Cost of Living Comparison Between Jimma and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Jimma and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,030 per month in Jimma vs $1,185 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,424 per month in Jimma vs $1,834 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,818 per month in Jimma vs $2,483 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Jimma is about 13% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Jimma and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Jimma 23% lower, Tbilisi 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.72 ETB 737

$11.15 ₾30.00

-57.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.13 ₾116

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.22 ₾22.11

Cappuccino

$1.19 ETB 186

$3.13 ₾8.42

-61.98%

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

$0.60 ETB 94.0

$0.74 ₾2.00

-18.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ETB 68.6

$0.45 ₾1.22

-2.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 ETB 189

$2.13 ₾5.74

-43.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 ETB 231

$2.99 ₾8.06

-50.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 ETB 183

$1.89 ₾5.09

-38.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 ETB 61.8

$0.73 ₾1.97

-45.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 ETB 177

$1.85 ₾4.98

-38.92%

Eggs

$4.26 ETB 665

$2.45 ₾6.58

73.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.85 ₾21.12

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.59 ETB 1,812

$6.25 ₾16.82

85.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.66 ETB 1,823

$9.77 ₾26.28

19.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 ETB 357

$1.21 ₾3.26

88.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 ETB 180

$1.59 ₾4.28

-27.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.48 ETB 544

$1.79 ₾4.81

94.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 ETB 95.1

$2.32 ₾6.25

-73.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 ETB 95.1

$0.71 ₾1.91

-14.08%

Onion (1kg)

$3.52 ETB 550

$0.67 ₾1.81

425.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.16

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ETB 86.5

$0.71 ₾1.92

-22.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.85

Wine (Bottle)

$6.97 ETB 1,090

$7.25 ₾19.50

-3.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ETB 185

$1.55 ₾4.17

-23.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ETB 232

$2.31 ₾6.21

-35.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ETB 37.66

$0.38 ₾1.03

-36.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.70 ETB 2,141

$14.81 ₾39.83

-7.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 ₾3.98

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.86

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 ETB 280

$7.45 ₾20.05

-75.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.75 ETB 274

$1.15 ₾3.10

52.17%

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

$52.8K ETB 8.2M

$18.0K ₾48.4K

193.13%

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

$57.3K ETB 8.9M

$19.8K ₾53.4K

188.69%

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

$64.7 ETB 10.1K

$73.4 ₾198

-11.97%

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

$15.01 ETB 2,346

$11.64 ₾31.32

28.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$321 ETB 50.1K

$17.77 ₾47.79

1704.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.37 ETB 5,372

$60.6 ₾163

-43.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.44 ₾44.21

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ₾17.52

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

$263 ₾707

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,136 ₾13.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾209

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$92.7 ETB 14.5K

$44.39 ₾119

108.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 ETB 22.0K

$118 ₾317

19.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ETB 17.8K

$114 ₾307

-0.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$212 ETB 33.2K

$693 ₾1,865

-69.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$162 ETB 25.4K

$462 ₾1,244

-64.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$422 ETB 66.0K

$1,337 ₾3,597

-68.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$326 ETB 51.0K

$779 ₾2,096

-58.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,341 ETB 365.8K

$2,530 ₾6,805

-7.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,196 ETB 186.9K

$1,430 ₾3,847

-16.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$232 ETB 36.3K

$633 ₾1,702

-63.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

-24.31%

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

Last update for Jimma: April 25, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $212 in Jimma versus $693 in Tbilisi. 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 173% higher in Tbilisi, 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 Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 15%, 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 $1,545 per month in Jimma and $1,777 in Tbilisi. 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 1% more in Tbilisi, 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 8% 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 $1,030, than in Tbilisi at $1,185. In Jimma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi 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, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.