Cost of Living Comparison Between Jimma and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Jimma and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Jimma vs $1,447 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,428 per month in Jimma vs $2,310 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,823 per month in Jimma vs $3,174 in Mexico City, rent included.

Jimma is about 29% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Jimma sits 23% below the global median, while Mexico City is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.50 ETB 714
$12.98 MX$223
-65.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$52.6 MX$903
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$9.43 MX$162
-
Cappuccino
$1.13 ETB 179
$3.57 MX$61.3
-68.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 ETB 95.4
$1.61 MX$27.55
-62.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ETB 74.7
$1.15 MX$19.81
-59.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.20 ETB 190
$3.15 MX$54.0
-61.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 ETB 233
$4.86 MX$83.4
-69.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 ETB 188
$1.70 MX$29.17
-30.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.40 ETB 63.2
$2.64 MX$45.23
-84.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 ETB 187
$1.90 MX$32.67
-37.89%
Eggs
$4.16 ETB 659
$2.54 MX$43.62
63.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$10.08 MX$173
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.42 ETB 1,810
$8.29 MX$142
37.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.52 ETB 1,826
$11.57 MX$199
-0.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ETB 363
$3.03 MX$52.0
-24.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 ETB 182
$1.71 MX$29.35
-32.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.46 ETB 548
$2.05 MX$35.16
68.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.55 ETB 87.9
$2.06 MX$35.36
-73.30%
Potato (1kg)
$0.56 ETB 89.5
$2.06 MX$35.43
-72.82%
Onion (1kg)
$3.43 ETB 543
$2.17 MX$37.25
58.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.40 MX$24.08
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ETB 96.0
$1.12 MX$19.26
-45.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.29 MX$73.7
-
Wine (Bottle)
$6.86 ETB 1,088
$15.41 MX$265
-55.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 ETB 179
$1.67 MX$28.74
-32.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 ETB 227
$3.69 MX$63.3
-61.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 ETB 38.10
$0.38 MX$6.55
-36.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.70 ETB 2,171
$19.06 MX$327
-28.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.38 MX$23.70
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.28 MX$4.74
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.76 ETB 279
$5.42 MX$92.9
-67.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.77 ETB 280
$1.28 MX$21.98
38.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$52.2K ETB 8.3M
$19.0K MX$325.8K
175.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$57.6K ETB 9.1M
$23.5K MX$402.7K
145.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.2 ETB 10.0K
$41.02 MX$704
54.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.34 ETB 2,431
$26.92 MX$462
-43.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$313 ETB 49.6K
$29.69 MX$510
953.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.61 ETB 5,485
$52.3 MX$898
-33.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.23 MX$450
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.18 MX$106
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$427 MX$7,331
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$10.7K MX$183.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$56.8 MX$975
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$92.9 ETB 14.7K
$44.83 MX$769
107.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$140 ETB 22.2K
$105 MX$1,794
34.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ETB 18.1K
$106 MX$1,819
7.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$217 ETB 34.4K
$995 MX$17.1K
-78.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$159 ETB 25.1K
$621 MX$10.7K
-74.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$418 ETB 66.3K
$2,126 MX$36.5K
-80.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$326 ETB 51.7K
$1,254 MX$21.5K
-74.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,277 ETB 360.9K
$3,903 MX$67.0K
-41.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,149 ETB 182.2K
$2,096 MX$36.0K
-45.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$233 ETB 36.9K
$1,107 MX$19.0K
-78.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9
11.34
-20.63%

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

Last update for Jimma: June 7, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $217 in Jimma versus $995 in Mexico City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 376% higher in Mexico City, 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 Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Jimma?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,551 per month in Jimma and $2,171 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jimma, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Jimma and Mexico City?
Groceries cost about 42% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 39% less in Jimma. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Jimma or Mexico City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jimma, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Mexico City at $1,447. In Jimma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Jimma or Mexico City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Jimma – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Jimma. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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