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