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: $1,052 in Jimma versus $1,282 in Addis Ababa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,461 in Jimma versus $1,880 in Addis Ababa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,870 in Jimma versus $2,478 in Addis Ababa.

Living in Jimma costs roughly 18% less than in Addis Ababa, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jimma 23% lower, Addis Ababa 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.62 ETB 742

$4.11 ETB 659

12.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.92 ETB 6,894

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.45 ETB 1,036

Cappuccino

$1.14 ETB 183

$0.95 ETB 153

20.00%

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

$0.56 ETB 89.2

$0.63 ETB 102

-11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ETB 77.2

$0.68 ETB 109

-29.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 ETB 473

$0.82 ETB 132

259.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ETB 230

$2.31 ETB 370

-38.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 ETB 183

$1.11 ETB 178

2.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.37 ETB 60.0

$1.22 ETB 196

-69.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 ETB 189

$2.17 ETB 349

-46.08%

Eggs

$4.12 ETB 661

$1.72 ETB 277

139.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.51 ETB 1,206

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.78 ETB 1,891

$10.16 ETB 1,631

15.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.39 ETB 1,829

$9.17 ETB 1,472

24.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 ETB 381

$5.25 ETB 843

-54.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 ETB 185

$0.63 ETB 102

82.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.42 ETB 549

$2.20 ETB 353

55.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 ETB 97.0

$0.70 ETB 113

-14.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.60 ETB 96.9

$0.49 ETB 79.0

22.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.48 ETB 559

$1.09 ETB 175

219.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ETB 106

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ETB 90.5

$0.58 ETB 92.4

-3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.04 ETB 1,291

Wine (Bottle)

$6.91 ETB 1,110

$5.68 ETB 913

21.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ETB 192

$0.67 ETB 108

77.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 ETB 229

$1.27 ETB 203

11.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ETB 38.55

$0.52 ETB 83.3

-53.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.92 ETB 2,235

$20.84 ETB 3,347

-33.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ETB 216

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.58

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.70 ETB 273

$1.95 ETB 313

-12.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.70 ETB 274

$0.88 ETB 142

93.18%

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

$51.8K ETB 8.3M

$55.5K ETB 8.9M

-6.67%

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

$57.8K ETB 9.3M

$55.4K ETB 8.9M

4.28%

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

$62.9 ETB 10.1K

$208 ETB 33.4K

-69.78%

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

$37.35 ETB 5,998

$7.26 ETB 1,166

414.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$310 ETB 49.8K

$211 ETB 33.8K

47.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.34 ETB 5,515

$44.06 ETB 7,077

-22.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.68 ETB 5,730

Cinema Ticket

$3.73 ETB 599

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

$137 ETB 22.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.5K ETB 4.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.94 ETB 5,290

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$92.6 ETB 14.9K

$70.0 ETB 11.2K

32.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 ETB 22.7K

$77.8 ETB 12.5K

81.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ETB 18.7K

$82.5 ETB 13.3K

40.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$211 ETB 33.9K

$721 ETB 115.7K

-70.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$159 ETB 25.6K

$401 ETB 64.4K

-60.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 ETB 69.7K

$2,289 ETB 367.6K

-81.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 ETB 50.6K

$759 ETB 121.9K

-58.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,308 ETB 370.6K

$1,954 ETB 313.8K

18.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,167 ETB 187.4K

$996 ETB 160.0K

17.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$233 ETB 37.5K

$200 ETB 32.2K

16.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.5

-51.35%

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

Last update for Jimma: August 31, 2026

Last update for Addis Ababa: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $211 in Jimma and $721 in Addis Ababa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jimma pays 16% 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 22% in total monthly costs ($1,052 vs $1,282 including rent). Jimma is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 16% 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: $211 in Jimma versus $721 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 50% 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 $1,052 per month in Jimma versus $1,282 in Addis Ababa – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,052 in Jimma versus $1,282 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 22% less than in Addis Ababa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.