Money at Bole International (ADD)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Addis Ababa uses the ETB (Br). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly ETB 600–1000. Cash only for most taxis; small ETB notes.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Bole International (ADD)?
Ethiopia uses the ETB (Br). Airport ATMs dispense ETB directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from ADD to the city cost?
Expected fare on the ADD → Bole/city route is roughly ETB 600–1000. Around ETB 1500+ is already high, and ETB 2500+ tout is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at ADD?
Not expected — round up. Drivers in Ethiopia don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at ADD?
Cash only for most taxis; small ETB notes. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of ETB notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at ADD?
Only if you need $10–20 of ETB to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
Every transport option ranked, fare tiers, first-30-minute checklist and reported scams.