Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Jimma Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Jimma

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,034 in Jimma, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,424 in Jimma, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,814 in Jimma, rent included.

Phuket costs about 22% more than Jimma, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Phuket and Jimma are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Jimma 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$4.51 ETB 710

4.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$1.18 ETB 187

148.31%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.57 ETB 89.1

21.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.48 ETB 75.8

-22.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.20 ETB 189

100.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$1.48 ETB 233

151.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.19 ETB 187

87.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$0.37 ETB 57.7

394.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.13 ETB 179

92.04%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$4.15 ETB 655

-46.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$11.48 ETB 1,810

-68.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$11.72 ETB 1,847

15.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$2.25 ETB 354

45.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.18 ETB 186

36.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$3.43 ETB 540

-29.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$0.61 ETB 95.5

240.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$0.55 ETB 86.8

178.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$3.37 ETB 531

-56.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.56 ETB 88.0

-8.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$7.07 ETB 1,114

174.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.14 ETB 179

56.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$1.47 ETB 231

84.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.22 ETB 34.51

522.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$13.79 ETB 2,173

-17.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$1.75 ETB 276

705.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$1.78 ETB 280

-23.60%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$52.9K ETB 8.3M

-46.65%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$57.5K ETB 9.1M

-42.78%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$62.7 ETB 9,877

94.19%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$15.52 ETB 2,445

-12.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$315 ETB 49.6K

-94.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$34.69 ETB 5,467

73.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

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

$693 ฿22.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$91.6 ETB 14.4K

-62.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$140 ETB 22.1K

-18.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$118 ETB 18.5K

-29.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$218 ETB 34.3K

181.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$162 ETB 25.5K

170.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$432 ETB 68.1K

384.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$321 ETB 50.6K

370.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$2,286 ETB 360.3K

64.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$1,186 ETB 186.9K

120.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$229 ETB 36.1K

121.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

-40.78%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Jimma: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $218 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.

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 22%, 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 $1,898 per month in Phuket 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 45% 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 21% 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 Phuket at $1,265. 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.