Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Jimma

For one person, living is cheaper in Jimma: $1,020 a month against $1,207 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Phuket outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

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Cost of Living Index in Phuket
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Phuket Living Index

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Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,207

/mo nomad

Jimma

🇪🇹 Ethiopia

$1,020

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Jimma

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Jimma actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,207 per month in Phuket vs $1,020 in Jimma, rent included.

Phuket $1,207
Jimma $1,020

A couple spends around $2,037 per month in Phuket vs $1,406 in Jimma, rent included.

Phuket $2,037
Jimma $1,406

A family of three spends $2,867 per month in Phuket vs $1,792 in Jimma, rent included.

Phuket $2,867
Jimma $1,792

Phuket costs about 18% more than Jimma, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Phuket and Jimma are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 11% lower, Jimma 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.58 ฿153

$4.40 ETB 705

4.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.48 ฿1,086

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.55 ฿286

Cappuccino

$2.72 ฿91.0

$1.11 ETB 178

145.05%

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

$0.94 ฿31.25

$0.58 ETB 93.3

62.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.39

$0.43 ETB 68.8

13.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.59 ฿86.6

$2.86 ETB 458

-9.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 ฿128

$1.37 ETB 220

179.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ฿58.1

$1.10 ETB 176

58.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ฿47.82

$0.35 ETB 57.0

308.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.0

$1.10 ETB 176

39.09%

Eggs

$2.17 ฿72.7

$3.96 ETB 636

-45.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.15 ฿640

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ฿110

$11.18 ETB 1,795

-70.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.14 ฿372

$11.29 ETB 1,812

-1.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.5

$2.18 ETB 349

35.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.1

$1.13 ETB 182

48.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ฿76.8

$3.26 ETB 523

-29.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 ฿71.3

$0.58 ETB 93.5

267.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.1

$0.58 ETB 93.2

163.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ฿45.55

$3.33 ETB 535

-59.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ฿37.44

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$0.55 ETB 87.9

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$18.19 ฿608

$6.79 ETB 1,089

167.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 ฿58.2

$1.11 ETB 177

56.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 ฿93.3

$1.43 ETB 229

95.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 ฿74.1

$0.21 ETB 33.58

957.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.06 ฿737

$13.56 ETB 2,176

62.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.91 ฿97.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.01 ฿33.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.83 ฿128

$1.70 ETB 273

125.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.85

$1.70 ETB 273

-12.35%

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

$26.7K ฿891.6K

$50.0K ETB 8.0M

-46.65%

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

$26.7K ฿892.7K

$56.2K ETB 9.0M

-52.44%

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

$99.4 ฿3,321

$61.8 ETB 9,921

60.77%

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

$11.28 ฿377

$36.05 ETB 5,786

-68.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.36 ฿580

$304 ETB 48.8K

-94.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 ฿1,747

$33.49 ETB 5,375

56.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.85 ฿362

Cinema Ticket

$7.57 ฿253

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

$558 ฿18.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿383.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 ฿2,102

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.58 ฿955

$89.1 ETB 14.3K

-67.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.1 ฿3,213

$132 ETB 21.1K

-27.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.1 ฿2,943

$112 ETB 18.1K

-21.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$729 ฿24.4K

$205 ETB 33.0K

255.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$460 ฿15.4K

$156 ETB 25.0K

195.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,096 ฿70.0K

$415 ETB 66.7K

404.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,222 ฿40.8K

$311 ETB 49.9K

293.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,459 ฿115.6K

$2,215 ETB 355.5K

56.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,489 ฿83.2K

$1,107 ETB 177.6K

124.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$493 ฿16.5K

$222 ETB 35.7K

121.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-38.11%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Last update for Jimma: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$460 38.1%

Jimma

–

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$268 22.2%

Jimma

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$128 10.6%

Jimma

–

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$124 10.3%

Jimma

–

Eating Out

Phuket

$121 10.1%

Jimma

–

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$67 5.6%

Jimma

–

Getting Around

Phuket

$39 3.2%

Jimma

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $729 in Phuket versus $205 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 122% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇪🇹 Jimma

🕒 Local time

01:26 1:26 AM

21:26 9:26 PM

4 h behind Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

207,573

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Ethiopian Birr ETB Br

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 ETB = 6.23 USD

1,000 ETB = 5.54 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ETB, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Ethiopian Birr exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 160 ETB (1,000 ETB = 6.23 USD). 1 EUR = 180 ETB (1,000 ETB = 5.54 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Phuket Jimma 6,770 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
Jimma

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Phuket vs Jimma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 18%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in utilities.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,811 per month in Phuket and $1,530 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 37% more in Phuket, 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 63% 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 $1,020, than in Phuket at $1,207. In Jimma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket 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.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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