Top expat cities

Ethiopia

Addis Ababa

#1 Top 5 cities

Addis Ababa is the most practical expat base in Ethiopia because of diplomacy, services, and the broadest international community.

Country overview

Population

3 860 000

Year-round temperatures

Day: 20°C až 25°C

Night: 8°C až 12°C

Climate

Mild highland climate with warm days and cooler nights for most of the year.

Distance to the sea

630 km

Social atmosphere

5/10

Costs

Housing cost 7/10
Food cost 8/10

Business friendliness

6/10

Safety

4/10

Addis Ababa has lower day-to-day risk than conflict-affected regions, but petty crime, civil unrest, arbitrary security measures, and disruption on routes outside the city require caution.

Natural disaster resilience

5/10

Seasonal flash flooding and poor drainage affect parts of Addis Ababa, while the nearby Rift Valley also creates earthquake risk, as the 2024–25 seismic sequence demonstrated.

Other scores

Other scores

Internet availability 6/10
Internet speed 5/10
Internet stability 4/10
Electricity stability 4/10

Community types

  • Corporate expats
  • Teachers
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Long-term expats

Largest nationality groups

  • 🇺🇸Americans
  • 🇬🇧British
  • 🇫🇷French
  • 🇮🇳Indians
  • 🇹🇷Turkish

Pros / Cons

Pros

  • +Large international community
  • +Quality services
  • +Airport access
  • +Good for long-term stay

Cons

  • −Traffic congestion
  • −Higher prices
  • −Uneven neighborhood quality