Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahir Dar and Jimma

For one person, living is cheaper in Bahir Dar: $375 a month against $1,020 in Jimma, rent and utilities included – about $7,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Jump to prices

Bahir Dar

🇪🇹 Ethiopia

$375

/mo nomad

Jimma

🇪🇹 Ethiopia

$1,020

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bahir Dar and in Jimma

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bahir Dar and in Jimma actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $375 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,020 in Jimma, rent included.

Bahir Dar $375
Jimma $1,020

A couple spends around $569 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,406 in Jimma, rent included.

Bahir Dar $569
Jimma $1,406

A family of three spends $763 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,792 in Jimma, rent included.

Bahir Dar $763
Jimma $1,792

Bahir Dar is about 63% cheaper than Jimma, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Bahir Dar and Jimma are more affordable than the global median – Bahir Dar 72% lower, Jimma 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ETB 564

$4.40 ETB 705

-20.23%

Cappuccino

$0.99 ETB 159

$1.11 ETB 178

-10.81%

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

$0.41 ETB 66.0

$0.58 ETB 93.3

-29.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ETB 83.9

$0.43 ETB 68.8

20.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.72 ETB 116

$2.86 ETB 458

-74.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 ETB 323

$1.37 ETB 220

46.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 ETB 158

$1.10 ETB 176

-10.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 ETB 157

$0.35 ETB 57.0

180.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ETB 165

$1.10 ETB 176

-6.36%

Eggs

$1.72 ETB 276

$3.96 ETB 636

-56.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.18 ETB 1,795

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.04 ETB 1,612

$11.29 ETB 1,812

-11.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 ETB 468

$2.18 ETB 349

33.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 ETB 164

$1.13 ETB 182

-9.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 ETB 329

$3.26 ETB 523

-37.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.83 ETB 133

$0.58 ETB 93.5

43.10%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ETB 101

$0.58 ETB 93.2

8.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 ETB 180

$3.33 ETB 535

-66.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ETB 164

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ETB 82.2

$0.55 ETB 87.9

-7.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.90 ETB 626

$6.79 ETB 1,089

-42.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ETB 134

$1.11 ETB 177

-24.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 ETB 316

$1.43 ETB 229

37.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ETB 33.58

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.56 ETB 2,176

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 ETB 76.9

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 ETB 324

$1.70 ETB 273

18.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 ETB 164

$1.70 ETB 273

-40.00%

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

$50.0K ETB 8.0M

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

$56.2K ETB 9.0M

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

$102 ETB 16.4K

$61.8 ETB 9,921

64.84%

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

$9.82 ETB 1,576

$36.05 ETB 5,786

-72.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$304 ETB 48.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.9 ETB 8,167

$33.49 ETB 5,375

51.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$60.5 ETB 9,711

Cinema Ticket

$5.90 ETB 947

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

$49.85 ETB 8,001

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.1 ETB 8,032

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$89.1 ETB 14.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 ETB 21.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 ETB 18.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$205 ETB 33.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 ETB 25.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$415 ETB 66.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$311 ETB 49.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,988 ETB 319.1K

$2,215 ETB 355.5K

-10.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,476 ETB 237.0K

$1,107 ETB 177.6K

33.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$200 ETB 32.1K

$222 ETB 35.7K

-9.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Bahir Dar: October 12, 2026

Last update for Jimma: October 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 11% higher in Jimma, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know

🇪🇹 Bahir Dar

🇪🇹 Jimma

🕒 Local time

19:17 7:17 PM

Same time as Bahir Dar

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

350,000

207,573

💱 Currency

Ethiopian Birr ETB Br

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 ETB = 6.23 USD

1,000 ETB = 5.54 EUR

1,000 ETB = 6.23 USD

1,000 ETB = 5.54 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Bahir Dar Jimma 440 km

From you

Bahir Dar
Jimma

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Bahir Dar vs Jimma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jimma costs about 172% more than Bahir Dar, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $562 per month in Bahir Dar and $1,530 in Jimma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $375 in Bahir Dar and $1,020 in Jimma. That's a gap of about 172%.

Groceries cost about 57% more in Jimma, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bahir Dar, where all-in costs run around $375, than in Jimma at $1,020. In Bahir Dar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jimma it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bahir Dar – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bahir Dar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jimma makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.