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: $1,034 in Jimma versus $1,383 in Addis Ababa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,424 in Jimma versus $2,083 in Addis Ababa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,814 in Jimma versus $2,783 in Addis Ababa.

Living in Jimma costs roughly 25% less than in Addis Ababa, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Jimma is 23% below, Addis Ababa is 3% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 ETB 710

$4.55 ETB 718

-0.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.04 ETB 5,522

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.41 ETB 1,010

Cappuccino

$1.18 ETB 187

$1.24 ETB 196

-4.84%

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

$0.57 ETB 89.1

$0.69 ETB 109

-17.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ETB 75.8

$0.43 ETB 67.7

11.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 ETB 189

$0.99 ETB 156

21.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 ETB 233

$2.97 ETB 468

-50.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 ETB 187

$1.44 ETB 228

-17.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.37 ETB 57.7

$1.33 ETB 210

-72.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 ETB 179

$2.17 ETB 343

-47.93%

Eggs

$4.15 ETB 655

$2.43 ETB 383

70.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.29 ETB 1,148

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.48 ETB 1,810

$13.73 ETB 2,164

-16.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.72 ETB 1,847

$13.09 ETB 2,063

-10.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 ETB 354

$6.68 ETB 1,053

-66.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ETB 186

$0.98 ETB 154

20.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.43 ETB 540

$2.19 ETB 345

56.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 ETB 95.5

$0.99 ETB 157

-38.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 ETB 86.8

$0.68 ETB 107

-19.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.37 ETB 531

$1.81 ETB 286

86.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ETB 108

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ETB 88.0

$0.64 ETB 101

-12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.02 ETB 633

Wine (Bottle)

$7.07 ETB 1,114

$5.77 ETB 909

22.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ETB 179

$0.99 ETB 156

15.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 ETB 231

$1.89 ETB 298

-22.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ETB 34.51

$0.43 ETB 67.9

-48.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.79 ETB 2,173

$12.21 ETB 1,925

12.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 ETB 234

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ETB 42.16

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 ETB 276

$2.05 ETB 323

-14.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.78 ETB 280

$1.24 ETB 195

43.55%

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

$52.9K ETB 8.3M

$55.4K ETB 8.7M

-4.63%

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

$57.5K ETB 9.1M

$54.0K ETB 8.5M

6.46%

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

$62.7 ETB 9,877

$157 ETB 24.8K

-60.12%

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

$15.52 ETB 2,445

$12.11 ETB 1,908

28.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$315 ETB 49.6K

$129 ETB 20.3K

144.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.69 ETB 5,467

$69.5 ETB 11.0K

-50.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.71 ETB 5,786

Cinema Ticket

$5.86 ETB 923

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

$81.1 ETB 12.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$41.1K ETB 6.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.81 ETB 7,377

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$91.6 ETB 14.4K

$74.1 ETB 11.7K

23.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$140 ETB 22.1K

$93.3 ETB 14.7K

50.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ETB 18.5K

$115 ETB 18.2K

1.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$218 ETB 34.3K

$758 ETB 119.5K

-71.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$162 ETB 25.5K

$495 ETB 78.0K

-67.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ETB 68.1K

$1,819 ETB 286.7K

-76.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 ETB 50.6K

$890 ETB 140.2K

-63.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,286 ETB 360.3K

$1,981 ETB 312.2K

15.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,186 ETB 186.9K

$1,009 ETB 159.0K

17.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$229 ETB 36.1K

$206 ETB 32.5K

10.91%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Addis Ababa: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $218 in Jimma and $758 in Addis Ababa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jimma pays 11% 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 34% in total monthly costs ($1,034 vs $1,383 including rent). Jimma is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Jimma pays 11% more on average, 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: $218 in Jimma versus $758 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 $1,034 per month in Jimma versus $1,383 in Addis Ababa – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,034 in Jimma versus $1,383 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 34% less than in Addis Ababa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.