I’ll admit it. When my friends Nia and Marcus told me they were moving to Ethiopia from USA, I thought they’d lost their minds.
Here were two successful teachers, newly engaged, renting a lovely brownstone in Brooklyn. From the outside, it looked like they had it made. But then they started selling their stuff to move to a country neither of them had ever stepped foot in.
It’s been a year now, and they are not even thinking of looking back. And suddenly I’m the one who sounds unhinged, because I want what they have.
This is their story, and honestly, it might be the nudge you need to finally take that trip you keep postponing.
Why Did Two New York Teachers Choose Moving to Ethiopia from the USA?
Nia and Marcus met at work. They were colleagues long before they were a couple. She jokes that he’s her “real husband and work husband”, and they’ve now taught together at three different schools. They’re a team in every sense.
For Nia, the pull toward Africa was not really a whim. It was the plan. She grew up in a school district that made African heritage part of the everyday curriculum. The running family joke was that they didn’t get a Christmas break, they got a Kwanzaa break. She later studied abroad in West Africa, changed her name from her birth name to Nia there, and even joined a small church community. “I always knew my final destination would be Africa,” she told me. “Some part of me always knew I’d end up here.”
For Marcus, though? That took some persuading. He’s a lifelong sports fan from Brooklyn who’d grown comfortable with the familiar rhythms of home. The idea of leaving the US and his family’s gentle scepticism about it sat heavily with him. Nia was so nervous about raising it after they got engaged that she almost didn’t bring it up at all, worried it might drive them apart.
How Did They Decide?
But life has a way of deciding for you. For Nia, the turning point was a trip to Ghana, where a fellow traveller told her about the rewards of becoming an international educator. For Marcus, it was slower. He was slowly getting tired of the numbing sameness of the daily grind. He also had a couple of close calls that made him confront how short and fragile life really is.
“I remember sitting at school late one night, grading papers, and it was like a voice in my head saying, ‘Get out,'” he told me, half-joking. “I really felt like something was telling me to leave America.”
So they did. They sold the furniture, the clothes, the shoes. A few things went into a small storage unit, and the rest went on marketplace sites. They moved up their wedding date to make the timing work, and a month after saying “I do,” they locked up the Brooklyn brownstone and never looked back.
What is The Real Price of the American Dream Before Moving to Ethiopia?
Back in New York, Nia and Marcus were doing everything “right.” Before they moved in together, Nia was paying well over a thousand dollars a month for a tiny studio apartment. And there were months she skipped grocery trips because the rent and the car payment had to come first. She held down two side gigs, often gone most of a weekend, just to cover her hair appointments. Marcus was driving a car with a note and insurance that swallowed hundreds every month. Saving felt impossible. They had the classic “more month than check” problem.
“Sometimes you have to choose between paying your bills and eating when you live in the US,” Nia said. “People think it’s the richest country on earth, but people still struggle there. We’re educated people. Why are we still struggling? I didn’t understand it either.”
So part of what they were running toward was freedom. Financial freedom and otherwise. And that’s where their story gets genuinely inspiring for anyone thinking about moving to Ethiopia from USA or anywhere else on the continent. If you’re weighing a move, our guide to the safest African countries to relocate to is a great place to start, with rankings built on the Global Peace Index (visionofhumanity.org) as well as lived experience.
Cost of Living in Addis Ababa: What Does Their Money Look Like After Moving to Ethiopia?
When they were in New York, their gross pay was higher, but taxes took nearly half of it. In Ethiopia, they don’t pay the US income tax, their housing is provided by their school, and they don’t need to own a car. The result? Their net take-home pay is actually higher than it was in Brooklyn.
They live on roughly $650 a month each, with housing covered.
- Groceries and food: about $45 a week (a full market basket of avocados, watermelon and greens ran to about $9).
- Hair: about $40 a month (a wash and style that would’ve cost close to $200 back home).
- Nails: about $20 a month.
- They’re able to tuck away around $450 a month each into savings.
And they’ve reclaimed their time. Nia went from working multiple jobs to living what she calls “the soft life”. She gets weekly massages, she could hire a housekeeper for the first time, and even have weekends out with friends. “I have more time now than I’ve had in years,” she said. “I can go to the spa, the salon, see friends, and not feel guilty about it.”
If a reset like that appeals to you, check out our piece on microretirement and escaping the 9-to-5 or our comparison of Kigali vs. Nairobi for digital nomads. It isn’t about dodging responsibility but more about not trading your whole life for a paycheck.
What Does Living in Addis Ababa Feel Like? Falling in Love With the City
The first year wasn’t all smooth sailing. Ethiopia runs on a different calendar. It’s currently 2018 there, not 2026. They also have a different clock, with time kept six hours off the system most visitors know. Amharic took months to get comfortable with. They landed during the rainy season expecting heat. “You think Africa, you think hot,” Marcus laughed, only to meet cool, drizzly days. Nia had lost a suitcase full of clothes somewhere en route and wore the same shoes for weeks.
There are power outages. There’s no same-day delivery service, no big American coffee chains, no fast-food giants. Imported goods can cost three times what they’d pay at home. And everyday staples back home like almond milk, gluten-free bread, certain spices, have to be made by hand or shipped in.
