Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Jimma Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Jimma

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $1,034 in Jimma, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,311 per month in Lisbon vs $1,424 in Jimma, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,411 per month in Lisbon vs $1,814 in Jimma, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 114% more than Jimma, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Lisbon sits 65% above the global median, while Jimma is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Jimma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$4.51 ETB 710
252.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$1.18 ETB 187
143.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.57 ETB 89.1
292.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.48 ETB 75.8
212.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$1.20 ETB 189
190.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$1.48 ETB 233
162.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Jimma
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.19 ETB 187
-4.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$0.37 ETB 57.7
372.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.13 ETB 179
55.75%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$4.15 ETB 655
-22.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$11.48 ETB 1,810
-31.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$11.72 ETB 1,847
35.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$2.25 ETB 354
2.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.18 ETB 186
44.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$3.43 ETB 540
-41.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$0.61 ETB 95.5
303.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$0.55 ETB 86.8
234.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$3.37 ETB 531
-40.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.56 ETB 88.0
41.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$7.07 ETB 1,114
-19.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$1.14 ETB 179
20.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$1.47 ETB 231
102.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Jimma
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.22 ETB 34.51
977.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$13.79 ETB 2,173
230.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$1.75 ETB 276
945.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.78 ETB 280
15.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$52.9K ETB 8.3M
-35.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$57.5K ETB 9.1M
-31.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Jimma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$62.7 ETB 9,877
135.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$15.52 ETB 2,445
32.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$315 ETB 49.6K
-87.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Jimma
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$34.69 ETB 5,467
37.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Jimma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Jimma
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$91.6 ETB 14.4K
-54.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$140 ETB 22.1K
-33.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$118 ETB 18.5K
1.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Jimma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$218 ETB 34.3K
648.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$162 ETB 25.5K
676.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$432 ETB 68.1K
601.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$321 ETB 50.6K
529.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$2,286 ETB 360.3K
241.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$1,186 ETB 186.9K
260.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Jimma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$229 ETB 36.1K
600.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
9
-57.67%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Jimma: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lisbon versus $218 in Jimma. 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 600% higher in Lisbon, 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
Lisbon vs Jimma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jimma cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 114%, 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 $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $1,551 in Jimma. 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 Lisbon and Jimma?
Groceries cost about 33% more in Lisbon, 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 230% less in Jimma. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Jimma?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jimma, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Lisbon at $2,210. In Jimma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Jimma 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 safer, Lisbon or Jimma?
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.
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, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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