

$115 ETB 18.2K

1.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 ETB 116.0K

$210 ETB 33.3K

248.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ETB 81.1K

$162 ETB 25.7K

214.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,816 ETB 287.9K

$419 ETB 66.4K

333.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$885 ETB 140.3K

$325 ETB 51.4K

172.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,969 ETB 312.1K

$2,320 ETB 367.7K

-15.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$992 ETB 157.2K

$1,144 ETB 181.3K

-13.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$200 ETB 31.7K

$224 ETB 35.5K

-10.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

88.89%

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

Last update for Addis Ababa: July 13, 2026

Last update for Jimma: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $732 in Addis Ababa and $210 in Jimma. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jimma pays 12% 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 40% in total monthly costs ($1,429 vs $1,022 including rent). Jimma is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 12% 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: $732 in Addis Ababa versus $210 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 13% 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 $1,429 per month in Addis Ababa versus $1,022 in Jimma – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,022 in Jimma versus $1,429 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 40% less than in Addis Ababa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.