😐A single person spends $1,472 per month in Mexico City vs $1,036 in Jimma, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,359 per month in Mexico City vs $1,427 in Jimma, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,245 per month in Mexico City vs $1,817 in Jimma, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 42% more than Jimma, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Jimma is 22% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Jimma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14MX$229
$4.73ETB 755
177.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5MX$934
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33MX$163
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.70MX$64.5
$1.18ETB 189
213.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MX$27.98
$0.56ETB 89.4
185.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.49
$0.48ETB 76.5
133.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.14MX$54.7
$1.19ETB 191
163.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MX$84.5
$1.47ETB 234
229.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Jimma
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.84
$1.19ETB 191
38.66%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.34
$0.40ETB 63.6
577.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.29
$1.13ETB 180
69.03%
Eggs
$2.59MX$45.17
$4.21ETB 672
-38.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81MX$171
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$11.50ETB 1,837
-26.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93MX$208
$11.73ETB 1,874
1.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$51.5
$2.32ETB 371
27.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74MX$30.35
$1.15ETB 184
51.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.66
$3.53ETB 563
-42.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.93
$0.56ETB 90.1
267.86%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.49
$0.60ETB 95.1
258.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.33
$3.54ETB 566
-36.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.17
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.47
$0.60ETB 96.2
86.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22MX$73.6
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$17.51MX$305
$6.66ETB 1,064
162.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.82
$1.17ETB 187
46.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63MX$63.4
$1.48ETB 236
145.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Jimma
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.15
$0.24ETB 38.44
45.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.32MX$337
$14.06ETB 2,246
37.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$24.00
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.81
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.28MX$92.0
$1.70ETB 271
210.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36MX$23.69
$1.77ETB 282
-23.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$333.2K
$51.5KETB 8.2M
-62.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$411.7K
$57.4KETB 9.2M
-58.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Jimma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.53MX$707
$62.5ETB 9,975
-35.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38MX$478
$15.07ETB 2,407
81.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$530
$309ETB 49.4K
-90.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Jimma
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$911
$34.15ETB 5,454
52.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48MX$462
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.19MX$108
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Jimma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425MX$7,414
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$187.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Jimma
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,017
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57MX$777
$93.8ETB 15.0K
-52.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,805
$141ETB 22.4K
-26.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,897
$118ETB 18.8K
-7.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Jimma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,014MX$17.7K
$214ETB 34.2K
372.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
$163ETB 26.1K
281.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,119MX$37.0K
$429ETB 68.5K
394.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.3K
$326ETB 52.1K
275.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,792MX$66.1K
$2,293ETB 366.1K
65.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,110MX$36.8K
$1,135ETB 181.2K
85.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Jimma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.4K
$224ETB 35.8K
369.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
9
26.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Last update for Jimma: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,014 in Mexico City versus $214 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 370% 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
Is Jimma cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 42%, 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 $2,208 per month in Mexico City and $1,554 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 Mexico City and in Jimma?
Groceries cost about 44% 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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 37% less in Jimma. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Jimma?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jimma, where all-in costs run around $1,036, than in Mexico City at $1,472. In Jimma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City 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 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, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared