Cost of Living Comparison Between Jimma and Addis Ababa Cost of Living Comparison Between Jimma and Addis Ababa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,022 in Jimma versus $1,429 in Addis Ababa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,412 in Jimma versus $2,079 in Addis Ababa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,802 in Jimma versus $2,730 in Addis Ababa.

Living in Jimma costs roughly 28% less than in Addis Ababa, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Jimma is 24% below, Addis Ababa is 7% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.71 ETB 746

$4.44 ETB 704

6.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.55 ETB 5,634

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 ETB 1,058

Cappuccino

$1.13 ETB 178

$1.30 ETB 206

-13.08%

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

$0.60 ETB 94.9

$0.63 ETB 100

-4.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ETB 75.5

$0.43 ETB 68.4

11.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ETB 193

$0.97 ETB 154

25.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 ETB 235

$2.93 ETB 465

-49.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 ETB 187

$1.46 ETB 231

-19.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 ETB 63.0

$1.33 ETB 211

-69.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ETB 182

$2.15 ETB 341

-46.51%

Eggs

$4.23 ETB 671

$2.40 ETB 380

76.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.12 ETB 1,128

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.41 ETB 1,808

$13.71 ETB 2,173

-16.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.53 ETB 1,828

$13.07 ETB 2,071

-11.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ETB 377

$6.66 ETB 1,055

-64.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 ETB 182

$1.04 ETB 165

10.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.39 ETB 537

$2.19 ETB 348

54.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 ETB 93.7

$0.98 ETB 155

-39.80%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 ETB 94.1

$0.63 ETB 99.9

-6.35%

Onion (1kg)

$3.44 ETB 545

$1.91 ETB 303

80.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ETB 105

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ETB 87.5

$0.68 ETB 108

-19.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 ETB 629

Wine (Bottle)

$6.94 ETB 1,101

$5.68 ETB 901

22.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ETB 180

$1.04 ETB 164

9.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 ETB 225

$1.83 ETB 290

-22.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ETB 38.25

$0.44 ETB 69.8

-45.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.72 ETB 2,174

$12.19 ETB 1,932

12.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 ETB 226

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.72 ETB 272

$2.04 ETB 323

-15.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.69 ETB 269

$1.25 ETB 198

35.20%

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

$53.1K ETB 8.4M

$55.6K ETB 8.8M

-4.49%

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

$56.9K ETB 9.0M

$54.3K ETB 8.6M

4.80%

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

$63.4 ETB 10.1K

$163 ETB 25.8K

-60.98%

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

$15.13 ETB 2,398

$12.23 ETB 1,938

23.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$310 ETB 49.1K

$129 ETB 20.5K

139.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.16 ETB 5,415

$69.4 ETB 11.0K

-50.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.29 ETB 5,752

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 ETB 923

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

$80.5 ETB 12.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.0K ETB 6.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.75 ETB 7,568

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$91.7 ETB 14.5K

$74.4 ETB 11.8K

23.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 ETB 21.7K

$91.4 ETB 14.5K

49.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 ETB 18.2K

$116 ETB 18.4K

-1.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$210 ETB 33.3K

$732 ETB 116.0K

-71.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$162 ETB 25.7K

$511 ETB 81.1K

-68.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$419 ETB 66.4K

$1,816 ETB 287.9K

-76.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 ETB 51.4K

$885 ETB 140.3K

-63.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,320 ETB 367.7K

$1,969 ETB 312.1K

17.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,144 ETB 181.3K

$992 ETB 157.2K

15.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$224 ETB 35.5K

$200 ETB 31.7K

11.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-47.06%

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

Last update for Jimma: July 13, 2026

Last update for Addis Ababa: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $210 in Jimma and $732 in Addis Ababa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jimma pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Addis Ababa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jimma and Addis Ababa differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($1,022 vs $1,429 including rent). Jimma is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 12% higher in Jimma, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $210 in Jimma versus $732 in Addis Ababa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Jimma runs roughly 13% less than in Addis Ababa. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $1,022 per month in Jimma versus $1,429 in Addis Ababa – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,022 in Jimma versus $1,429 in Addis Ababa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jimma but tight or insufficient in Addis Ababa. The gap between the two cities makes Jimma the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Jimma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Addis Ababa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.