Climate · Africa
Addis Ababa climate, year-round
Ethiopia · Highland tropical (subtropical at 2,400m) · Updated May 2026
Best months
Oct · Nov · Dec · Jan · Feb · Mar
Best for: Altitude-mild Africa nomads who base through the dry winter window and avoid the July–August Kiremt rains.
Year at a glance
Cells coloured by typical daytime average temperature. ★ = best months for nomads.
Jan
16°C
55%
0mm
Feb
17°C
52%
1mm
Mar
18°C
55%
2mm
Apr
18°C
60%
3mm
May
19°C
65%
3mm
Jun
17°C
72%
4mm
Jul
16°C
75%
8mm
Aug
16°C
75%
8mm
Sep
17°C
72%
3mm
Oct
17°C
65%
1mm
Nov
16°C
55%
0mm
Dec
16°C
55%
0mm
Summer peak
19°C
May · 65% humidity
Winter low
16°C
January · 55% humidity
Climate type
Highland tropical (subtropical at 2,400m)
Moderate summers, Dry winters
Field notes
Highland tropical at 2,400m altitude — the high elevation produces remarkably stable mild temperatures despite the equatorial latitude (16–19°C year-round, with little diurnal variance). The seasonal structure is rainfall-driven: long dry season (October–February) is the postcard window with bright sun and cool nights; short rains (March–May) are scattered afternoon showers; the Kiremt rains (June–September) bring heavy daily downpours. UV is strong year-round at altitude. Air quality varies — periodic urban smog from charcoal-burning home cooking is a real consideration.
Visa for nomads
Medium nomad-friendlyPathway
Long visa-free
Program
—
Typical max stay
3 months
No formal DNV. eVisa for ~135 nationalities (30/90-day). African Union diplomatic-and-NGO ecosystem; Amharic working language with English widely used in business.
Editorial summary, not legal advice. Verify with the relevant consulate before applying — visa programs change with little notice.
Cost of living in Addis Ababa: ~$1,550/mo
Mid-tier monthly across rent, food, transport, utilities, and coworking.
Cities with a similar climate
Useful while you’re in Addis Ababa
- Travel insuranceLong-term, nomad-friendly cover that travels with you to Addis Ababa
- Multi-currency bankingAvoid the 4% conversion fees foreign cards rack up in Ethiopia
- eSIM data planDay-one connectivity in Ethiopia without local-SIM friction
- Coworking & colivingDay passes, monthly memberships, and verified workspaces in Addis Ababa
- Flight dealsCheapest routes in and out of Addis Ababa
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Editorial estimates aggregated from public climatological summaries — typical monthly averages, not forecasts. Treat as order-of-magnitude. Microclimate, altitude, and recent extreme weather can swing these values significantly.