Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Jimma and Assela

For one person, living is cheaper in Assela: $835 a month against $1,020 in Jimma, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Assela
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Assela Living Index

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Jimma

🇪🇹 Ethiopia

$1,020

/mo nomad

Assela

🇪🇹 Ethiopia

$835

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Jimma and in Assela

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 Assela actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,020 in Jimma versus $835 in Assela.

Jimma $1,020
Assela $835

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,406 in Jimma versus $1,203 in Assela.

Jimma $1,406
Assela $1,203

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,792 in Jimma versus $1,571 in Assela.

Jimma $1,792
Assela $1,571

Living in Jimma is roughly 22% more expensive than in Assela, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jimma 24% lower, Assela 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.40 ETB 705

$3.96 ETB 636

11.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.32 ETB 6,793

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.66 ETB 1,069

Cappuccino

$1.11 ETB 178

$0.96 ETB 153

15.63%

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

$0.58 ETB 93.3

$0.64 ETB 102

-9.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ETB 68.8

$0.68 ETB 109

-36.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.86 ETB 458

$0.83 ETB 133

244.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 ETB 220

$2.20 ETB 353

-37.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ETB 176

$1.05 ETB 169

4.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.35 ETB 57.0

$1.17 ETB 188

-70.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 ETB 176

$2.22 ETB 357

-50.45%

Eggs

$3.96 ETB 636

$1.78 ETB 286

122.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.18 ETB 1,152

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.18 ETB 1,795

$10.17 ETB 1,632

9.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.29 ETB 1,812

$9.17 ETB 1,471

23.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 ETB 349

$5.43 ETB 871

-59.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 ETB 182

$0.68 ETB 109

66.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.26 ETB 523

$2.17 ETB 348

50.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 ETB 93.5

$0.66 ETB 106

-12.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ETB 93.2

$0.47 ETB 75.4

23.40%

Onion (1kg)

$3.33 ETB 535

$1.05 ETB 169

217.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ETB 106

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ETB 87.9

$0.60 ETB 96.9

-8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.03 ETB 1,290

Wine (Bottle)

$6.79 ETB 1,089

$5.49 ETB 881

23.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 ETB 177

$0.66 ETB 106

68.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ETB 229

$1.22 ETB 196

17.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ETB 33.58

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.56 ETB 2,176

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 ETB 207

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.58

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.70 ETB 273

$2.03 ETB 325

-16.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.70 ETB 273

$0.90 ETB 144

88.89%

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

$50.0K ETB 8.0M

$54.3K ETB 8.7M

-7.87%

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

$56.2K ETB 9.0M

$56.5K ETB 9.1M

-0.53%

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

$61.8 ETB 9,921

$201 ETB 32.2K

-69.24%

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

$36.05 ETB 5,786

$7.11 ETB 1,141

407.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$304 ETB 48.8K

$209 ETB 33.5K

45.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.49 ETB 5,375

Cinema Ticket

$3.83 ETB 614

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

$137 ETB 22.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.2K ETB 4.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.25 ETB 5,337

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$89.1 ETB 14.3K

$70.9 ETB 11.4K

25.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 ETB 21.1K

$77.7 ETB 12.5K

69.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 ETB 18.1K

$82.6 ETB 13.3K

36.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$205 ETB 33.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 ETB 25.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$415 ETB 66.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$311 ETB 49.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,215 ETB 355.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,107 ETB 177.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$222 ETB 35.7K

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: October 11, 2026

Last update for Assela: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Jimma

–

Assela

$417 50%

Groceries & Markets

Jimma

–

Assela

$211 25.3%

Clothing & Footwear

Jimma

–

Assela

$119 14.3%

Eating Out

Jimma

–

Assela

$77 9.2%

Sport & Entertainment

Jimma

–

Assela

$7.7 * 0.9%

Getting Around

Jimma

–

Assela

$2.7 * 0.3%

Accommodation & Living

Jimma

–

Assela

- * 0%

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

Good to know

🇪🇹 Jimma

🇪🇹 Assela

🕒 Local time

19:45 7:45 PM

Same time as Jimma

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

207,573

139,500

💱 Currency

Ethiopian Birr ETB Br

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 ETB = 6.23 USD

1,000 ETB = 5.54 EUR

1,000 ETB = 6.23 USD

1,000 ETB = 5.54 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Jimma Assela 250 km

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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 Assela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Assela is cheaper overall, especially in utilities, clothing, and leisure. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,530 in Jimma and $1,252 in Assela to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Jimma pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,020 per month in Jimma versus $835 in Assela – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $835 in Assela versus $1,020 in Jimma, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Assela but tight or insufficient in Jimma. The gap between the two cities makes Assela 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.

Safety-wise, Jimma and Assela are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Assela gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Jimma. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.