Moving to Colombia from Ethiopia

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Ethiopia to Colombia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Ethiopia to Colombia, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bogota averages 61°F vs 74°F in Addis Ababa, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Colombia compared to Ethiopia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

ET
8.6
CO
25.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ET
17.7
CO
16.2

Ethiopia generally does better on safety, though Colombia leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

ET
$86
CO
$1,758
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ET
1.1
CO
24.5

Colombia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ethiopia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

ET
46.0
CO
24.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ET
0.1t
CO
1.8t

Ethiopia generally does better on environment, though Colombia leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ET
0.5
CO
17.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ET
32.3%
CO
4.4%

Colombia performs significantly better than Ethiopia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ET
3.5%
CO
9.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ET
$2,800
CO
$18,800

Ethiopia generally does better on employment & economy, though Colombia leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ET
68.2 yrs
CO
74.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ET
33.5
CO
11.7

Colombia performs significantly better than Ethiopia across all family life metrics.

Data: Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Addis Ababa Rain: 45.9 in/yr (1165 mm)
74° / 49°F

Avg. annual high / low

Bogota Rain: 31.5 in/yr (799 mm)
61° / 45°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Addis Ababa Bogota
Jan–Mar 76°/48°F (24°/9°C) 62°/44°F (17°/7°C)
Apr–Jun 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) 61°/47°F (16°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 71°/50°F (21°/10°C) 60°/45°F (15°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 73°/46°F (23°/8°C) 61°/45°F (16°/7°C)
View all months
Month Addis Ababa Bogota
Jan 75°/46°F (24.0°/8.0°C) 62°/42°F (16.4°/5.6°C)
Feb 75°/48°F (24.0°/9.0°C) 62°/44°F (16.7°/6.5°C)
Mar 77°/50°F (25.0°/10.0°C) 62°/46°F (16.7°/7.6°C)
Apr 75°/52°F (24.0°/11.0°C) 61°/47°F (16.0°/8.6°C)
May 77°/52°F (25.0°/11.0°C) 61°/48°F (16.2°/8.7°C)
Jun 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.0°C) 60°/47°F (15.7°/8.3°C)
Jul 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C) 59°/46°F (14.9°/7.7°C)
Aug 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C) 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.3°C)
Sep 72°/50°F (22.0°/10.0°C) 60°/45°F (15.8°/7.1°C)
Oct 73°/48°F (23.0°/9.0°C) 61°/46°F (15.9°/7.7°C)
Nov 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C) 61°/46°F (16.0°/7.9°C)
Dec 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C) 61°/43°F (16.1°/6.3°C)

Data: Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI) Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI), Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environment Studies Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environment Studies

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ethiopia and Colombia. To live, work, or study long-term in Colombia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Colombia's immigration authority.

Ethiopia passport

Ethiopia passport holder visiting Colombia

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Ethiopia passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Colombia.
Colombia passport

Colombia passport holder visiting Ethiopia

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Colombia passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Ethiopia.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Colombia?

Connectivity is usually fine (Colombia: 17.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Colombia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Colombia safe for expats?

Ethiopia generally does better on safety, though Colombia leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Colombia is 25.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 8.6 in Ethiopia.

How is healthcare in Colombia compared to Ethiopia?

Colombia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ethiopia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 24.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Colombia, compared to 1.1 in Ethiopia. Colombia scores 80 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ethiopia: 35).

What's the weather like in Colombia compared to Ethiopia?

The average high temperature in Bogota is 61°F, compared to 74°F in Addis Ababa. Bogota receives around 31.5 in of rainfall per year, while Addis Ababa gets 45.9 in.

What language do they speak in Colombia?

The official language in Colombia is Spanish. In Ethiopia, the official language is Amharic.

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At a Glance

ET CO
Population 113,656,596 49,059,221
Currency Ethiopian Birr (ETB) Colombian Peso (COP)
Languages Amharic Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +251 +57
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911 123