Finding your way around a new place can be challenging sometimes. Getting recommendations for places to shop for necessities in the first few days you settle in can prove to be helpful. That is why we have compiled a few ideal places for you to do your shopping as you acclimatize to the new country that you will call home during your study duration.
What you might find attention-grabbing is that as you walk along or drive along the streets in most Ethiopian cities and towns, you literally see people do grocery shopping on the side of the road. Do not be surprised by it; that has become a culture, it is part of what they do.
Shopping for groceries?
If you live off-campus, you will need to prepare food for yourself and buy groceries on a regular basis. This means that you will be frequently in need of basic commodities for your home-cooked meals.
Basic commodities are reasonably cheap in Ethiopia since Ethiopia is an agricultural economy and most basics are sourced from within the country. This improves the availability and affordability of foodstuffs, saving both time and money for you to focus on your studies.
Some of the Ethiopian supermarkets are one-stop shopping centers, for all your household needs and more, with in house fresh bakery and pastry corners, home meal replacements, refreshments and, ice cream) Some supermarkets have the courtesy of providing free home delivery service as you do your studies.
Here are some places you could try out for affordable grocery shopping in Ethiopia: We found shops that have multiple branches around Ethiopia and provide the best quality goods at cheaper prices
- Fantu
- Safeway
- Shoa
Shopping for clothes?
Ethiopian weather can be warmer than most areas around the world; therefore you might be in need of lighter clothing to take you through the hot summer days. Here are places where you can get quality clothes for a cheap price.
As compared to a few years ago, quality clothing and accessories for both men and women are now readily available in clothing shops countrywide. The capital city, Addis Ababa is emerging as a fashion hub in the African continent showcasing modern style fashion infused in traditional wear.
Ethiopia is known for its exquisite leather products and has shops bulging with shoes, jackets, bags belts, and many other products all made from the finest leather. Here are some of the places worth visiting in case you want to shop for clothing.
- Dembel
- Fashion Planet
- Haya Hulet
RocApply Extra Tip: One of the more popular shopping spots worth mentioning has to be Merkato. This place provides a much more sophisticated yet exciting experience compared to conventional shopping. Shoppers have to navigate around pavement vendors in search of their products. The place is always busy with crowds of shoppers and vendors selling their wares. Merkato is worth a trip because it has almost everything a shopper might need in one area. For a first-time visitor, is highly recommended that you get yourself a tour guide.
"I enjoy shopping and I found it affordable but some of the clothes are definitely not of the highest quality." - Hassan from Turkey
