Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Jimma Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Jimma

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,034 in Jimma, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,428 in Jimma, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,823 in Jimma, rent included.

Medellin is about 2% cheaper than Jimma, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Medellin and Jimma are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Jimma 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$4.50 ETB 714

32.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$1.13 ETB 179

44.25%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.60 ETB 95.4

81.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.47 ETB 74.7

55.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.20 ETB 190

45.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$1.47 ETB 233

119.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.19 ETB 188

-11.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.40 ETB 63.2

222.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.18 ETB 187

11.86%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$4.16 ETB 659

-45.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$11.42 ETB 1,810

-48.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$11.52 ETB 1,826

-25.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.29 ETB 363

-1.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.15 ETB 182

-6.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$3.46 ETB 548

-56.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$0.55 ETB 87.9

158.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.56 ETB 89.5

108.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$3.43 ETB 543

-65.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.61 ETB 96.0

47.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$6.86 ETB 1,088

60.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.13 ETB 179

0.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$1.43 ETB 227

66.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.24 ETB 38.10

250.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$13.70 ETB 2,171

206.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$1.76 ETB 279

340.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.77 ETB 280

-42.94%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$52.2K ETB 8.3M

-66.34%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$57.6K ETB 9.1M

-54.02%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$63.2 ETB 10.0K

32.34%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$15.34 ETB 2,431

-38.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$313 ETB 49.6K

-92.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$34.61 ETB 5,485

-26.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$92.9 ETB 14.7K

-64.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$140 ETB 22.2K

-28.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$114 ETB 18.1K

-4.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$217 ETB 34.4K

122.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$159 ETB 25.1K

139.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$418 ETB 66.3K

100.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$326 ETB 51.7K

121.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$2,277 ETB 360.9K

24.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$1,149 ETB 182.2K

6.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$233 ETB 36.9K

132.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

49.22%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Jimma: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $217 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 132% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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

Medellin vs Jimma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Jimma is pricier by about 2%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,551 in Jimma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Jimma, 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 206% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Jimma at $1,034. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jimma it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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