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
Australia All Locations 4,095 AUD 2,574 USD 5,263 USD (2023) 5,402 USD (2023) 5,459 USD (2024) March 1, 2025
Bhutan Thimphu 12,000 BTN 140 USD 300 USD (2022) 309 USD (2022) 339 USD (2024) March 30, 2021
Cambodia Phnom Penh 600,000 KHR 150 USD 199 USD (2023) 202 USD (2023) 229 USD (2024) June 18, 2017
Cambodia Rural Areas & Other 420,000 KHR 105 USD 199 USD (2023) 202 USD (2023) 229 USD (2024) June 18, 2017
Canada All Locations 2,900 CAD 2,026 USD 4,503 USD (2023) 4,453 USD (2023) 4,634 USD (2024) November 1, 2023
China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Hong Kong 10,400 HKD 1,338 USD 4,598 USD (2023) 4,211 USD (2023) 4,430 USD (2024) January 21, 2019
Czech Republic All Locations 18,000 CZK 780 USD 2,281 USD (2023) 2,633 USD (2023) 2,323 USD (2024) January 12, 2022
Germany All Locations 1,950 EUR 2,107 USD 4,567 USD (2023) 4,529 USD (2023) 4,144 USD (2024) March 24, 2022
Japan Tokyo Prefecture 201,500 JPY 1,336 USD 3,279 USD (2023) 2,814 USD (2023) 2,738 USD (2024) February 1, 2025
Japan Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture 186,600 JPY 1,237 USD 3,279 USD (2023) 2,814 USD (2023) 2,738 USD (2024) February 1, 2025
Japan Okinawa Prefecture 165,000 JPY 1,094 USD 3,279 USD (2023) 2,814 USD (2023) 2,738 USD (2024) February 1, 2025
Malaysia Kuala Lumpur 2,250 MYR 508 USD 976 USD (2023) 948 USD (2023) 1,095 USD (2024) October 1, 2024
Malaysia Rural Areas & Other 1,725 MYR 389 USD 976 USD (2023) 948 USD (2023) 1,095 USD (2024) October 1, 2024
Myanmar Yangon 300,000 MMK 67 USD 103 USD (2023) 103 USD (2023) 98 USD (2024) May 22, 2023
Myanmar Rural Areas & Other 200,000 MMK 44 USD 103 USD (2023) 103 USD (2023) 98 USD (2024) May 22, 2023
Nepal Kathmandu 20,000 NPR 146 USD 119 USD (2023) 115 USD (2023) 115 USD (2024) June 1, 2021
Nepal Rural Areas & Other 12,000 NPR 88 USD 119 USD (2023) 115 USD (2023) 115 USD (2024) June 1, 2021
Philippines Manila Metro Area 16,000 PHP 279 USD 360 USD (2023) 317 USD (2023) 346 USD (2024) September 1, 2024
Philippines Rural Areas & Other 11,500 PHP 201 USD 360 USD (2023) 317 USD (2023) 346 USD (2024) September 1, 2024
Singapore Singapore 3,000 SGD 2,241 USD 5,883 USD (2023) 7,061 USD (2023) 7,447 USD (2024) November 1, 2023
Thailand Bangkok 14,000 THB 412 USD 600 USD (2023) 599 USD (2023) 627 USD (2024) June 18, 2017
Thailand Bangkok Suburbs 12,000 THB 353 USD 600 USD (2023) 599 USD (2023) 627 USD (2024) June 18, 2017
Thailand Other Cities w/ 100,000+ People 12,000 THB 353 USD 600 USD (2023) 599 USD (2023) 627 USD (2024) June 18, 2017
Thailand Rural Areas & Other 10,000 THB 294 USD 600 USD (2023) 599 USD (2023) 627 USD (2024) June 18, 2017
United Kingdom All Locations 1,810 GBP 2,339 USD 3,975 USD (2023) 4,122 USD (2023) 3,842 USD (2024) November 1, 2023
United States Cities w/ 250,000+ People 2,010 USD 2,010 USD 6,704 USD (2023) 6,897 USD (2023) 6,498 USD (2024) July 15, 2019
United States Rural & Cities w/ <250,000 People 1,445 USD 1,445 USD 6,704 USD (2023) 6,897 USD (2023) 6,498 USD (2024) July 15, 2019