Addis Ababa is an expensive city, compared to other third world countries. Addis Ababa quality of life differs based on income, services available, and money buying power. The income of most of the employees in the city is much less than American or European or foreigner employees. The expenditure is increasing faster than the income for many.

Food items and cloths are increasing although the Chinese products are getting in the country at a much high rate. Importing a car is five times more expensive than many African countries. A simple 2000 manufactured car could cost up 10,000 USD or more.  Housing is expensive as well, compared to the income of the society. This is true for the whole of Ethiopian cities as well.

Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries with a per capita income of 800 USD. The quality of health care is average, population level is very high and the crime level is moderate. The lack of access to clean water, low-quality health service, high prevalence of transmittable disease and the low buying power of the birr are some of the indicators Addis Ababa quality of life.

WHAT DOES ETHIOPIA LOOK LIKE? AND 7 UNPOPULAR POINTS

The literacy rate is very low in the country, that is more than half the population is considered to be illiterate and the employment status is very low at the same time. Despite its fast-going economy in the world, with an average growth of 9.9 percent a year from 2007 to 2018, compared to the regional growth average of 5.4 percent, the Addis Ababa quality of life is considered to be very low.

The standard of living in Addis Ababa differs from place to place and from person to person. Income disparity made a distinction between social groups. The majority of the population could not afford basic services while the hight end could waste a lot of money on entertainment. Most expats are categorized under the high-income group as payments for foreigners are calculated on a different scale. Some are paid ten times more than locals in a single month. Therefore, it is easier to choose where to stay or where to eat for foreigners than locals. At the same time, the various restaurants, hotels and other services have various price options, some are very cheap while others are very expensive even for the high-income group. It is wise to choose based on your income.

Standard of Living in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is one of the fast-growing economies in the world and one of the poorest at the same time. Some of the issues are listed below.

1. UN classifies Addis Ababa as a ‘slum city’, where a majority of the city is occupied by dilapidated public housing. The housing shortage is high. Even the new condominium housing could not solve the housing crisis. The increasing rate of rural-urban migration has contributed to this, and new housing is needed this time.
2. More than 60 million people in Ethiopia don’t have access to sanitation services and to clean water.  
3. The transportation sector also lacks quality service. Public transportation in Addis Ababa is barely enough for the fast-growing population. The new suburban development also needs new long-distance public transportation system. The new LRT in the city has reduced the transportation need but at the same time, its design has brought its own challenges on vehicular activities. The system separates the middle of the streets and it creates a highland and blocks easy traffic flow from one side of the street to another.
4. The illiteracy rate is high in the country, especially in rural areas. The unemployment rate is high as well and most of the economy is dependent on the informal. The country has been focusing on education for the last 10 years.  Illiteracy is declining in the country with the construction of schools in rural areas.
5. Many Ethiopian locations have a high prevalence of disease due to unsensitized medical equipment, shared utensils, lack of clean water and due to drought and famine. Lack of formal education and employment has contributed to this.
6. Freedom of expression is lacking and has been dead for a while especially for the last 10 years. Many have died and have been imprisoned, as some sources explain, including the current government from the same party.

General Addis Ababa data

• Population:2,973,000 in 2016
• Average Broadband Download Speed:1.0 Mb/s
• Average Broadband Upload Speed:1.5 Mb/s
• Purchasing Power:6.83
• Literacy: 80.5 percent
• Total fertility rate: 1.7 children per woman

What is the average cost of living in Addis Ababa?- Addis Ababa quality of life

What is the cost of living in Ethiopia in dollars?

The average hourly wage in Ethiopia is 55 Ethiopian birr or 1.8 dollars. The cost of living could differ based on what services you need and where do you buy them from. Basic food and housing could take about 6000 birr (200 USD) per month per person. Buses are half the price of taxis. In long-distance, this figure could go to 5 times cheaper. Taxis (the minibusses) are 20 times cheaper than private small Lada taxis or Uber-type services.

Restaurants also differ in price. Similar food could be two times or more than another restaurant. Places near ex-pats are more expensive. You can choose your restaurant based on the price. Many restarts have a similar kitchen and have similar sanitation and food quality. The overall cost of living in Ethiopian restaurants depends on the location of the restaurants. Personal cooking is 50 times cheaper than dining outside.

