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 $373 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,052 in Jimma, rent included.

A couple spends around $573 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,461 in Jimma, rent included.

A family of three spends $772 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,870 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 73% lower, Jimma 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 ETB 546

$4.62 ETB 742

-26.41%

Cappuccino

$1.01 ETB 163

$1.14 ETB 183

-11.40%

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

$0.41 ETB 66.3

$0.56 ETB 89.2

-26.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ETB 82.3

$0.48 ETB 77.2

6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.74 ETB 119

$2.95 ETB 473

-74.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ETB 313

$1.43 ETB 230

36.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 ETB 157

$1.14 ETB 183

-14.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ETB 156

$0.37 ETB 60.0

162.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ETB 164

$1.17 ETB 189

-12.82%

Eggs

$1.71 ETB 275

$4.12 ETB 661

-58.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.78 ETB 1,891

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.83 ETB 1,579

$11.39 ETB 1,829

-13.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 ETB 495

$2.37 ETB 381

29.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 ETB 163

$1.15 ETB 185

-12.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ETB 326

$3.42 ETB 549

-40.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 ETB 125

$0.60 ETB 97.0

30.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 ETB 103

$0.60 ETB 96.9

6.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ETB 187

$3.48 ETB 559

-66.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ETB 165

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ETB 83.7

$0.56 ETB 90.5

-7.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.96 ETB 636

$6.91 ETB 1,110

-42.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ETB 125

$1.19 ETB 192

-34.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ETB 312

$1.42 ETB 229

36.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ETB 38.55

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.92 ETB 2,235

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 ETB 78.3

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 ETB 329

$1.70 ETB 273

20.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 ETB 159

$1.70 ETB 274

-41.76%

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

$51.8K ETB 8.3M

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

$57.8K ETB 9.3M

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

$100 ETB 16.1K

$62.9 ETB 10.1K

59.24%

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

$9.81 ETB 1,575

$37.35 ETB 5,998

-73.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$310 ETB 49.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.32 ETB 7,920

$34.34 ETB 5,515

43.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$59.3 ETB 9,523

Cinema Ticket

$5.85 ETB 940

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

$49.73 ETB 7,986

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.08 ETB 7,883

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$92.6 ETB 14.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 ETB 22.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ETB 18.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$211 ETB 33.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$159 ETB 25.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 ETB 69.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 ETB 50.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ETB 320.4K

$2,308 ETB 370.6K

-13.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,505 ETB 241.8K

$1,167 ETB 187.4K

29.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$202 ETB 32.5K

$233 ETB 37.5K

-13.39%

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Jimma: August 31, 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 182% 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 $560 per month in Bahir Dar and $1,577 in Jimma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $373 in Bahir Dar and $1,052 in Jimma. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 64% 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 $373 in Bahir Dar and $1,052 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.