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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,191 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,036 in Jimma, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,856 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,427 in Jimma, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,522 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,817 in Jimma, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 15% more than Jimma, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Tbilisi and Jimma are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 11% lower, Jimma 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.91 ₾28.56

$4.73 ETB 755

130.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.19 ₾113

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 ₾22.31

Cappuccino

$2.99 ₾7.81

$1.18 ETB 189

153.39%

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

$0.81 ₾2.12

$0.56 ETB 89.4

44.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₾1.09

$0.48 ETB 76.5

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 ₾5.65

$1.19 ETB 191

81.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₾7.52

$1.47 ETB 234

95.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₾5.08

$1.19 ETB 191

63.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.77

$0.40 ETB 63.6

70.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.83

$1.13 ETB 180

63.72%

Eggs

$2.53 ₾6.62

$4.21 ETB 672

-39.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 ₾19.69

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 ₾16.39

$11.50 ETB 1,837

-45.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.59 ₾25.09

$11.73 ETB 1,874

-18.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 ₾3.04

$2.32 ETB 371

-50.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.29

$1.15 ETB 184

42.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ₾4.93

$3.53 ETB 563

-46.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₾5.84

$0.56 ETB 90.1

298.21%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 ₾1.83

$0.60 ETB 95.1

16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₾1.68

$3.54 ETB 566

-81.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.09

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.83

$0.60 ETB 96.2

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 ₾7.78

Wine (Bottle)

$7.43 ₾19.45

$6.66 ETB 1,064

11.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.03

$1.17 ETB 187

31.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₾5.98

$1.48 ETB 236

54.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.93

$0.24 ETB 38.44

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.73 ₾38.54

$14.06 ETB 2,246

4.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ₾3.71

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.81

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.27 ₾19.02

$1.70 ETB 271

327.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.86

$1.77 ETB 282

-38.42%

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

$18.3K ₾47.9K

$51.5K ETB 8.2M

-64.43%

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

$20.5K ₾53.6K

$57.4K ETB 9.2M

-64.31%

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

$74.4 ₾195

$62.5 ETB 9,975

19.04%

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

$11.71 ₾30.63

$15.07 ETB 2,407

-22.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ₾46.06

$309 ETB 49.4K

-94.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.3 ₾158

$34.15 ETB 5,454

76.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.29 ₾42.63

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ₾17.03

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

$269 ₾704

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,154 ₾13.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.1 ₾202

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.48 ₾114

$93.8 ETB 15.0K

-53.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾310

$141 ETB 22.4K

-15.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾295

$118 ETB 18.8K

-4.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 ₾1,856

$214 ETB 34.2K

230.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ₾1,215

$163 ETB 26.1K

184.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 ₾3,442

$429 ETB 68.5K

206.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$767 ₾2,007

$326 ETB 52.1K

135.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,492 ₾6,522

$2,293 ETB 366.1K

8.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,442 ₾3,773

$1,135 ETB 181.2K

27.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$663 ₾1,735

$224 ETB 35.8K

195.82%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Jimma: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $709 in Tbilisi versus $214 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 196% 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 15%, 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 $1,787 per month in Tbilisi and $1,554 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 0% 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 5% 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 $1,036, than in Tbilisi at $1,191. 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.