🙂A single person spends $1,030 per month in Jimma vs $1,484 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,424 per month in Jimma vs $2,381 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,818 per month in Jimma vs $3,278 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂Jimma is about 31% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Jimma sits 23% below the global median, while Mexico City is 11% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.72ETB 737
$12.98MX$227
-63.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$53.1MX$929
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$9.72MX$170
-
Cappuccino
$1.19ETB 186
$3.75MX$65.6
-68.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60ETB 94.0
$1.57MX$27.46
-61.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44ETB 68.6
$1.13MX$19.76
-61.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.21ETB 189
$3.18MX$55.7
-61.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48ETB 231
$4.66MX$81.6
-68.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17ETB 183
$1.62MX$28.37
-27.78%
White Bread(500g)
$0.40ETB 61.8
$2.71MX$47.36
-85.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13ETB 177
$1.88MX$32.89
-39.89%
Eggs
$4.26ETB 665
$2.51MX$43.90
69.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$10.08MX$176
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.59ETB 1,812
$8.29MX$145
39.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.66ETB 1,823
$11.94MX$209
-2.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28ETB 357
$2.86MX$50.1
-20.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.15ETB 180
$1.75MX$30.62
-34.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.48ETB 544
$2.08MX$36.48
67.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.61ETB 95.1
$1.97MX$34.46
-69.04%
Potato(1kg)
$0.61ETB 95.1
$2.16MX$37.79
-71.76%
Onion(1kg)
$3.52ETB 550
$2.18MX$38.16
61.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.39MX$24.34
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55ETB 86.5
$1.12MX$19.69
-50.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.20MX$73.5
-
Wine(Bottle)
$6.97ETB 1,090
$14.25MX$249
-51.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19ETB 185
$1.76MX$30.85
-32.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49ETB 232
$3.68MX$64.5
-59.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24ETB 37.66
$0.39MX$6.74
-38.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.70ETB 2,141
$18.66MX$327
-26.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.39MX$24.26
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.30MX$5.32
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.79ETB 280
$5.42MX$94.9
-66.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75ETB 274
$1.35MX$23.63
29.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$52.8KETB 8.2M
$18.9KMX$330.5K
179.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$57.3KETB 8.9M
$23.2KMX$405.2K
147.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.7ETB 10.1K
$40.82MX$714
58.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.01ETB 2,346
$27.50MX$481
-45.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$321ETB 50.1K
$30.38MX$532
955.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.37ETB 5,372
$53.4MX$935
-35.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.30MX$460
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.27MX$110
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$436MX$7,632
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$10.5KMX$183.2K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$56.8MX$993
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$92.7ETB 14.5K
$44.79MX$784
106.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$141ETB 22.0K
$103MX$1,799
36.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114ETB 17.8K
$108MX$1,888
5.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$212ETB 33.2K
$1,000MX$17.5K
-78.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$162ETB 25.4K
$620MX$10.9K
-73.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$422ETB 66.0K
$2,137MX$37.4K
-80.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$326ETB 51.0K
$1,235MX$21.6K
-73.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,341ETB 365.8K
$3,865MX$67.6K
-39.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,196ETB 186.9K
$2,332MX$40.8K
-48.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$232ETB 36.3K
$1,067MX$18.7K
-78.25%
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $212 in Jimma versus $1,000 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 360% 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 44%, 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 $1,545 per month in Jimma and $2,225 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 40% 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 36% 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 $1,030, than in Mexico City at $1,484. 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.