But what changed their lives was the people and the pace.
“Back in New York, people would say, ‘If you need anything, let me know,’ and that was the end of it because everyone’s busy,” Marcus said. “Here, if you ask for help when you’re not well, people actually come through. It’s a brotherhood, a sisterhood. People look out for each other.”
And then there’s the belonging Nia had been chasing her whole life. “Ethiopia was never colonised, and that always pulled me here,” she said. “When people greet me in Amharic, my heart fills up. I feel connected here in a way I never could in New York.”
If you want to get a feel for the country with the coffee ceremonies, the ancient rock-hewn churches, and the markets, our team spent 72 hours journeying through Ethiopia, from the capital’s coffee houses to the UNESCO-listed churches of Lalibela. It’s a wonderful first taste of a country that rewards curiosity.
What Does Travelling From Ethiopia Feel Like? Trips They Never Could Have Afforded in New York
In his whole life in Brooklyn, Marcus had been on a plane exactly once, and it was a short domestic hop. However, since moving to Addis, they’ve visited South Africa, Senegal, Morocco, Egypt and Turkey, with more on the calendar. Nia ran out of pages in her passport before it expired!
Because they’re international educators, their school calendar gives them genuine breaks, and because the cost of living is lower, they can actually afford to use them. Their wall of trinkets and small souvenirs is a record of it all. They have a little keepsake from each place, a memory they can look at every day.
That’s the thing about travel. It isn’t a reward you collect after you’ve built the perfect life. Sometimes it is the life. For help making travel a sustainable part of your routine rather than a once-a-year splurge, tune into our Pack Like a Pro podcast or browse Africa’s best locations for independent travellers.
Lessons on Moving to Ethiopia from the USA: What I Learned From Their Leap
To be honest, after hearing their story, I ran out of excuses.
Nia and Marcus aren’t wealthy. They’re teachers. In the US, they were choosing between rent and groceries. The difference wasn’t money or luck. It was a decision. They looked at a life of stress and burnout and said, this isn’t the life I was meant to live and then they did something about it.
Marcus’s only regret? “Not doing it sooner. I had chances before, and I got cold feet.” His advice to anyone considering moving to Ethiopia from USA: “Put down the distractions, do your research, and go after an international position. You’ll never be 100% ready. Don’t be scared off by what people say about the other side of the world.”
Nia’s message is warmer. She said, “The Motherland is calling you. I live like a queen here in ways I never could in New York. There’s no perfect timing. There’s always opportunity if you look for it.”
If you’re curious about Ethiopia specifically, start with our guide to the safest African countries for Black solo travellers and learn why the country has also been chosen as a major aviation hub on the continent, with carriers like Ethiopian Airlines making it easier to reach than ever. And you don’t have to emigrate to be changed by a place. Start with a visit. Ethiopia’s tourism board has plenty of ideas at ethiopia.travel.
Is Moving to Ethiopia from the USA Right for You? The Takeaway
My friends didn’t run away from America so much as they ran toward something. Toward peace. Toward better health. Toward a saner mind and less stress. Toward a slower pace where they could actually live the life they’d been working so hard for.
A year in, Marcus, the guy who was so hesitant he almost didn’t have the conversation, says he’s fallen in love with it. He’s learning the language, connecting with locals, and at times feels reluctant even to think about going home. The guy who kept his game console as the one non-negotiable item in the move has found a home.
And me? I finally get what he meant when he said, “Get out. Just come.”
You don’t need to pack much. Just bring your passport.
Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Ethiopia from USA
How much does it cost to live in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia?
Two expat teachers in Addis Ababa report living on roughly $650 per month each, with housing provided by their employer. Groceries cost around $45 per week, and savings of $450+ per month are achievable. The cost of living in Ethiopia is significantly lower than in major US cities.
Is it safe to move to Ethiopia from the USA?
Ethiopia is generally safe for expats, particularly in Addis Ababa. Like any relocation, research is essential. Our guide to the safest African countries to relocate to provides up-to-date rankings based on the Global Peace Index and lived experience.
Can American teachers get jobs in Ethiopia?
Yes. International schools in Addis Ababa regularly hire qualified teachers from the USA. Positions often include housing, flights, and generous holiday schedules, making moving to Ethiopia from USA a realistic option for educators seeking a lower-stress, higher-savings lifestyle.
Do Americans pay taxes if they move to Ethiopia?
US citizens are still required to file US taxes regardless of where they live. However, the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) allows qualifying expats to exclude a significant portion of foreign-earned income. In Ethiopia, local income tax rates are also considerably lower than US federal and state rates combined.
What is the best time of year to move to Addis Ababa?
Most expats recommend arriving just after the rainy season (September–October), when the weather is mild and sunny. Nia and Marcus landed during the rains and were surprised by cool, drizzly weather.
How do I get a visa to live and work in Ethiopia?
Your employer (typically an international school) will usually sponsor your work permit and residence visa. Tourist visas are available for initial scouting trips. Check the Ethiopian embassy website or consult your employer’s HR team for the latest requirements.
