Frommer's Global Index puts Ethiopia first for the value of your dollar

[Libaax-Sankataabte]

Where Does the Dollar Do Best? Frommers.com's Global Price Index for May 2007

By Carrie Havranek

May 4, 2007

 

 

Getting from point A to point B is only part of the equation now. In the face of the dollar's declining value worldwide against foreign currencies, there can be a bit of sticker shock while traveling. To demonstrate where you can get the most bang for your buck, this monthly index compares the costs of common consumer goods around the globe. Conversions are calculated using www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi.

 

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Source: Ethiopian Tourism Commission; www.tourismethiopia.org)

Movie ticket: $1.68

Bus fare: 5¢

Cup of regular coffee: 22¢

Bottle of local beer in a bar: St. George, 44¢

Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $44.91

Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol and tip: $10.10

$1= 8.90 Ethiopia Birr

 

Andorra la Vella, Andorra (Source: Andorra Ministry of Tourism; www.andorra.ad)

Movie ticket: $8.17

Bus fare: $1.70

Cup of regular coffee: $1.70

Bottle of local beer in a bar: San Miguel, $2.04

Moderate, three star hotel room for two: $73.54

Moderate, three course dinner for one, without alcohol and tip: $10.89-$27.23

$1= .73 €

 

Cheyenne, Wyoming (Source: Cheyenne Area Convention & Visitors Bureau; www.cheyenne.org)

Movie ticket: $7.50

Bus fare: $1

Cup of regular coffee: $1.25

Pint of local beer in a bar: Shadow's Big Boy Amber, $3.25

Moderate, three star hotel room for two: $89

Moderate, three course dinner for one, without alcohol and tip: $23.80

 

Concord, New Hampshire (Source: New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development; www.visitnh.gov)

Movie ticket: $7

Bus fare: 50¢-1.00

Cup of regular coffee: $1.45

Pint of local beer in a bar: Fisher Cat Ale, $3.25

Moderate, three star hotel room for two: $95-$130

Moderate, three course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $25-$31

 

Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador (Source: Gander Tourism Development; www.gandercanada.com)

Movie ticket: N/A

Bus/subway fare: N/A; taxi, $4.51

Cup of regular coffee: $1.12

Pint of local beer in a bar: Black Horse, $3.61

Moderate, three star hotel room for two: $135.49

Moderate, three course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $17.11

$1= C$1.10

 

Odessa, Ukraine (Source: Mission Ukraine-Cognita; www.ukrcognita.com.ua)

Movie ticket: $5.98-$7.97

Bus/trolley/tram fare: 9¢-15¢

Cup of regular coffee: 99¢-$1.19

Pint of local beer in a bar: Yantar, $1.19-$2.39

Moderate, three star hotel room for two: $97.30

Moderate, three course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $15.95

$1=5.01 Ukraine Hryvnia

 

Port Vila, Vanuatu (Source: Vanuatu Tourist Office; www.vanuatutourism.com)

Movie ticket: N/A

Bus fare: $2.00

Cup of regular coffee: $3.00

Bottle of local beer in a bar: Tusker, $4.00

Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $200

Moderate, three-course dinner for one without alcohol or tip: $25.00

$1= 100 Vanuatu Vatu

 

San Ignacio, Belize (Source: Belize Tourism Board, www.travelbelize.org)

Movie ticket: N/A

Bus fare: 75¢

Cup of regular coffee: 50¢-$1.00

Bottle of local beer in a bar: Belikin Beer, $2.25-$2.50

Moderate, three star hotel room for two: $61-$89

Moderate, three course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $19-$27

$1= 1.96 Belize Dollars

 

Yokohama, Japan (Source: Japan National Tourism Organization; www.jnto.go.jp)

Movie ticket: $14.97

Subway fare: $1.66-$2.16

Cup of regular coffee: $1.49

Bottle of local beer in a bar: Asahi, $1.58

Moderate, three star hotel room for two: $149.74

Moderate, three course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $24.95

$1= ¥120.21

[nuune]

Thanks to the ICU, and the USA, Ethiopia is getting the publicity it needed very badly!

 

Lacagta Birta waa lacag adag laakin, saas la socda, kana duwan lacagaha kale ee Afrikaanka, 3 Qarshi dhala faantey kuu gooni, qarshiguna waa hal Bir waxaan dhanneeyn.

[Libaax-Sankataabte]

Nuune, I think Ethiopia is one of those place the white South African investors --- with their western-style "supermarkets" and "subway rstuarants" --- haven't reached yet.

 

The cost of living in East Africa, specially in Tanzania and Kenya, is staggering. My cousin just came back from Tanzania and he was stunned by the lofty prices of basic things such as "bariis iyo hilib" at a typical Somali restaurant. A simple Somali meal costs 6 dollars in Dar es Salaam. He couldn't understand how poor people can afford to live in such a place.

 

I have few relatives who chose to move from Nairobi to Addis, and they seem to be doing much better with the few dollars I send them every month. It is very expensive to live in Kenya and Tanzania.