Related: Addis Ababa Airport: Everything you should know that save you from frustrations

What is the cost of living in Ethiopia vs India?

It is rather hard to compare the cost of living in Ethiopia to another since we can’t control the quality of service. We can’t say Addis Ababa quality is of life is better or lesser. However, we can have a general estimate of how to compare Ethiopia to India or the living cost of Ethiopia vs the USA.

Food, including bread and milk, in general, is cheaper in India. Owning a car in Ethiopia has a painstaking of up to 300 percent tax on imports. The recently revised tax relieves recently manufactured vehicles, and yet, they remain expensive compared to the local economy. In some cases, a car in Ethiopia could cost five times the same car in India.

Services such as the internet are more expensive in Ethiopia. House rent price is considered to be expensive as well in Ethiopia.

Drinks, including beer and coffee, seem to get more expensive in India.

What is Addis Ababa’s air quality?

The Addis Ababa air quality is considered to be moderate, based on various studies. Moderate is a little worse than good quality. Some comparative studies sometimes categorized the pollution rate as high.

Air pollution is higher these days, due to a high construction rate and older vehicles operating in the city. The bad garbage disposal method also pollutes the air. The sanitation system is also bad, as some toilets are connected to rivers and industries remove wastes directly into rivers.

The green in the city decreased due to improper planning and due to the high housing and construction demand. Parks have decreased and the city seems to become a concrete jungle.

Addis Ababa quality of life.

Addis Ababa air quality index-Addis Ababa quality of life

The Addis Ababa air quality index shows you the quality of the air you are breathing. Plume Labs, for example, measures the quality and calculates the rate of pollution based on world health organizations that guidelines and international standards by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The index should be used comparatively, as the higher the number the higher the pollution. The pollution might have a short or long period of effect. The Addis Ababa quality of life air quality indicates is near 42 out of 100.

What is Addis Ababa’s water quality?

The tab water is safe to drink. Addis Ababa 85 percent pipe water is found to be low risk from E. coli. Residual chlorine is said to be found in piped water in Addis Ababa.

Many locals and tourists also prefer to filter the water and sometimes warming it. Others prefer bottled water. Almost 97 percent of the Addis Ababa residents have access at least to their plot, if not to their houses. The water is good for bathing and washing faces or brushing teeth. If you are not comfortable with drinking from the tab, then you can always filter and warm the water.

Tips for the cost of living in Addis Ababa

1. Choose wisely- Addis Ababa is a diverse city, with diverse priced products and services. You could save by visiting some shops before purchasing, at least for the first time. Addis Ababa quality of life some times depends on your choice.
2. Choose a place based on budget- Many services are very cheap compared to high-end services that expats frequent. Hair salons, for example, ask for a dollar for a hair cut others ask up to 6 dollars. Many expats ignore the cheap salons for fearing quality issues. However, once you checked the materials are sanitized before usage, you can get a hair cut in such cheap places.
3. Buying from small shops instead of supermarkets could save you more.
4. Choose services based on packages- A hair service, spa, massage, nail polish, makeup…you need to choose which ones you need and you need to pay based on the services you get. Ask for options.
5. Try cooking for yourself. Enjoy Addis Ababa quality of life at home.
6. Renting a house based on your budget is possible. Some apartments are exclusively for expats, as they have money with much buying power. These apartments could cost up to 5 times or more than the normal price. Try group renting. You also could rent villas in a group.
7. If it is your first time, try asking for prices with a local friend. You will soon learn how cheap things are.
8. If you have to take public transport, that we advise you to avoid, then take one in the early morning or late evening as the traffic would go down.
9. LRTs are the best transport options.
10. Never pay for long term rent. Housing contracts are signed on a yearly basis. And most of the time you are expected to pay the first 3 months’ salary. Then you can pay per month or continue paying for 3 months at a time. You can cancel your contract at any time after the first 3 months.  You may not ask for a return on the first payment.
11. Bring your car to Ethiopia if you stay longer
12. Negotiate, if the price is not fixed. Some sellers would assume that you have money. A local friend could help with this.
13. Ask for advice from other expats. They may show you Addis Ababa quality of life.

