Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bosaso and Hargeysa

For one person, living is cheaper in Bosaso: $320 a month against $451 in Hargeysa, rent and utilities included – about $1,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Bosaso, Somalia
Hargeysa, Somalia
Bosaso
🇸🇴 Somalia
$320
/mo nomad
Hargeysa
🇸🇴 Somalia
$451
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bosaso and in Hargeysa

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bosaso and in Hargeysa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $320 in Bosaso versus $451 in Hargeysa.

  • Bosaso $320
  • Hargeysa $451

Estimated couple costs with rent: $495 in Bosaso versus $738 in Hargeysa.

  • Bosaso $495
  • Hargeysa $738

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $670 in Bosaso versus $1,025 in Hargeysa.

  • Bosaso $670
  • Hargeysa $1,025

Living in Bosaso costs roughly 29% less than in Hargeysa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bosaso 77% lower, Hargeysa 67% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bosaso
Hargeysa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.99 SOS 1,128
$4.96 SOS 2,817
-59.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$17.81 SOS 10.1K
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.09 SOS 2,890
$5.47 SOS 3,108
-6.95%
Cappuccino
$1.47 SOS 834
$1.52 SOS 866
-3.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 SOS 579
$0.91 SOS 518
12.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 SOS 352
$1.14 SOS 646
-45.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bosaso
Hargeysa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.08 SOS 1,752
$1.30 SOS 741
136.92%
White Bread (500g)
-
$1.10 SOS 626
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.39 SOS 220
$1.09 SOS 619
-64.22%
Eggs
-
$2.46 SOS 1,395
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 SOS 1,743
$6.45 SOS 3,666
-52.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.03 SOS 2,289
$3.93 SOS 2,235
2.54%
Apples (1kg)
$1.98 SOS 1,122
$2.04 SOS 1,158
-2.94%
Banana (1kg)
$2.92 SOS 1,659
$1.49 SOS 844
95.97%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$2.02 SOS 1,147
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$1.29 SOS 731
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.28 SOS 725
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.52 SOS 861
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.02 SOS 577
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 SOS 834
$0.62 SOS 352
137.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$0.98 SOS 555
$1.02 SOS 579
-3.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Bosaso
Hargeysa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 SOS 178
$0.29 SOS 167
6.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$12.15 SOS 6,900
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.71 SOS 974
$0.78 SOS 443
119.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.93 SOS 527
$0.68 SOS 384
36.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.45 SOS 1,392
$3.91 SOS 2,223
-37.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 SOS 493
$1.06 SOS 601
-17.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$10.2K SOS 5.8M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$12.1K SOS 6.9M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bosaso
Hargeysa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$45.05 SOS 25.6K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.10 SOS 5,739
$7.56 SOS 4,292
33.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.92 SOS 18.1K
$19.91 SOS 11.3K
60.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bosaso
Hargeysa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$36.84 SOS 20.9K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$2.03 SOS 1,150
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bosaso
Hargeysa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$25.45 SOS 14.5K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$268 SOS 151.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bosaso
Hargeysa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$10.82 SOS 6,144
$12.57 SOS 7,141
-13.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.82 SOS 8,420
$19.70 SOS 11.2K
-24.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$13.14 SOS 7,466
$17.76 SOS 10.1K
-26.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$14.75 SOS 8,379
$30.47 SOS 17.3K
-51.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bosaso
Hargeysa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$126 SOS 71.4K
$109 SOS 61.7K
15.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$85.8 SOS 48.7K
$70.6 SOS 40.1K
21.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$198 SOS 112.3K
$295 SOS 167.8K
-33.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$189 SOS 107.2K
$170 SOS 96.4K
11.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$29.6K SOS 16.8M
$4,918 SOS 2.8M
501.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bosaso
Hargeysa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$303 SOS 172.4K
$299 SOS 170.0K
1.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
20
-50.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bosaso: October 26, 2026

Last update for Hargeysa: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Bosaso
–
Hargeysa
$134 *
Eating Out
Bosaso
–
Hargeysa
$83 *
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bosaso
–
Hargeysa
$73
Accommodation & Living
Bosaso
–
Hargeysa
$71
Sport & Entertainment
Bosaso
–
Hargeysa
$37 *
Clothing & Footwear
Bosaso
–
Hargeysa
$36
Getting Around
Bosaso
–
Hargeysa
$17

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $126 in Bosaso and $109 in Hargeysa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Good to know
🇸🇴 Bosaso
🇸🇴 Hargeysa
🕒 Local time
13:08 1:08 PM
13:08 1:08 PM
Same time as Bosaso
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,287
1,960,000 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SOS – Somali Shilling Converter

Somali Shilling exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 568 SOS (1,000 SOS = 1.76 USD). 1 EUR = 634 SOS (1,000 SOS = 1.58 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bosaso Hargeysa 590 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Bosaso
  • Hargeysa

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Bosaso vs Hargeysa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bosaso and in Hargeysa?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $320 in Bosaso and $451 in Hargeysa, so Bosaso is about 29% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Bosaso compared to Hargeysa?
You’d need roughly $480 in Bosaso and $676 in Hargeysa to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Bosaso and in Hargeysa?
Rent for a central apartment: $126 in Bosaso versus $109 in Hargeysa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Hargeysa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bosaso or Hargeysa?
All in, you’ll spend $320 per month in Bosaso versus $451 in Hargeysa – Bosaso is about 29% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How far does $1,200 go in Bosaso compared to Hargeysa?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Bosaso gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Bosaso and Hargeysa?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Bosaso vs other spots: cost of living compared

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