Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Jimma

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,014 in Jimma, rent and utilities included – about $940 less a year. The total is higher in Jimma despite lower rent and utilities.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Jimma

🇪🇹 Ethiopia

$1,014

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai 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 Chiang Mai and in Jimma actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,014 in Jimma, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Jimma $1,014

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,403 in Jimma, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Jimma $1,403

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,791 in Jimma, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Jimma $1,791

Chiang Mai is about 8% cheaper than Jimma, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Chiang Mai and Jimma are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Jimma 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$4.43 ETB 713

-49.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

$1.10 ETB 176

51.82%

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

$0.64 ฿21.55

$0.53 ETB 85.9

20.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$0.47 ETB 76.0

-34.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$2.72 ETB 438

-13.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$1.44 ETB 232

154.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$1.13 ETB 182

72.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.48

$0.36 ETB 57.7

300.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.04

$1.15 ETB 185

15.65%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$3.96 ETB 638

-42.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$11.29 ETB 1,816

-75.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$11.22 ETB 1,805

-17.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$2.29 ETB 369

2.62%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.80

$1.09 ETB 175

-11.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$3.31 ETB 533

-51.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$0.54 ETB 86.2

177.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.12

$0.55 ETB 88.0

132.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.19

$3.36 ETB 541

-67.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.37

$0.54 ETB 86.9

-9.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$6.84 ETB 1,100

156.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.14 ETB 183

41.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$1.43 ETB 230

94.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.31

$0.21 ETB 33.65

314.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,826

$13.46 ETB 2,165

301.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.06

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$1.69 ETB 272

43.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.90

$1.72 ETB 277

-15.70%

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

$21.1K ฿710.7K

$49.6K ETB 8.0M

-57.56%

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

$26.9K ฿909.3K

$55.5K ETB 8.9M

-51.47%

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

$60.2 ETB 9,693

3.20%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$35.58 ETB 5,725

-65.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

$301 ETB 48.4K

-93.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

$33.07 ETB 5,321

12.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

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

$736 ฿24.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

$90.8 ETB 14.6K

-72.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

$133 ETB 21.5K

-31.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,428

$111 ETB 17.9K

-35.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$203 ETB 32.6K

137.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$154 ETB 24.7K

101.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$407 ETB 65.6K

146.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$313 ETB 50.4K

102.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$2,192 ETB 352.6K

7.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$1,138 ETB 183.2K

39.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$223 ETB 35.9K

164.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-38.11%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Jimma: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Jimma

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Jimma

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Jimma

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Jimma

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Jimma

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Jimma

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Jimma

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $203 in Jimma. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Chiang Mai are about 2.6 times higher, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇪🇹 Jimma

🕒 Local time

09:39 9:39 AM

05:39 5:39 AM

4 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

207,573

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Ethiopian Birr ETB Br

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

1,000 ETB = 6.22 USD

1,000 ETB = 5.57 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ETB, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Ethiopian Birr exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 161 ETB (1,000 ETB = 6.22 USD). 1 EUR = 180 ETB (1,000 ETB = 5.57 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Jimma 6,810 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
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

Chiang Mai vs Jimma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jimma costs about 8% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,521 in Jimma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jimma, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $203 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,014 in Jimma. That makes Chiang Mai about 8% cheaper.

Interestingly, groceries are about 16% cheaper in Jimma – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,014 in Jimma. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,014 in Jimma. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.