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 2,832 USD 5,263 USD (2023) 5,402 USD (2023) 5,459 USD (2024) March 1, 2025
Bhutan Thimphu 12,000 BTN 129 USD 300 USD (2022) 309 USD (2022) 339 USD (2024) March 30, 2021
Cambodia Phnom Penh 600,000 KHR 150 USD 95 USD (2017) 115 USD (2017) 116 USD (2017) June 18, 2017
Cambodia Rural Areas & Other 420,000 KHR 105 USD 95 USD (2017) 115 USD (2017) 116 USD (2017) June 18, 2017
Canada All Locations 2,900 CAD 2,085 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 1,327 USD 3,859 USD (2017) 3,849 USD (2017) 3,840 USD (2017) January 21, 2019
Czech Republic All Locations 18,000 CZK 847 USD 1,839 USD (2020) 1,911 USD (2020) 1,912 USD (2020) January 12, 2022
Germany All Locations 1,950 EUR 2,250 USD 4,567 USD (2023) 4,529 USD (2023) 4,144 USD (2024) March 24, 2022
Japan Tokyo Prefecture 201,500 JPY 1,262 USD 3,167 USD (2017) 3,202 USD (2017) 3,203 USD (2017) February 1, 2025
Japan Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture 186,600 JPY 1,168 USD 3,167 USD (2017) 3,202 USD (2017) 3,203 USD (2017) February 1, 2025
Japan Okinawa Prefecture 165,000 JPY 1,033 USD 3,167 USD (2017) 3,202 USD (2017) 3,203 USD (2017) February 1, 2025
Malaysia Kuala Lumpur 2,250 MYR 558 USD 976 USD (2023) 948 USD (2023) 1,095 USD (2024) October 1, 2024
Malaysia Rural Areas & Other 1,725 MYR 428 USD 976 USD (2023) 948 USD (2023) 1,095 USD (2024) October 1, 2024
Myanmar Yangon 300,000 MMK 182 USD 99 USD (2017) 108 USD (2017) 105 USD (2017) May 22, 2023
Myanmar Rural Areas & Other 200,000 MMK 122 USD 99 USD (2017) 108 USD (2017) 105 USD (2017) May 22, 2023
Nepal Kathmandu 20,000 NPR 134 USD 119 USD (2023) 115 USD (2023) 115 USD (2024) June 1, 2021
Nepal Rural Areas & Other 12,000 NPR 81 USD 119 USD (2023) 115 USD (2023) 115 USD (2024) June 1, 2021
Philippines Manila Metro Area 16,000 PHP 266 USD 360 USD (2023) 317 USD (2023) 346 USD (2024) September 1, 2024
Philippines Rural Areas & Other 11,500 PHP 191 USD 360 USD (2023) 317 USD (2023) 346 USD (2024) September 1, 2024
Singapore Singapore 3,000 SGD 2,334 USD 5,883 USD (2023) 7,061 USD (2023) 7,447 USD (2024) November 1, 2023
Thailand Bangkok 14,000 THB 430 USD 475 USD (2017) 549 USD (2017) 549 USD (2017) June 18, 2017
Thailand Bangkok Suburbs 12,000 THB 369 USD 475 USD (2017) 549 USD (2017) 549 USD (2017) June 18, 2017
Thailand Other Cities w/ 100,000+ People 12,000 THB 369 USD 475 USD (2017) 549 USD (2017) 549 USD (2017) June 18, 2017
Thailand Rural Areas & Other 10,000 THB 307 USD 475 USD (2017) 549 USD (2017) 549 USD (2017) June 18, 2017
United Kingdom All Locations 1,810 GBP 2,395 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 4,733 USD (2017) 4,961 USD (2017) 4,958 USD (2017) July 15, 2019
United States Rural & Cities w/ <250,000 People 1,445 USD 1,445 USD 4,733 USD (2017) 4,961 USD (2017) 4,958 USD (2017) July 15, 2019
Viet Nam All Locations 5,000,000 VND 190 USD 343 USD (2023) 357 USD (2023) 387 USD (2024) November 3, 2025