Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Jimma Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Jimma

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,247 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,041 in Jimma, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,436 in Jimma, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,831 in Jimma, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 20% more than Jimma, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Tbilisi and Jimma are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Jimma 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.45

$4.65 ETB 748

143.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.73

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$1.15 ETB 184

196.52%

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

$1.04 ₾2.71

$0.56 ETB 89.8

85.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$0.44 ETB 70.9

45.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$2.84 ETB 456

-8.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$1.42 ETB 228

128.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$1.18 ETB 189

83.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$0.37 ETB 58.7

100.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$1.13 ETB 181

51.33%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$4.14 ETB 665

-31.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.95

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$11.56 ETB 1,858

-41.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.17

$11.62 ETB 1,866

9.90%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$2.34 ETB 377

-29.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$1.18 ETB 190

50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$3.53 ETB 566

-47.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$0.60 ETB 96.6

306.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$0.56 ETB 89.7

55.36%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$3.56 ETB 572

-81.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.64

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.59 ETB 95.1

25.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$6.76 ETB 1,086

12.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$1.14 ETB 184

49.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.20

$1.45 ETB 234

64.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

$0.24 ETB 38.62

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.60

$13.99 ETB 2,247

8.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.47

$1.78 ETB 286

537.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$1.76 ETB 283

-24.43%

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

$24.7K ₾64.2K

$52.3K ETB 8.4M

-52.70%

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$57.7K ETB 9.3M

-61.81%

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

$88.9 ₾231

$62.7 ETB 10.1K

41.65%

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

$13.33 ₾34.63

$36.62 ETB 5,883

-63.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$316 ETB 50.7K

-93.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

$34.41 ETB 5,528

99.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾47.01

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.46

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

$374 ₾971

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$91.9 ETB 14.8K

-57.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$139 ETB 22.4K

-15.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$116 ETB 18.6K

5.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,773

$216 ETB 34.6K

216.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

$161 ETB 25.8K

184.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,385

$424 ETB 68.1K

207.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,337

$322 ETB 51.7K

179.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,365

$2,328 ETB 374.0K

5.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,774

$1,154 ETB 185.4K

25.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,695

$230 ETB 37.0K

183.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

40.22%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Jimma: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $216 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 183% higher in Tbilisi, 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

Tbilisi vs Jimma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 20%, 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 $1,870 per month in Tbilisi and $1,561 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 14% more in Tbilisi, 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 9% 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 $1,041, than in Tbilisi at $1,247. In Jimma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi 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, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.