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 $1,071 per month in Jimma vs $1,677 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,453 per month in Jimma vs $2,608 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,836 per month in Jimma vs $3,540 in Mexico City, rent included.

Jimma is about 36% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Jimma sits 22% below the global median, while Mexico City is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.67 ETB 751
$12.14 MX$206
-61.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$53.9 MX$914
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$11.09 MX$188
-
Cappuccino
$1.13 ETB 181
$4.10 MX$69.5
-72.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 ETB 96.3
$1.68 MX$28.53
-64.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ETB 77.6
$1.39 MX$23.55
-65.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.82 ETB 453
$3.33 MX$56.5
-15.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 ETB 239
$5.88 MX$99.7
-74.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 ETB 182
$1.85 MX$31.41
-38.92%
White Bread (500g)
$0.41 ETB 65.2
$3.17 MX$53.8
-87.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 ETB 183
$2.07 MX$35.13
-44.93%
Eggs
$4.29 ETB 690
$2.93 MX$49.67
46.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$12.59 MX$214
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.45 ETB 1,840
$10.11 MX$172
13.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.80 ETB 1,897
$16.09 MX$273
-26.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ETB 363
$3.39 MX$57.5
-33.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ETB 189
$2.08 MX$35.26
-43.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.52 ETB 567
$2.12 MX$35.97
66.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.55 ETB 88.7
$2.41 MX$40.95
-77.18%
Potato (1kg)
$0.61 ETB 97.4
$2.13 MX$36.11
-71.36%
Onion (1kg)
$3.45 ETB 554
$2.01 MX$34.02
71.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.55 MX$26.21
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ETB 90.4
$1.36 MX$23.15
-58.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$5.77 MX$97.8
-
Wine (Bottle)
$6.91 ETB 1,111
$17.74 MX$301
-61.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 ETB 184
$2.07 MX$35.11
-44.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 ETB 238
$4.61 MX$78.3
-67.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 ETB 38.64
$0.37 MX$6.21
-35.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.80 ETB 2,218
$21.18 MX$359
-34.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.05 MX$34.84
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.58 MX$9.79
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.70 ETB 273
$6.07 MX$103
-71.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 ETB 275
$1.55 MX$26.34
10.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$52.7K ETB 8.5M
$22.9K MX$388.1K
130.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$59.2K ETB 9.5M
$27.2K MX$462.0K
117.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.5 ETB 10.2K
$67.4 MX$1,144
-5.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.71 ETB 6,062
$30.62 MX$520
23.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$310 ETB 49.8K
$37.24 MX$632
732.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.14 ETB 5,649
$61.5 MX$1,043
-42.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.12 MX$460
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$7.11 MX$121
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$456 MX$7,739
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$13.7K MX$232.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$74.2 MX$1,259
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$94.5 ETB 15.2K
$57.0 MX$967
65.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 ETB 22.0K
$115 MX$1,958
18.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 ETB 18.7K
$122 MX$2,061
-4.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$212 ETB 34.1K
$1,148 MX$19.5K
-81.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$162 ETB 26.1K
$709 MX$12.0K
-77.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$420 ETB 67.6K
$2,577 MX$43.7K
-83.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$323 ETB 52.0K
$1,295 MX$22.0K
-75.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,292 ETB 368.5K
$4,005 MX$67.9K
-42.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,181 ETB 189.8K
$2,130 MX$36.1K
-44.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jimma
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$234 ETB 37.6K
$1,082 MX$18.4K
-78.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9
11.3
-20.35%

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

Last update for Jimma: September 7, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $212 in Jimma versus $1,148 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 362% 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 57%, 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 $1,606 per month in Jimma and $2,515 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 in Mexico City?
Groceries cost about 70% 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 53% less in Jimma. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Jimma or in Mexico City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jimma, where all-in costs run around $1,071, than in Mexico City at $1,677. 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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