Is Addis Ababa airport safe? This is a question that we get from a new traveler to Ethiopia. It is obvious and fair to ask such a question considering the economic and political status of the country. Many travelers, especially ones with better infrastructures and services sometimes find the place to be lesser than their standards. Others, out of a biased opinion consider the airport to be unsafe and unreliable.

After studying the reviews from top travel and airport sites, we learned that Addis Ababa airport is not up to the standard that the users expect. The Addis Ababa airport, some say is Overcrowded, noisy and chaotic. It is a pity to listen to a repetitive comment about the dirty restrooms and dining areas. Getting a seat is usually a problem. If you have a plan to have a peaceful sleep, it is better to go for hotels near the airport.

The Addis Ababa airport is very safe, in any measure. It is equipped with a camera and the security system is up to standard. secured. The restaurants, duty-free shops, souvenir shops follow a standard and have good sanitation. However, many complain that there are not newspaper shops. The airport seems to have a system problem and is very chaotic, especially at night. But the new building is under construction and is expected to solve the problems that customers have.

Is Addis Ababa airport safe for an overnight layover?

Many travelers are worried about the amount of money they can carry and enter the country. The law in Ethiopia prohibits carrying more than 3000 USD and enter the country without declaring. You might not declare if you have less. If more, it is wise to do or the stuff may hustle you, and we heard bribery gossips. You may have to share the undeclared money or pay a fine. If you are on a layover, this may not concern you. Better to understand the law at your destination.

You should expect a normal lounger style seat for an overnight layover, if you are flying economy and if you don’t plan to book a hotel. The lounge is only for higher tier Sheba miles loyalty customers and business class passengers.

If your layover is long hours, the airport provides free accommodations and a transfer visa. You need to go to the transit desk on arrival request it yourself.

If you are nervous about traveling to the airport for any reason, the best way to get where you need it to ask for assistance. For international arrival, you will arrive on the first floor of terminal 2. Then you need to go to the terminal desk. Or you need to respond to stuff on the floor asking to assist you. They will advise you based on your request.

Is the Addis Ababa airport safe from an accident?

Ethiopian Airlines had three accidents and incidents. The first incident was in 1972, the plane crashed during takeoff. 35 people died, 13 injured and 48 left uninjured.  Eight years later on March 18, another place crashed while on a training flight. The most disastrous accident happened recently on March 10, 2019, when a Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane crashed shortly after take-off from Bole airport, to its destination to Nairobi. All passengers, including 157 people died from the accident. The accident has been connected to the Boeing 737 MAX problem, as Lion Air flight 610 that is 737 MAX crashed.

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What are the most raised issues for Addis Ababa airport?

1. The restaurants are very expensive and the food is not sanitary. Some even complain about the first-class lounge
2. The x-ray lines are not organized and there is chaos everywhere, especially at night.
3. The system is bureaucratic and the stuff is not understanding
4. Lack of professionalism and non-English speaking stuff
5. Services in the airport do not accept card
6. Bad WiFi, unreliable

Is it safe to transit Addis Ababa?

The violence that was observed in the last few years in Addis Ababa has been non-existent for long. The population is mixed and lives in harmony with each other. Some travelers are paranoid while transiting through the city. Some even told me that they didn’t bring much clothing since they feared they would be robbed on the streets. The media has done a good job of diminishing the images of the African countries.

Ethiopia is a safe country, especially if you are only transiting. More than 10 million passengers used the airport in 2018. However, there are some tips you need to follow while on transit in Addis Ababa.

Negotiating

Some of the services sometimes may not have a fixed rate. This could be hard for some people, especially for visitors, to negotiate. It is simple. You only need to know a general estimate or a reference so that you wont be ripped off. You sometimes have to demand a receipt for the things you purchase so that you make sure that you are getting a fair price.

Pickpockets

Addis Ababa has some pickpocketing and snatching of phones or other valuables on the street. The crime is not as violent as the south Americans or South Africa. It is done with tricks and without you knowing that you are being robbed. Do not get involved in fights or arguments. That is probably a trick to get close to you and get your valuables. Never carry much money or expensive stuff while in crowded places. This helps you feel safer.

There are scams that you need to be aware of. Most pickpocketing scams are done in groups. One may run and ask you to save him from a group of people. While you kindly try to break the fight, the victim has hold of your pocket.

The most known is that one spits on you intentionally, and apologizes and wipe it off fo you. You only know what has happened long after they left.

