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 145 USD 262 USD (2019) 276 USD (2019) 309 USD (2020) March 30, 2021
Cambodia Phnom Penh 600,000 KHR 145 USD 128 USD (2019) 137 USD (2019) 144 USD (2020) June 18, 2017
Cambodia Rural Areas & Other 420,000 KHR 102 USD 128 USD (2019) 137 USD (2019) 144 USD (2020) June 18, 2017
China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Hong Kong 10,400 HKD 1,327 USD 4,233 USD (2019) 4,059 USD (2019) 4,514 USD (2020) January 21, 2019
Czech Republic All Locations 18,000 CZK 820 USD 1,839 USD (2020) 1,911 USD (2020) 1,912 USD (2020) January 12, 2022
Germany All Locations 1,950 EUR 2,103 USD 3,956 USD (2020) 3,851 USD (2020) 3,851 USD (2020) March 24, 2022
Japan Tokyo 185,743 JPY 1,337 USD 3,476 USD (2019) 3,354 USD (2019) 3,646 USD (2020) September 4, 2018
Japan Okinawa 142,297 JPY 1,025 USD 3,476 USD (2019) 3,354 USD (2019) 3,646 USD (2020) September 4, 2018
Myanmar Yangon 300,000 MMK 143 USD 116 USD (2019) 117 USD (2019) 130 USD (2020) May 22, 2023
Myanmar Rural Areas & Other 200,000 MMK 95 USD 116 USD (2019) 117 USD (2019) 130 USD (2020) May 22, 2023
Nepal Kathmandu 20,000 NPR 151 USD 91 USD (2019) 89 USD (2019) 83 USD (2020) June 1, 2021
Nepal Rural Areas & Other 12,000 NPR 91 USD 91 USD (2019) 89 USD (2019) 83 USD (2020) June 1, 2021
Thailand Bangkok 14,000 THB 405 USD 605 USD (2019) 651 USD (2019) 662 USD (2020) June 18, 2017
Thailand Bangkok Suburbs 12,000 THB 347 USD 605 USD (2019) 651 USD (2019) 662 USD (2020) June 18, 2017
Thailand Other Cities w/ 100,000+ People 12,000 THB 347 USD 605 USD (2019) 651 USD (2019) 662 USD (2020) June 18, 2017
Thailand Rural Areas & Other 10,000 THB 289 USD 605 USD (2019) 651 USD (2019) 662 USD (2020) June 18, 2017
United States Cities w/ 250,000+ People 2,010 USD 2,010 USD 5,488 USD (2019) 5,441 USD (2019) 5,553 USD (2020) July 15, 2019
United States Rural & Cities w/ <250,000 People 1,445 USD 1,445 USD 5,488 USD (2019) 5,441 USD (2019) 5,553 USD (2020) July 15, 2019