Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Jimma and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,014 in Jimma, rent and utilities included – about $940 less a year. The total is higher in Jimma despite lower rent and utilities.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Jimma

🇪🇹 Ethiopia

$1,014

/mo nomad

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Jimma and in Chiang Mai

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

A single person spends $1,014 per month in Jimma vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Jimma $1,014
Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $1,403 per month in Jimma vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Jimma $1,403
Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $1,791 per month in Jimma vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Jimma $1,791
Chiang Mai $1,979

Jimma costs about 8% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Jimma and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Jimma 26% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.43 ETB 712

$2.24 ฿75.7

97.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿642

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿188

Cappuccino

$1.10 ETB 176

$1.67 ฿56.6

-34.13%

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

$0.53 ETB 85.8

$0.64 ฿21.56

-17.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ETB 75.9

$0.31 ฿10.32

51.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.72 ETB 437

$2.36 ฿79.6

15.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 ETB 232

$3.66 ฿124

-60.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 ETB 182

$1.95 ฿65.8

-42.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.36 ETB 57.6

$1.44 ฿48.51

-75.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ETB 185

$1.33 ฿45.07

-13.53%

Eggs

$3.96 ETB 638

$2.28 ฿77.1

73.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿556

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.29 ETB 1,815

$2.78 ฿94.0

306.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.22 ETB 1,804

$9.31 ฿314

20.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 ETB 368

$2.35 ฿79.5

-2.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ETB 175

$0.97 ฿32.82

12.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.31 ETB 532

$1.60 ฿53.9

106.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 ETB 86.2

$1.50 ฿50.7

-64.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 ETB 88.0

$1.28 ฿43.15

-57.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 ETB 541

$1.10 ฿37.22

205.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.84

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ETB 86.8

$0.49 ฿16.38

10.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$6.84 ETB 1,099

$17.52 ฿592

-60.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ETB 183

$1.61 ฿54.5

-29.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ETB 229

$2.78 ฿94.0

-48.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ETB 33.63

$0.87 ฿29.33

-75.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.46 ETB 2,164

$54.1 ฿1,827

-75.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.08

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 ETB 272

$2.42 ฿81.8

-30.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.72 ETB 277

$1.45 ฿48.93

18.62%

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

$49.6K ETB 8.0M

$21.1K ฿711.2K

135.63%

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

$55.5K ETB 8.9M

$26.9K ฿909.8K

106.04%

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

$60.2 ETB 9,687

$62.2 ฿2,100

-3.10%

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

$35.58 ETB 5,722

$12.17 ฿411

192.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$301 ETB 48.3K

$20.12 ฿680

1393.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.07 ETB 5,318

$37.31 ฿1,260

-11.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

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

$736 ฿24.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,802

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$90.8 ETB 14.6K

$24.64 ฿832

268.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 ETB 21.5K

$91.5 ฿3,089

45.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ETB 17.9K

$71.9 ฿2,429

54.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 ETB 32.6K

$482 ฿16.3K

-57.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 ETB 24.7K

$309 ฿10.4K

-50.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$407 ETB 65.5K

$1,006 ฿34.0K

-59.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 ETB 50.3K

$633 ฿21.4K

-50.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,192 ETB 352.4K

$2,363 ฿79.8K

-7.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,138 ETB 183.0K

$1,589 ฿53.7K

-28.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$223 ETB 35.9K

$590 ฿19.9K

-62.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

61.58%

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

Last update for Jimma: October 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Jimma

–

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Groceries & Markets

Jimma

–

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Clothing & Footwear

Jimma

–

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Jimma

–

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Eating Out

Jimma

–

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Getting Around

Jimma

–

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Sport & Entertainment

Jimma

–

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $203 in Jimma versus $482 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Chiang Mai are about 2.6 times higher, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

Good to know

🇪🇹 Jimma

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🕒 Local time

23:37 11:37 PM

03:37 3:37 AM

4 h ahead of Jimma

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

207,573

127,240

💱 Currency

Ethiopian Birr ETB Br

Thai Baht THB ฿

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 ETB = 6.22 USD

1,000 ETB = 5.59 EUR

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to ETB – Ethiopian Birr Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇪🇹 Ethiopian Birr (Br)

Ethiopian Birr exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 161 ETB (1,000 ETB = 6.22 USD). 1 EUR = 179 ETB (1,000 ETB = 5.59 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

USD to ETB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Jimma Chiang Mai 6,810 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight

From you

Jimma
Chiang Mai

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 Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jimma costs about 8% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,521 per month in Jimma and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jimma, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $203 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,014 in Jimma and $936 in Chiang Mai. That makes Chiang Mai about 8% cheaper.

Interestingly, groceries are about 16% cheaper in Jimma – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,014 in Jimma and $936 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,014 in Jimma. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.