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 $379 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,022 in Jimma, rent included.

A couple spends around $563 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,412 in Jimma, rent included.

A family of three spends $747 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,802 in Jimma, rent included.

Bahir Dar is about 63% 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 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.52 ETB 558

$4.71 ETB 746

-25.27%

Cappuccino

$0.97 ETB 154

$1.13 ETB 178

-14.16%

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

$0.38 ETB 60.6

$0.60 ETB 94.9

-36.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ETB 77.0

$0.48 ETB 75.5

2.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.73 ETB 115

$1.22 ETB 193

-40.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ETB 326

$1.48 ETB 235

39.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 ETB 162

$1.18 ETB 187

-13.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 ETB 157

$0.40 ETB 63.0

147.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ETB 157

$1.15 ETB 182

-13.91%

Eggs

$1.70 ETB 270

$4.23 ETB 671

-59.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.41 ETB 1,808

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.19 ETB 1,615

$11.53 ETB 1,828

-11.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 ETB 462

$2.38 ETB 377

22.27%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 ETB 156

$1.15 ETB 182

-14.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ETB 322

$3.39 ETB 537

-40.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 ETB 121

$0.59 ETB 93.7

28.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 ETB 97.9

$0.59 ETB 94.1

5.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ETB 186

$3.44 ETB 545

-65.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ETB 156

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ETB 81.4

$0.55 ETB 87.5

-7.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.08 ETB 646

$6.94 ETB 1,101

-41.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ETB 124

$1.14 ETB 180

-31.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ETB 309

$1.42 ETB 225

37.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ETB 38.25

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.72 ETB 2,174

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 ETB 80.9

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 ETB 313

$1.72 ETB 272

14.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 ETB 163

$1.69 ETB 269

-39.05%

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

$53.1K ETB 8.4M

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

$56.9K ETB 9.0M

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

$100 ETB 15.9K

$63.4 ETB 10.1K

58.29%

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

$10.06 ETB 1,595

$15.13 ETB 2,398

-33.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$310 ETB 49.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.45 ETB 7,838

$34.16 ETB 5,415

44.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$60.7 ETB 9,627

Cinema Ticket

$6.10 ETB 967

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

$49.33 ETB 7,819

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.82 ETB 7,897

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$91.7 ETB 14.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 ETB 21.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 ETB 18.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$210 ETB 33.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$162 ETB 25.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$419 ETB 66.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 ETB 51.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,023 ETB 320.7K

$2,320 ETB 367.7K

-12.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,485 ETB 235.3K

$1,144 ETB 181.3K

29.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$203 ETB 32.2K

$224 ETB 35.5K

-9.27%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Jimma: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 10% 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 170% 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 $568 per month in Bahir Dar and $1,533 in Jimma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $379 in Bahir Dar and $1,022 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 $379 in Bahir Dar and $1,022 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.