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 $1,677 per month in Mexico City vs $1,071 in Jimma, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,608 per month in Mexico City vs $1,453 in Jimma, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,540 per month in Mexico City vs $1,836 in Jimma, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 57% more than Jimma, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Mexico City sits 22% above the global median, while Jimma is 22% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.14 MX$206

$4.67 ETB 751

159.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$914

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 MX$188

Cappuccino

$4.10 MX$69.5

$1.13 ETB 181

262.83%

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

$1.68 MX$28.53

$0.60 ETB 96.3

180.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 MX$23.55

$0.48 ETB 77.6

189.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.33 MX$56.5

$2.82 ETB 453

18.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 MX$99.7

$1.49 ETB 239

294.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MX$31.41

$1.13 ETB 182

63.72%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 MX$53.8

$0.41 ETB 65.2

673.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 MX$35.13

$1.14 ETB 183

81.58%

Eggs

$2.93 MX$49.67

$4.29 ETB 690

-31.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.59 MX$214

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 MX$172

$11.45 ETB 1,840

-11.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 MX$273

$11.80 ETB 1,897

36.36%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 MX$57.5

$2.26 ETB 363

50.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.26

$1.18 ETB 189

76.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 MX$35.97

$3.52 ETB 567

-39.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 MX$40.95

$0.55 ETB 88.7

338.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 MX$36.11

$0.61 ETB 97.4

249.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.02

$3.45 ETB 554

-41.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 MX$26.21

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 MX$23.15

$0.56 ETB 90.4

142.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.77 MX$97.8

Wine (Bottle)

$17.74 MX$301

$6.91 ETB 1,111

156.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$35.11

$1.14 ETB 184

81.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$78.3

$1.48 ETB 238

211.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 MX$6.21

$0.24 ETB 38.64

54.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.18 MX$359

$13.80 ETB 2,218

53.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 MX$34.84

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 MX$103

$1.70 ETB 273

257.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.34

$1.71 ETB 275

-9.36%

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

$22.9K MX$388.1K

$52.7K ETB 8.5M

-56.58%

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

$27.2K MX$462.0K

$59.2K ETB 9.5M

-54.01%

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

$67.4 MX$1,144

$63.5 ETB 10.2K

6.21%

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

$30.62 MX$520

$37.71 ETB 6,062

-18.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.24 MX$632

$310 ETB 49.8K

-87.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 MX$1,043

$35.14 ETB 5,649

74.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$7.11 MX$121

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

$456 MX$7,739

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K MX$232.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.2 MX$1,259

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 MX$967

$94.5 ETB 15.2K

-39.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 MX$1,958

$137 ETB 22.0K

-15.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MX$2,061

$117 ETB 18.7K

4.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 MX$19.5K

$212 ETB 34.1K

440.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 MX$12.0K

$162 ETB 26.1K

337.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 MX$43.7K

$420 ETB 67.6K

513.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 MX$22.0K

$323 ETB 52.0K

300.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,005 MX$67.9K

$2,292 ETB 368.5K

74.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,130 MX$36.1K

$1,181 ETB 189.8K

80.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 MX$18.4K

$234 ETB 37.6K

362.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

25.56%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Last update for Jimma: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,148 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 362% 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 57%, 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 $2,515 per month in Mexico City and $1,606 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 70% 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 53% 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 $1,071, than in Mexico City at $1,677. 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.