Hotels

The airline provides accommodation for transit travelers. These hotels are safe and usually have a good security system. Even though you have your own accommodation, these are safe as well.

It is generally safe to put stuff in hotels. However, even most hotels advise not to leave valuable stuff while you leave your room. Some hotels front desk has a locker that you can leave your stuff in. It is always safer to give your valuables to the front desk if they offer such service, rather than leaving it in the room while you are not around.

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Taxi

There are various options for a taxi in Addis Ababa. The locals use the blue and white minibus that could be unreliable and intimidating for new visitors. The buses are also unreliable, sometimes full and unsanitary and uncomfortable. The LRT system is not efficient for a while and also unreliable. The LRT is a much better option than buses. Instead, it is advisable to have a personal drive. If not, at the destination point, outside the airport, there are yellow car taxis. These are unmetered but paid based on a fixed rate that you are told before you take the taxi. If not, it is better to ask how much the rate is to your destination. This will save you from the unnecessary hustle. The blue and white taxis are not available in the airport compound. You can pick them up on the streets. Expect up to 10 USD.

The best way of travel is by using an Uber-type system. ‘Ride’ is one of them, and is popular at this time. You can install the app before getting here. Then book a taxi on your phone. You may need a sim card to call to book. Or you can book directly on the app.

Safety outside the Addis Ababa airport

The US embassy in Ethiopia advises visitors on how to keep themselves safe in the city or around the country. They advise monitoring local media for news updates, avoid crowds and keep low-profile, be vigilant of your surroundings. It is a lot of pressure, but this is necessary even out of Ethiopia. They provided assistance for American citizens. For more visit, for more travel advisory visit.

What are some of the flights from Addis Ababa?

There are flights to the UK, including from Addis Ababa to London; Addis Ababa to Manchester and Addis Ababa to Heathrow; Addis Ababa to Dublin flight.

The local flights are: Addis Ababa to Lalibela; Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar; Addis Ababa to Mekele: Addis Ababa to Harar (Dire Dewa airport is near); Addis Ababa to Simien mountains (Mekele or Axum airport are near depending on your plan); Addis Ababa to Mekele flight; Addis Ababa to Danakil depression (Samara airport); Addis Ababa to Gondar

There are flights from Addis Ababa to Toronto and from Addis Ababa to Washington.

Known flights are from Addis Ababa to Nairobi; Addis Ababa to Hargeisa; Addis Ababa to Mombasa; Addis Ababa to Lusaka; Addis Ababa to Cape Town; Addis Ababa to Johannesburg; Addis Ababa to Djibouti, Addis Ababa to Asmara. Fight from Addis Ababa to Dubai and Addis Ababa to Mumbai are also famous.

How safe is Addis Ababa airport? final remark

Addis Ababa airport is safe for transit or as a final destination. The restaurants are a bit high end for a mediocre service but you will find most of the things you need at the stores, except newspapers. The seat in the airport is scarce, as the airport is extending its service beyond capacity. This of course pissed some travelers. The new expansion project is expected to solve this problem. The food quality and the sanitation problem are raised by some. The standard issues are still a challenge in many parts of the country. Sometimes the Addis Ababa airport standard may not fulfill the international standard. The bathroom sanitation might not be as standard, considering the high number of customers the airport serves in a small space.

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The airport is secured and is safe from tourist attacks. The security precautions are sometimes unnecessary and even harder than the TSA. You may have to lose some stencils that even the TSA would not take from you. You may need to takeout shoes for security check purposes.

The airport is also safe from thieves. The security cameras assist security in the airport. You have the responsibility for your belongings and yet, the airport is safe.

Most of the challenges are system issues. The staff is cooperative and hardworking, although some unethical characters are possible. To be safe in the Addis Ababa airport, always follow the rules, ask for directions if necessary and go directly to provided desks for further guidance. If you see inappropriate behavior, contact nearby stuff.

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The Ethiopian airport is constructing a new expansion for an international flight. The new airport will provide, for example, a lounge that includes a spa, private lockers for bags and cafes. The lounge will be 3 times larger. Reading lamps, massage chairs, quiet corners, free internet will be part of the cloud nine or first-class travelers. We expect the future to be better.  

What was your first experience at Addis Ababa airport? Please share your experience?