Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Jimma Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Jimma

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $1,030 in Jimma, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,381 per month in Mexico City vs $1,424 in Jimma, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,278 per month in Mexico City vs $1,818 in Jimma, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 44% more than Jimma, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Jimma is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$227

$4.72 ETB 737

175.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.1 MX$929

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 MX$170

Cappuccino

$3.75 MX$65.6

$1.19 ETB 186

215.13%

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

$1.57 MX$27.46

$0.60 ETB 94.0

161.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.76

$0.44 ETB 68.6

156.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 MX$55.7

$1.21 ETB 189

162.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 MX$81.6

$1.48 ETB 231

214.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 MX$28.37

$1.17 ETB 183

38.46%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$47.36

$0.40 ETB 61.8

577.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 MX$32.89

$1.13 ETB 177

66.37%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.90

$4.26 ETB 665

-41.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$176

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$11.59 ETB 1,812

-28.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 MX$209

$11.66 ETB 1,823

2.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MX$50.1

$2.28 ETB 357

25.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 MX$30.62

$1.15 ETB 180

52.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.48

$3.48 ETB 544

-40.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 MX$34.46

$0.61 ETB 95.1

222.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.79

$0.61 ETB 95.1

254.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.16

$3.52 ETB 550

-38.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$24.34

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.69

$0.55 ETB 86.5

103.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MX$73.5

Wine (Bottle)

$14.25 MX$249

$6.97 ETB 1,090

104.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.85

$1.19 ETB 185

47.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 MX$64.5

$1.49 ETB 232

146.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

$0.24 ETB 37.66

62.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 MX$327

$13.70 ETB 2,141

36.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 MX$24.26

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$94.9

$1.79 ETB 280

202.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 MX$23.63

$1.75 ETB 274

-22.86%

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

$18.9K MX$330.5K

$52.8K ETB 8.2M

-64.22%

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

$23.2K MX$405.2K

$57.3K ETB 8.9M

-59.57%

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

$40.82 MX$714

$64.7 ETB 10.1K

-36.86%

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

$27.50 MX$481

$15.01 ETB 2,346

83.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$532

$321 ETB 50.1K

-90.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 MX$935

$34.37 ETB 5,372

55.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 MX$110

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

$436 MX$7,632

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$183.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$993

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.79 MX$784

$92.7 ETB 14.5K

-51.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,799

$141 ETB 22.0K

-26.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,888

$114 ETB 17.8K

-5.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 MX$17.5K

$212 ETB 33.2K

370.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$620 MX$10.9K

$162 ETB 25.4K

282.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,137 MX$37.4K

$422 ETB 66.0K

405.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,235 MX$21.6K

$326 ETB 51.0K

278.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,865 MX$67.6K

$2,341 ETB 365.8K

65.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 MX$40.8K

$1,196 ETB 186.9K

95.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,067 MX$18.7K

$232 ETB 36.3K

359.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

26.00%

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

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Last update for Jimma: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,000 in Mexico City versus $212 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 360% 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

Mexico City vs Jimma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 44%, 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 $2,225 per month in Mexico City and $1,545 in Jimma. 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 40% 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.

Public transport costs about 36% 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 Mexico City at $1,484. In Jimma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City 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.

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.