Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahir Dar and Jimma Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahir Dar and Jimma

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $372 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,034 in Jimma, rent included.

A couple spends around $560 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,424 in Jimma, rent included.

A family of three spends $748 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,814 in Jimma, rent included.

Bahir Dar is about 64% cheaper than Jimma, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Bahir Dar and Jimma are more affordable than the global median – Bahir Dar 72% lower, Jimma 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.60 ETB 567

$4.51 ETB 710

-20.18%

Cappuccino

$1.02 ETB 161

$1.18 ETB 187

-13.56%

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

$0.42 ETB 65.9

$0.57 ETB 89.1

-26.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ETB 76.3

$0.48 ETB 75.8

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.78 ETB 123

$1.20 ETB 189

-35.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ETB 313

$1.48 ETB 233

34.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 ETB 160

$1.19 ETB 187

-15.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 ETB 160

$0.37 ETB 57.7

172.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ETB 156

$1.13 ETB 179

-12.39%

Eggs

$1.76 ETB 277

$4.15 ETB 655

-57.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.48 ETB 1,810

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.96 ETB 1,569

$11.72 ETB 1,847

-15.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 ETB 463

$2.25 ETB 354

30.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 ETB 160

$1.18 ETB 186

-13.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 ETB 310

$3.43 ETB 540

-42.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 ETB 122

$0.61 ETB 95.5

26.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 ETB 105

$0.55 ETB 86.8

21.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ETB 185

$3.37 ETB 531

-65.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ETB 155

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ETB 81.6

$0.56 ETB 88.0

-7.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.03 ETB 636

$7.07 ETB 1,114

-43.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ETB 121

$1.14 ETB 179

-32.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ETB 313

$1.47 ETB 231

34.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ETB 34.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.79 ETB 2,173

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 ETB 81.2

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 ETB 312

$1.75 ETB 276

13.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 ETB 160

$1.78 ETB 280

-42.70%

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

$52.9K ETB 8.3M

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

$57.5K ETB 9.1M

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

$100 ETB 15.8K

$62.7 ETB 9,877

60.33%

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

$9.90 ETB 1,560

$15.52 ETB 2,445

-36.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$315 ETB 49.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.5 ETB 7,963

$34.69 ETB 5,467

45.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$59.1 ETB 9,311

Cinema Ticket

$5.97 ETB 941

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

$50.3 ETB 7,927

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 ETB 8,024

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$91.6 ETB 14.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$140 ETB 22.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ETB 18.5K

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)

$2,032 ETB 320.3K

$2,286 ETB 360.3K

-11.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,514 ETB 238.6K

$1,186 ETB 186.9K

27.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$198 ETB 31.2K

$229 ETB 36.1K

-13.41%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Jimma: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 15% higher in Jimma, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 178% more than Bahir Dar, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $557 per month in Bahir Dar and $1,551 in Jimma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $372 in Bahir Dar and $1,034 in Jimma. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 63% more in Jimma, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $372 in Bahir Dar and $1,034 in Jimma, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.