Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Jimma and Hawassa

For one person, living is cheaper in Hawassa: $837 a month against $1,014 in Jimma, rent and utilities included – about $2,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

40

Cost of Living Index in Hawassa
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Hawassa Living Index

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Jimma

🇪🇹 Ethiopia

$1,014

/mo nomad

Hawassa

🇪🇹 Ethiopia

$837

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Jimma and in Hawassa

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

A single person spends $1,014 per month in Jimma vs $837 in Hawassa, rent included.

Jimma $1,014
Hawassa $837

A couple spends around $1,403 per month in Jimma vs $1,203 in Hawassa, rent included.

Jimma $1,403
Hawassa $1,203

A family of three spends $1,791 per month in Jimma vs $1,569 in Hawassa, rent included.

Jimma $1,791
Hawassa $1,569

Jimma costs about 21% more than Hawassa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Jimma and Hawassa are more affordable than the global median – Jimma 26% lower, Hawassa 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.43 ETB 713

$3.97 ETB 639

11.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.89 ETB 6,906

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.65 ETB 1,070

Cappuccino

$1.10 ETB 176

$0.88 ETB 142

25.00%

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

$0.53 ETB 85.9

$0.58 ETB 94.2

-8.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ETB 76.0

$0.65 ETB 104

-27.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.72 ETB 438

$0.82 ETB 133

231.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 ETB 232

$2.28 ETB 367

-36.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 ETB 182

$1.06 ETB 171

6.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.36 ETB 57.7

$1.22 ETB 196

-70.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ETB 186

$0.98 ETB 157

17.35%

Eggs

$3.96 ETB 638

$1.53 ETB 246

158.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.34 ETB 1,182

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.29 ETB 1,817

$9.99 ETB 1,608

13.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.22 ETB 1,806

$9.38 ETB 1,510

19.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 ETB 369

$5.27 ETB 849

-56.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ETB 175

$0.65 ETB 105

67.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.31 ETB 533

$2.16 ETB 347

53.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 ETB 86.3

$0.66 ETB 107

-18.18%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 ETB 88.1

$0.50 ETB 79.7

10.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 ETB 541

$1.10 ETB 176

205.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 ETB 105

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ETB 86.9

$0.62 ETB 99.2

-12.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.89 ETB 1,270

Wine (Bottle)

$6.84 ETB 1,101

$5.48 ETB 882

24.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ETB 183

$0.72 ETB 115

58.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ETB 230

$1.26 ETB 204

13.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ETB 33.67

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.46 ETB 2,167

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.30 ETB 209

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.86

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 ETB 272

$1.97 ETB 317

-14.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.72 ETB 277

$0.97 ETB 156

77.32%

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

$49.6K ETB 8.0M

$55.2K ETB 8.9M

-10.04%

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

$55.5K ETB 8.9M

$56.1K ETB 9.0M

-1.00%

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

$60.2 ETB 9,699

$207 ETB 33.3K

-70.89%

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

$35.58 ETB 5,729

$7.40 ETB 1,191

380.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$301 ETB 48.4K

$213 ETB 34.3K

40.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.07 ETB 5,324

Cinema Ticket

$3.65 ETB 587

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

$628 ETB 101.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.4K ETB 4.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.89 ETB 5,295

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$90.8 ETB 14.6K

$70.7 ETB 11.4K

28.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 ETB 21.5K

$77.1 ETB 12.4K

73.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ETB 17.9K

$81.3 ETB 13.1K

37.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 ETB 32.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 ETB 24.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$407 ETB 65.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 ETB 50.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,192 ETB 352.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,138 ETB 183.3K

$502 ETB 80.8K

126.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$223 ETB 35.9K

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 27, 2026

Last update for Hawassa: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Jimma

–

Hawassa

$428 51.1%

Groceries & Markets

Jimma

–

Hawassa

$206 24.6%

Clothing & Footwear

Jimma

–

Hawassa

$118 14.1%

Eating Out

Jimma

–

Hawassa

$76 9.1%

Sport & Entertainment

Jimma

–

Hawassa

$7.3 * 0.9%

Getting Around

Jimma

–

Hawassa

$2.8 * 0.3%

Accommodation & Living

Jimma

–

Hawassa

- * 0%

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

Good to know

🇪🇹 Jimma

🇪🇹 Hawassa

🕒 Local time

08:25 8:25 AM

Same time as Jimma

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

207,573

160,000

💱 Currency

Ethiopian Birr ETB Br

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 ETB = 6.21 USD

1,000 ETB = 5.58 EUR

1,000 ETB = 6.21 USD

1,000 ETB = 5.58 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Jimma Hawassa 190 km

From you

Jimma
Hawassa

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 Hawassa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,014 in Jimma, $837 in Hawassa – Hawassa comes out roughly 17% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in utilities.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,521 per month in Jimma and $1,256 in Hawassa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,014 in Jimma and $837 in Hawassa. That makes Hawassa about 17% cheaper.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Jimma – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,014 in Jimma and $837 in Hawassa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Hawassa has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $837 in Hawassa to $1,014 in Jimma. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.