Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hawassa and Jimma

For one person, living is cheaper in Hawassa: $837 a month against $1,014 in Jimma, rent and utilities included – about $2,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Hawassa
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Hawassa Living Index

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Hawassa

🇪🇹 Ethiopia

$837

/mo nomad

Jimma

🇪🇹 Ethiopia

$1,014

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $837 per month in Hawassa vs $1,014 in Jimma, rent included.

Hawassa $837
Jimma $1,014

A couple spends around $1,203 per month in Hawassa vs $1,403 in Jimma, rent included.

Hawassa $1,203
Jimma $1,403

A family of three spends $1,569 per month in Hawassa vs $1,791 in Jimma, rent included.

Hawassa $1,569
Jimma $1,791

Hawassa is about 17% cheaper than Jimma, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Hawassa and Jimma are more affordable than the global median – Hawassa 38% lower, Jimma 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 ETB 639

$4.43 ETB 713

-10.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.89 ETB 6,906

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.65 ETB 1,070

Cappuccino

$0.88 ETB 142

$1.10 ETB 176

-20.00%

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

$0.58 ETB 94.2

$0.53 ETB 85.9

9.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 ETB 104

$0.47 ETB 76.0

38.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.82 ETB 133

$2.72 ETB 438

-69.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ETB 367

$1.44 ETB 232

58.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 ETB 171

$1.13 ETB 182

-6.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ETB 196

$0.36 ETB 57.7

238.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ETB 157

$1.15 ETB 186

-14.78%

Eggs

$1.53 ETB 246

$3.96 ETB 638

-61.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.34 ETB 1,182

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.99 ETB 1,608

$11.29 ETB 1,817

-11.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.38 ETB 1,510

$11.22 ETB 1,806

-16.40%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 ETB 849

$2.29 ETB 369

130.13%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 ETB 105

$1.09 ETB 175

-40.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 ETB 347

$3.31 ETB 533

-34.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 ETB 107

$0.54 ETB 86.3

22.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.50 ETB 79.7

$0.55 ETB 88.1

-9.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ETB 176

$3.36 ETB 541

-67.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 ETB 105

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ETB 99.2

$0.54 ETB 86.9

14.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.89 ETB 1,270

Wine (Bottle)

$5.48 ETB 882

$6.84 ETB 1,101

-19.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ETB 115

$1.14 ETB 183

-36.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 ETB 204

$1.43 ETB 230

-11.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ETB 33.67

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.46 ETB 2,167

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.30 ETB 209

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.86

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 ETB 317

$1.69 ETB 272

16.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 ETB 156

$1.72 ETB 277

-43.60%

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

$55.2K ETB 8.9M

$49.6K ETB 8.0M

11.15%

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

$56.1K ETB 9.0M

$55.5K ETB 8.9M

1.01%

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

$207 ETB 33.3K

$60.2 ETB 9,699

243.53%

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

$7.40 ETB 1,191

$35.58 ETB 5,729

-79.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$213 ETB 34.3K

$301 ETB 48.4K

-29.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.07 ETB 5,324

Cinema Ticket

$3.65 ETB 587

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

$628 ETB 101.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.4K ETB 4.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.89 ETB 5,295

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.7 ETB 11.4K

$90.8 ETB 14.6K

-22.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 ETB 12.4K

$133 ETB 21.5K

-42.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.3 ETB 13.1K

$111 ETB 17.9K

-27.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 ETB 32.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 ETB 24.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$407 ETB 65.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 ETB 50.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,192 ETB 352.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$502 ETB 80.8K

$1,138 ETB 183.3K

-55.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$223 ETB 35.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.5

105.56%

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

Last update for Hawassa: October 27, 2026

Last update for Jimma: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Hawassa

$428 51.1%

Jimma

–

Groceries & Markets

Hawassa

$206 24.6%

Jimma

–

Clothing & Footwear

Hawassa

$118 14.1%

Jimma

–

Eating Out

Hawassa

$76 9.1%

Jimma

–

Sport & Entertainment

Hawassa

$7.3 * 0.9%

Jimma

–

Getting Around

Hawassa

$2.8 * 0.3%

Jimma

–

Accommodation & Living

Hawassa

- * 0%

Jimma

–

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Good to know

🇪🇹 Hawassa

🇪🇹 Jimma

🕒 Local time

07:25 7:25 AM

Same time as Hawassa

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

160,000

207,573

💱 Currency

Ethiopian Birr ETB Br

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 ETB = 6.21 USD

1,000 ETB = 5.58 EUR

1,000 ETB = 6.21 USD

1,000 ETB = 5.58 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Hawassa Jimma 190 km

From you

Hawassa
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

Hawassa vs Jimma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $837 in Hawassa, $1,014 in Jimma – Hawassa comes out roughly 17% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in utilities.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,256 per month in Hawassa and $1,521 in Jimma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $837 in Hawassa and $1,014 in Jimma. That makes Hawassa about 17% cheaper.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Jimma – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $837 in Hawassa and $1,014 in Jimma, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Hawassa has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $837 in Hawassa to $1,014 in Jimma. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.