Cost of Living Comparison Between Bosaso and Hargeysa Cost of Living Comparison Between Bosaso and Hargeysa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $418 in Bosaso versus $679 in Hargeysa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $684 in Bosaso versus $1,009 in Hargeysa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $951 in Bosaso versus $1,339 in Hargeysa.

Living in Bosaso costs roughly 38% less than in Hargeysa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bosaso 69% lower, Hargeysa 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 SOS 1,123

$2.65 SOS 1,506

-25.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.07 SOS 5,720

$15.02 SOS 8,532

-32.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 SOS 2,757

$5.58 SOS 3,169

-13.08%

Cappuccino

$1.23 SOS 701

$1.15 SOS 656

6.96%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 SOS 558

$0.95 SOS 538

3.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 SOS 286

$0.48 SOS 274

4.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.18 SOS 5,781

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.80 SOS 5,568

Milk (1 liter)

$2.57 SOS 1,461

$1.34 SOS 760

91.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 SOS 556

$0.72 SOS 409

36.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 SOS 581

$1.66 SOS 943

-38.55%

Eggs

$1.84 SOS 1,047

$2.73 SOS 1,548

-32.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.96 SOS 3,384

$2.02 SOS 1,148

195.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.60 SOS 3,747

$6.09 SOS 3,457

8.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.38 SOS 3,054

$4.53 SOS 2,570

18.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.55 SOS 2,019

$3.41 SOS 1,936

4.11%

Banana (1kg)

$3.49 SOS 1,982

$2.03 SOS 1,151

71.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.04 SOS 1,729

$2.70 SOS 1,535

12.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 SOS 1,118

$0.84 SOS 479

134.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 SOS 1,146

$1.03 SOS 582

96.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 SOS 555

$1.31 SOS 742

-25.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 SOS 298

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 SOS 917

$0.79 SOS 451

103.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.98 SOS 556

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 SOS 177

$0.27 SOS 152

14.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.10 SOS 17.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 SOS 831

$3.02 SOS 1,717

-51.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 SOS 351

$0.93 SOS 531

-33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 SOS 1,681

$6.90 SOS 3,921

-57.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 SOS 579

$1.00 SOS 570

2.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$3,997 SOS 2.3M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$8,976 SOS 5.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$112 SOS 63.5K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.98 SOS 5,668

$7.48 SOS 4,249

33.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.46 SOS 17.9K

$27.10 SOS 15.4K

16.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.36 SOS 19.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.08 SOS 5,157

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 SOS 2,786

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$37.39 SOS 21.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$600 SOS 340.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.82 SOS 6,145

$22.07 SOS 12.5K

-50.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.24 SOS 8,657

$20.21 SOS 11.5K

-24.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$12.89 SOS 7,324

$20.29 SOS 11.5K

-36.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$14.90 SOS 8,464

$30.40 SOS 17.3K

-50.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$124 SOS 70.2K

$187 SOS 106.2K

-33.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.5 SOS 47.4K

$123 SOS 69.6K

-31.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 SOS 112.8K

$448 SOS 254.5K

-55.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$187 SOS 106.3K

$246 SOS 139.9K

-24.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$29.7K SOS 16.9M

$5,019 SOS 2.9M

492.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$299 SOS 169.9K

$300 SOS 170.6K

-0.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.57

-57.15%

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

Last update for Bosaso: July 12, 2026

Last update for Hargeysa: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $124 in Bosaso and $187 in Hargeysa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hargeysa pays 0% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $10.00 in Bosaso vs $15.00 in Hargeysa. Groceries flip the comparison at $202 vs $150, with Hargeysa cheaper for home cooking.

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

Bosaso and Hargeysa differ by about 63% in total monthly costs ($418 vs $679 including rent). Bosaso is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 0% lower in Hargeysa. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $124 in Bosaso versus $187 in Hargeysa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bosaso – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $15.00 in Hargeysa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $418 per month in Bosaso versus $679 in Hargeysa – a 63% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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.

Safety-wise, Bosaso and Hargeysa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bosaso gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Hargeysa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.