Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Jimma and Adama

For one person, living costs are similar in Jimma and in Adama: $1,014 and $1,030 a month, rent and utilities included.

Jimma, Ethiopia
Adama, Ethiopia
Jimma
🇪🇹 Ethiopia
$1,014
/mo nomad
Adama
🇪🇹 Ethiopia
$1,030
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Jimma and in Adama

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Jimma and in Adama actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,014 per month in Jimma vs $1,030 in Adama, rent included.

  • Jimma $1,014
  • Adama $1,030

A couple spends around $1,403 per month in Jimma vs $1,702 in Adama, rent included.

  • Jimma $1,403
  • Adama $1,702

A family of three spends $1,791 per month in Jimma vs $2,374 in Adama, rent included.

  • Jimma $1,791
  • Adama $2,374

Jimma and Adama have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Jimma and Adama are more affordable than the global median – Jimma 26% lower, Adama 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jimma
Adama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43 ETB 713
$3.06 ETB 492
44.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$43.00 ETB 6,919
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$4.98 ETB 801
-
Cappuccino
$1.10 ETB 176
$0.90 ETB 144
22.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ETB 85.9
$0.58 ETB 93.8
-8.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ETB 76.0
$0.31 ETB 50.5
51.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.72 ETB 438
$0.83 ETB 134
227.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 ETB 232
$2.31 ETB 372
-37.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jimma
Adama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 ETB 182
$0.77 ETB 124
46.75%
White Bread (500g)
$0.36 ETB 57.7
$1.17 ETB 188
-69.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 ETB 185
$2.20 ETB 353
-47.73%
Eggs
$3.96 ETB 638
$1.80 ETB 289
120.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$7.35 ETB 1,183
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.29 ETB 1,816
$10.09 ETB 1,624
11.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.22 ETB 1,805
$9.40 ETB 1,513
19.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ETB 369
$5.51 ETB 887
-58.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ETB 175
$0.69 ETB 111
57.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.31 ETB 533
$2.14 ETB 344
54.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.54 ETB 86.2
$0.70 ETB 113
-22.86%
Potato (1kg)
$0.55 ETB 88.0
$0.50 ETB 80.9
10.00%
Onion (1kg)
$3.36 ETB 541
$1.09 ETB 175
208.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.69 ETB 111
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ETB 86.9
$0.57 ETB 91.2
-5.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$7.88 ETB 1,268
-
Wine (Bottle)
$6.84 ETB 1,100
$5.78 ETB 931
18.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 ETB 183
$0.70 ETB 113
62.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 ETB 230
$1.28 ETB 206
11.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Jimma
Adama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.21 ETB 33.65
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.46 ETB 2,165
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.28 ETB 206
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.27 ETB 42.87
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.69 ETB 272
$2.03 ETB 326
-16.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.72 ETB 277
$0.90 ETB 145
91.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.6K ETB 8.0M
$55.8K ETB 9.0M
-11.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$55.5K ETB 8.9M
$55.3K ETB 8.9M
0.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jimma
Adama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.2 ETB 9,693
$206 ETB 33.1K
-70.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.58 ETB 5,725
$7.50 ETB 1,206
374.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$301 ETB 48.4K
$215 ETB 34.6K
39.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jimma
Adama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.07 ETB 5,321
-
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$3.83 ETB 617
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jimma
Adama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$611 ETB 98.2K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$30.5K ETB 4.9M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jimma
Adama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$32.75 ETB 5,270
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$90.8 ETB 14.6K
$72.3 ETB 11.6K
25.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$133 ETB 21.5K
$79.9 ETB 12.9K
67.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ETB 17.9K
$82.3 ETB 13.2K
35.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jimma
Adama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$203 ETB 32.6K
$352 ETB 56.6K
-42.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$154 ETB 24.7K
$198 ETB 31.9K
-22.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$407 ETB 65.6K
$980 ETB 157.7K
-58.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$313 ETB 50.4K
$815 ETB 131.1K
-61.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,192 ETB 352.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,138 ETB 183.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jimma
Adama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$223 ETB 35.9K
$98.7 ETB 15.9K
126.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9
18.5
-51.35%

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

Last update for Jimma: October 27, 2026

Last update for Adama: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jimma
–
Adama
$428
Groceries & Markets
Jimma
–
Adama
$211
Accommodation & Living
Jimma
–
Adama
$198
Clothing & Footwear
Jimma
–
Adama
$120
Eating Out
Jimma
–
Adama
$63
Sport & Entertainment
Jimma
–
Adama
$7.7 *
Getting Around
Jimma
–
Adama
$2.6 *

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $203 in Jimma versus $352 in Adama. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Jimma are about 2.3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know
🇪🇹 Jimma
🇪🇹 Adama
🕒 Local time
11:57 11:57 AM
11:57 11:57 AM
Same time as Jimma
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
207,573
228,623
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ETB – Ethiopian Birr Converter

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

On the map
Between locations
  • Jimma Adama 280 km
From you
  • Jimma
  • Adama

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
Jimma vs Adama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What salary covers living expenses in Jimma compared to Adama?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,521 per month in Jimma and $1,545 in Adama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Jimma and Adama?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jimma, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $203 there versus $352 in Adama.
How far does $1,500 go in Jimma compared to Adama?
$1,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,014 in Jimma and $1,030 in Adama, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Jimma and Adama?
It depends on your priorities. Adama has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,014 in Jimma to $1,030 in Adama. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Jimma vs other spots: cost of living compared

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