Cost of Living Comparison Between Jimma and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Jimma and Phuket

Name: Phuket
Address: Phuket, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,022 per month in Jimma vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,412 per month in Jimma vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Jimma vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.

Jimma is about 18% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Jimma and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Jimma 24% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.71 ETB 746

$4.55 ฿153

3.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,554

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿298

Cappuccino

$1.13 ETB 178

$3.06 ฿103

-63.07%

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

$0.60 ETB 94.9

$0.73 ฿24.42

-17.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ETB 75.5

$0.40 ฿13.40

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ETB 193

$2.43 ฿81.8

-49.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 ETB 235

$3.78 ฿127

-60.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 ETB 187

$2.26 ฿76.0

-47.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 ETB 63.0

$1.81 ฿60.9

-77.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ETB 182

$2.25 ฿75.8

-48.89%

Eggs

$4.23 ETB 671

$2.25 ฿75.6

88.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.41 ETB 1,808

$3.65 ฿123

212.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.53 ETB 1,828

$13.05 ฿439

-11.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ETB 377

$3.23 ฿109

-26.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 ETB 182

$1.62 ฿54.4

-29.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.39 ETB 537

$2.38 ฿80.2

42.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 ETB 93.7

$2.03 ฿68.2

-70.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 ETB 94.1

$1.53 ฿51.6

-61.44%

Onion (1kg)

$3.44 ETB 545

$1.50 ฿50.5

129.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.93

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ETB 87.5

$0.52 ฿17.40

5.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

Wine (Bottle)

$6.94 ETB 1,101

$18.32 ฿616

-62.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ETB 180

$1.86 ฿62.7

-38.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 ETB 225

$2.68 ฿90.2

-47.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ETB 38.25

$1.41 ฿47.49

-82.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.72 ETB 2,174

$11.70 ฿394

17.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.08

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.72 ETB 272

$14.11 ฿475

-87.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.69 ETB 269

$1.31 ฿44.13

29.01%

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

$53.1K ETB 8.4M

$27.8K ฿936.0K

90.91%

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

$56.9K ETB 9.0M

$33.2K ฿1.1M

71.36%

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

$63.4 ETB 10.1K

$122 ฿4,120

-48.19%

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

$15.13 ETB 2,398

$13.59 ฿457

11.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$310 ETB 49.1K

$18.70 ฿629

1555.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.16 ETB 5,415

$60.5 ฿2,035

-43.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿572

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

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

$706 ฿23.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,970

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$91.7 ETB 14.5K

$35.36 ฿1,190

159.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 ETB 21.7K

$115 ฿3,885

18.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 ETB 18.2K

$83.7 ฿2,818

36.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$210 ETB 33.3K

$626 ฿21.1K

-66.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$162 ETB 25.7K

$445 ฿15.0K

-63.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$419 ETB 66.4K

$2,040 ฿68.7K

-79.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 ETB 51.4K

$1,492 ฿50.2K

-78.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,320 ETB 367.7K

$3,483 ฿117.2K

-33.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,144 ETB 181.3K

$2,577 ฿86.7K

-55.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$224 ETB 35.5K

$500 ฿16.8K

-55.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

68.86%

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

Last update for Jimma: July 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $210 in Jimma versus $626 in Phuket. 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 123% higher in Phuket, 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 Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,533 per month in Jimma and $1,875 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Groceries cost about 43% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Public transport costs about 17% less in Jimma. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jimma, where all-in costs run around $1,022, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Jimma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Jimma. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.