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 $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $1,034 in Jimma, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $1,428 in Jimma, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $1,823 in Jimma, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 40% more than Jimma, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Mexico City sits 8% 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$223

$4.50 ETB 714

188.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

$1.13 ETB 179

215.93%

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

$1.61 MX$27.55

$0.60 ETB 95.4

168.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.81

$0.47 ETB 74.7

144.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$54.0

$1.20 ETB 190

162.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

$1.47 ETB 233

230.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.17

$1.19 ETB 188

42.86%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.23

$0.40 ETB 63.2

560.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.67

$1.18 ETB 187

61.02%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.62

$4.16 ETB 659

-38.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$173

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$142

$11.42 ETB 1,810

-27.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

$11.52 ETB 1,826

0.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.0

$2.29 ETB 363

32.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.35

$1.15 ETB 182

48.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.16

$3.46 ETB 548

-40.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.36

$0.55 ETB 87.9

274.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.43

$0.56 ETB 89.5

267.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.25

$3.43 ETB 543

-36.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.08

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.26

$0.61 ETB 96.0

83.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.7

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

$6.86 ETB 1,088

124.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

$1.13 ETB 179

47.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.3

$1.43 ETB 227

158.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.55

$0.24 ETB 38.10

58.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$327

$13.70 ETB 2,171

39.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

$1.76 ETB 279

207.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

$1.77 ETB 280

-27.68%

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

$19.0K MX$325.8K

$52.2K ETB 8.3M

-63.65%

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

$23.5K MX$402.7K

$57.6K ETB 9.1M

-59.28%

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

$41.02 MX$704

$63.2 ETB 10.0K

-35.13%

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

$26.92 MX$462

$15.34 ETB 2,431

75.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

$313 ETB 49.6K

-90.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

$34.61 ETB 5,485

51.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

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

$427 MX$7,331

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

$92.9 ETB 14.7K

-51.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

$140 ETB 22.2K

-25.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

$114 ETB 18.1K

-7.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

$217 ETB 34.4K

358.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.7K

$159 ETB 25.1K

291.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.5K

$418 ETB 66.3K

408.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.5K

$326 ETB 51.7K

284.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.0K

$2,277 ETB 360.9K

71.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.0K

$1,149 ETB 182.2K

82.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.0K

$233 ETB 36.9K

375.75%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Jimma: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Mexico City 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 376% 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 40%, 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 $2,171 per month in Mexico City 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 Jimma, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% 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 39% 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 $1,034, than in Mexico City at $1,447. 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.