Cost of Living Comparison Between Jimma and Bahir Dar Cost of Living Comparison Between Jimma and Bahir Dar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,052 per month in Jimma vs $373 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,461 per month in Jimma vs $573 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,870 per month in Jimma vs $772 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Jimma costs about 182% more than Bahir Dar, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Jimma and Bahir Dar are more affordable than the global median – Jimma 23% lower, Bahir Dar 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.62 ETB 742

$3.40 ETB 546

35.88%

Cappuccino

$1.14 ETB 183

$1.01 ETB 163

12.87%

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

$0.56 ETB 89.2

$0.41 ETB 66.3

36.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ETB 77.2

$0.51 ETB 82.3

-5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 ETB 473

$0.74 ETB 119

298.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ETB 230

$1.95 ETB 313

-26.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 ETB 183

$0.98 ETB 157

16.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.37 ETB 60.0

$0.97 ETB 156

-61.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 ETB 189

$1.02 ETB 164

14.71%

Eggs

$4.12 ETB 661

$1.71 ETB 275

140.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.78 ETB 1,891

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.39 ETB 1,829

$9.83 ETB 1,579

15.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 ETB 381

$3.08 ETB 495

-23.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 ETB 185

$1.01 ETB 163

13.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.42 ETB 549

$2.03 ETB 326

68.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 ETB 97.0

$0.78 ETB 125

-23.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.60 ETB 96.9

$0.64 ETB 103

-6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$3.48 ETB 559

$1.16 ETB 187

200.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ETB 165

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ETB 90.5

$0.52 ETB 83.7

7.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.91 ETB 1,110

$3.96 ETB 636

74.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ETB 192

$0.78 ETB 125

52.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 ETB 229

$1.94 ETB 312

-26.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ETB 38.55

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.92 ETB 2,235

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 ETB 78.3

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.70 ETB 273

$2.05 ETB 329

-17.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.70 ETB 274

$0.99 ETB 159

71.72%

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

$51.8K ETB 8.3M

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

$57.8K ETB 9.3M

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

$62.9 ETB 10.1K

$100 ETB 16.1K

-37.20%

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

$37.35 ETB 5,998

$9.81 ETB 1,575

280.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$310 ETB 49.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.34 ETB 5,515

$49.32 ETB 7,920

-30.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$59.3 ETB 9,523

Cinema Ticket

$5.85 ETB 940

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

$49.73 ETB 7,986

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.08 ETB 7,883

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$92.6 ETB 14.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 ETB 22.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ETB 18.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$211 ETB 33.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$159 ETB 25.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 ETB 69.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 ETB 50.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,308 ETB 370.6K

$1,995 ETB 320.4K

15.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,167 ETB 187.4K

$1,505 ETB 241.8K

-22.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$233 ETB 37.5K

$202 ETB 32.5K

15.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Jimma: August 31, 2026

Last update for Bahir Dar: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 15% higher in Jimma, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Bahir Dar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jimma costs about 182% more than Bahir Dar, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,577 per month in Jimma and $560 in Bahir Dar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,052 in Jimma and $373 in Bahir Dar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 64% more in Jimma, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,052 in Jimma and $373 in Bahir Dar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Bahir Dar – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bahir Dar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jimma makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.