After leaving school, borrowers are given a six-month grace period during which repayment is not expected. At the end of this grace period, income is assessed and, if it meets or exceeds the monthly threshold for the borrower's location of employment, payments are scheduled and repayment begins.

The following table lists Zomia's income thresholds for various locations. Thresholds are established and revised periodically using macroeconomic indicators such as those included below. If a graduate chooses to work in a location other than those listed, a new threshold will be established.



CountryCity/AreaMonthly IncomeUSD Equivalent Monthly GNI Monthly GDP GDP (IMF)Last Update
Bhutan Thimphu 12,000 BTN 142 USD 253 USD (2021) 272 USD (2021) 291 USD (2022) March 30, 2021
Cambodia Phnom Penh 600,000 KHR 149 USD 142 USD (2022) 149 USD (2022) 148 USD (2022) June 18, 2017
Cambodia Rural Areas & Other 420,000 KHR 104 USD 142 USD (2022) 149 USD (2022) 148 USD (2022) June 18, 2017
Canada All Locations 2,900 CAD 2,076 USD 4,413 USD (2022) 4,581 USD (2022) 3,609 USD (2022) November 1, 2023
China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Hong Kong 10,400 HKD 1,336 USD 4,531 USD (2022) 4,082 USD (2022) 4,142 USD (2022) January 21, 2019
Czech Republic All Locations 18,000 CZK 751 USD 2,216 USD (2022) 2,303 USD (2022) 1,912 USD (2020) January 12, 2022
Germany All Locations 1,950 EUR 2,056 USD 4,449 USD (2022) 4,036 USD (2022) 3,895 USD (2022) March 24, 2022
Japan Tokyo 185,743 JPY 1,196 USD 3,537 USD (2022) 2,818 USD (2022) 2,863 USD (2022) September 4, 2018
Japan Okinawa 142,297 JPY 916 USD 3,537 USD (2022) 2,818 USD (2022) 2,863 USD (2022) September 4, 2018
Malaysia Kuala Lumpur 2,250 MYR 503 USD 982 USD (2022) 998 USD (2022) 1,092 USD (2022) October 1, 2024
Malaysia Rural Areas & Other 1,725 MYR 385 USD 982 USD (2022) 998 USD (2022) 1,092 USD (2022) October 1, 2024
Myanmar Yangon 300,000 MMK 67 USD 101 USD (2022) 91 USD (2022) 92 USD (2022) May 22, 2023
Myanmar Rural Areas & Other 200,000 MMK 44 USD 101 USD (2022) 91 USD (2022) 92 USD (2022) May 22, 2023
Nepal Kathmandu 20,000 NPR 148 USD 112 USD (2022) 111 USD (2022) 108 USD (2022) June 1, 2021
Nepal Rural Areas & Other 12,000 NPR 89 USD 112 USD (2022) 111 USD (2022) 108 USD (2022) June 1, 2021
Philippines Manila Metro Area 16,000 PHP 271 USD 330 USD (2022) 292 USD (2022) 300 USD (2022) September 1, 2024
Philippines Rural Areas & Other 11,500 PHP 195 USD 330 USD (2022) 292 USD (2022) 300 USD (2022) September 1, 2024
Singapore Singapore 3,000 SGD 2,234 USD 5,600 USD (2022) 6,901 USD (2022) 6,619 USD (2022) November 1, 2023
Thailand Bangkok 14,000 THB 404 USD 603 USD (2022) 576 USD (2022) 636 USD (2022) June 18, 2017
Thailand Bangkok Suburbs 12,000 THB 346 USD 603 USD (2022) 576 USD (2022) 636 USD (2022) June 18, 2017
Thailand Other Cities w/ 100,000+ People 12,000 THB 346 USD 603 USD (2022) 576 USD (2022) 636 USD (2022) June 18, 2017
Thailand Rural Areas & Other 10,000 THB 289 USD 603 USD (2022) 576 USD (2022) 636 USD (2022) June 18, 2017
United Kingdom All Locations 1,810 GBP 2,290 USD 4,074 USD (2022) 3,821 USD (2022) 3,427 USD (2022) November 1, 2023
United States Cities w/ 250,000+ People 2,010 USD 2,010 USD 6,364 USD (2022) 6,367 USD (2022) 5,257 USD (2022) July 15, 2019
United States Rural & Cities w/ <250,000 People 1,445 USD 1,445 USD 6,364 USD (2022) 6,367 USD (2022) 5,257 USD (2022) July 15, 2019