Cost of Living Comparison Between Assela and Jimma Cost of Living Comparison Between Assela and Jimma

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $806 in Assela versus $1,034 in Jimma.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,237 in Assela versus $1,424 in Jimma.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,669 in Assela versus $1,814 in Jimma.

Living in Assela costs roughly 22% less than in Jimma, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Assela 40% lower, Jimma 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.60 ETB 725

$4.51 ETB 710

2.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.67 ETB 5,622

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.32 ETB 996

Cappuccino

$1.29 ETB 203

$1.18 ETB 187

9.32%

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

$0.64 ETB 101

$0.57 ETB 89.1

12.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ETB 68.3

$0.48 ETB 75.8

-10.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 ETB 154

$1.20 ETB 189

-18.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ETB 462

$1.48 ETB 233

97.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 ETB 228

$1.19 ETB 187

21.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 ETB 209

$0.37 ETB 57.7

256.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ETB 343

$1.13 ETB 179

92.04%

Eggs

$2.46 ETB 388

$4.15 ETB 655

-40.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.00 ETB 1,104

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.87 ETB 2,185

$11.48 ETB 1,810

20.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.40 ETB 2,112

$11.72 ETB 1,847

14.33%

Apples (1kg)

$6.84 ETB 1,078

$2.25 ETB 354

204.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ETB 162

$1.18 ETB 186

-12.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 ETB 345

$3.43 ETB 540

-36.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.97 ETB 153

$0.61 ETB 95.5

59.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ETB 99.6

$0.55 ETB 86.8

14.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.88 ETB 296

$3.37 ETB 531

-44.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ETB 110

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ETB 108

$0.56 ETB 88.0

23.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 ETB 636

Wine (Bottle)

$5.70 ETB 899

$7.07 ETB 1,114

-19.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ETB 156

$1.14 ETB 179

-13.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ETB 290

$1.47 ETB 231

25.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ETB 34.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.79 ETB 2,173

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 ETB 228

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ETB 42.53

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 ETB 312

$1.75 ETB 276

13.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ETB 204

$1.78 ETB 280

-27.53%

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

$55.2K ETB 8.7M

$52.9K ETB 8.3M

4.34%

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

$54.6K ETB 8.6M

$57.5K ETB 9.1M

-5.11%

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

$159 ETB 25.0K

$62.7 ETB 9,877

153.34%

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

$11.83 ETB 1,864

$15.52 ETB 2,445

-23.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$131 ETB 20.6K

$315 ETB 49.6K

-58.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.69 ETB 5,467

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ETB 910

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

$79.9 ETB 12.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$41.0K ETB 6.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.94 ETB 7,398

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.1 ETB 11.8K

$91.6 ETB 14.4K

-18.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ETB 14.8K

$140 ETB 22.1K

-32.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 ETB 18.1K

$118 ETB 18.5K

-2.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$218 ETB 34.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$162 ETB 25.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ETB 68.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 ETB 50.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,286 ETB 360.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,186 ETB 186.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$229 ETB 36.1K

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 Assela: June 1, 2026

Last update for Jimma: May 30, 2026

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

Assela vs Jimma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Assela is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,208 in Assela and $1,551 in Jimma to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Jimma pay roughly 32% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $806 per month in Assela versus $1,034 in Jimma – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Assela gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, Assela and Jimma are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Assela gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Jimma. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.