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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $1,022 in Jimma, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $1,412 in Jimma, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $1,802 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 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$4.71 ETB 746

-3.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,553

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$1.13 ETB 178

170.80%

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

$0.73 ฿24.40

$0.60 ETB 94.9

21.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

$0.48 ETB 75.5

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$1.22 ETB 193

99.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$1.48 ETB 235

155.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.18 ETB 187

91.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$0.40 ETB 63.0

352.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$1.15 ETB 182

95.65%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.5

$4.23 ETB 671

-46.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$11.41 ETB 1,808

-68.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$11.53 ETB 1,828

13.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$2.38 ETB 377

35.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.15 ETB 182

40.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.1

$3.39 ETB 537

-29.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$0.59 ETB 93.7

244.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$0.59 ETB 94.1

159.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$3.44 ETB 545

-56.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.91

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.39

$0.55 ETB 87.5

-5.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$6.94 ETB 1,101

163.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$1.14 ETB 180

63.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.1

$1.42 ETB 225

88.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

$0.24 ETB 38.25

487.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

$13.72 ETB 2,174

-14.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

$1.72 ETB 272

720.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.10

$1.69 ETB 269

-22.49%

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

$27.8K ฿935.4K

$53.1K ETB 8.4M

-47.62%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$56.9K ETB 9.0M

-41.64%

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

$122 ฿4,118

$63.4 ETB 10.1K

93.00%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$15.13 ETB 2,398

-10.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$310 ETB 49.1K

-93.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

$34.16 ETB 5,415

77.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

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

$706 ฿23.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,969

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,189

$91.7 ETB 14.5K

-61.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,883

$137 ETB 21.7K

-15.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,816

$115 ETB 18.2K

-26.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

$210 ETB 33.3K

197.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$162 ETB 25.7K

174.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.6K

$419 ETB 66.4K

387.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$325 ETB 51.4K

359.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

$2,320 ETB 367.7K

50.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

$1,144 ETB 181.3K

125.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$224 ETB 35.5K

122.89%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Jimma: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $210 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 123% 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 $1,875 per month in Phuket and $1,533 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 43% 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 17% 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 $1,022, than in Phuket at $1,250. 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.