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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,218 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,034 in Jimma, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,853 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,428 in Jimma, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,823 in Jimma, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 18% more than Jimma, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Tbilisi and Jimma are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Jimma 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.85 ₾28.75

$4.50 ETB 714

141.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.17 ₾117

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 ₾21.94

Cappuccino

$3.02 ₾8.00

$1.13 ETB 179

167.26%

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

$0.76 ₾2.02

$0.60 ETB 95.4

26.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.22

$0.47 ETB 74.7

-2.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ₾5.93

$1.20 ETB 190

86.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 ₾7.95

$1.47 ETB 233

104.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.11

$1.19 ETB 188

62.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 ₾1.91

$0.40 ETB 63.2

80.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 ₾4.87

$1.18 ETB 187

55.93%

Eggs

$2.45 ₾6.48

$4.16 ETB 659

-41.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₾19.67

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.48 ₾17.16

$11.42 ETB 1,810

-43.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.70 ₾25.70

$11.52 ETB 1,826

-15.80%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 ₾3.18

$2.29 ETB 363

-47.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ₾4.14

$1.15 ETB 182

35.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₾4.75

$3.46 ETB 548

-48.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₾5.90

$0.55 ETB 87.9

305.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.73

$0.56 ETB 89.5

16.07%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 ₾1.79

$3.43 ETB 543

-80.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.16

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.86

$0.61 ETB 96.0

14.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₾7.82

Wine (Bottle)

$7.33 ₾19.41

$6.86 ETB 1,088

6.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 ₾4.02

$1.13 ETB 179

34.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.95

$1.43 ETB 227

57.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

$0.24 ETB 38.10

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.60 ₾38.68

$13.70 ETB 2,171

6.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.97

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₾1.92

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 ₾19.74

$1.76 ETB 279

323.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.01

$1.77 ETB 280

-35.59%

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

$18.5K ₾49.0K

$52.2K ETB 8.3M

-64.55%

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

$20.3K ₾53.6K

$57.6K ETB 9.1M

-64.85%

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

$73.9 ₾196

$63.2 ETB 10.0K

16.84%

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

$11.71 ₾31.01

$15.34 ETB 2,431

-23.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.16 ₾48.09

$313 ETB 49.6K

-94.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.7 ₾163

$34.61 ETB 5,485

78.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.66 ₾44.12

Cinema Ticket

$6.61 ₾17.50

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

$264 ₾700

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,145 ₾13.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.9 ₾198

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.98 ₾117

$92.9 ETB 14.7K

-52.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾312

$140 ETB 22.2K

-16.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₾301

$114 ETB 18.1K

-0.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$692 ₾1,833

$217 ETB 34.4K

219.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 ₾1,203

$159 ETB 25.1K

186.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,323 ₾3,504

$418 ETB 66.3K

216.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,089

$326 ETB 51.7K

142.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,431 ₾6,440

$2,277 ETB 360.9K

6.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 ₾3,818

$1,149 ETB 182.2K

25.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$645 ₾1,709

$233 ETB 36.9K

177.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

32.11%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Last update for Jimma: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $692 in Tbilisi versus $217 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 177% 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 18%, 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 $1,827 per month in Tbilisi 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 1% 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 7% 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 Tbilisi at $1,218. 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.