The Ethiopian Birr (ETB) is an unstable currency, and as a result many prices are measured in USD. In 2019, USD$1 was equivalent to ETB30, but in May 2025 USD$1 was worth ETB120, or even ETB150 on the black market. In July 2024, the Ethiopian Government accepted a massive 60% devaluation of the Birr to qualify for a rescue loan from the IMF. If you want to read more about this, check out this article from an Ethiopian newspaper, or this analysis and explanation from PwC, one of the international "Big 4" accounting firms. 

What does this mean for travellers?

This means that prices fluctuate drastically, and any travel blog that gives prices in ETB that is over 3 months old may be inaccurate. Most guides will give you prices in USD, as the value of Birr may change significantly between when you book and when you arrive. 

It also means that you should carry spare cash with you. I recommend to carry a mix of USD and Euros with you in every country as "emergency cash", but we ended up using our USD in Ethiopia more than any other country I've been to in recent years. Do note though, in smaller towns and remote parts of the country, people may not accept foreign currency if they have been drawn on or if the notes are older than 20 years of age, so do ensure you check the quality of the spare cash you are bringing with you. 

ATMs are also sparse, and commonly have maximum withdrawal amounts of ETB4000. Whilst this was USD$133 only five years ago, it was the equivalent of USD$30 during our trip. If you're in small towns, ATMs also may be unreliable - we watched one that had to be rebooted between every transaction, a process that took around 30 minutes. Plan ahead, and bring plenty of spare cash with you in both Birr and at least one major foreign currency, just in case!