Cost of Living Comparison Between Hargeysa and Borama Cost of Living Comparison Between Hargeysa and Borama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $676 per month in Hargeysa vs $94.0 in Borama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,015 per month in Hargeysa vs $243 in Borama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,353 per month in Hargeysa vs $392 in Borama, rent included.

Hargeysa costs about 619% more than Borama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hargeysa and Borama are more affordable than the global median – Hargeysa 50% lower, Borama 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.62 SOS 1,488

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.25 SOS 8,664

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.45 SOS 3,094

Cappuccino

$1.15 SOS 651

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

$0.91 SOS 516

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 SOS 273

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.07 SOS 5,719

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.13 SOS 5,756

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 SOS 720

$0.98 SOS 557

29.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 SOS 445

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 SOS 960

Eggs

$2.75 SOS 1,561

$3.02 SOS 1,713

-8.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.96 SOS 1,111

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.15 SOS 3,494

$2.91 SOS 1,655

111.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 SOS 2,598

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 SOS 1,902

$1.96 SOS 1,114

70.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 SOS 1,113

$1.02 SOS 580

92.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.60 SOS 1,476

Tomato (1kg)

$0.84 SOS 479

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 SOS 561

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 SOS 773

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 SOS 297

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 SOS 429

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.97 SOS 553

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 SOS 152

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.45 SOS 16.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 SOS 1,713

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 SOS 501

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.06 SOS 4,011

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 SOS 599

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

$110 SOS 62.4K

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

$7.46 SOS 4,236

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.30 SOS 15.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.11 SOS 19.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.83 SOS 5,015

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 SOS 2,881

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

$36.97 SOS 21.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$604 SOS 343.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.63 SOS 12.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.91 SOS 11.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.83 SOS 11.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.85 SOS 17.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$187 SOS 106.1K

$58.9 SOS 33.5K

216.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$123 SOS 69.6K

$40.40 SOS 22.9K

203.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$444 SOS 252.0K

$303 SOS 172.3K

46.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$247 SOS 140.4K

$252 SOS 142.9K

-1.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,939 SOS 2.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$269 SOS 152.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Hargeysa: June 1, 2026

Last update for Borama: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $187 in Hargeysa versus $58.9 in Borama. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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

Hargeysa vs Borama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $676 in Hargeysa, $94.0 in Borama – roughly 619% apart. Hargeysa costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,014 per month in Hargeysa and $141 in Borama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Borama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $676 in Hargeysa and $94.0 in Borama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 184% more in Hargeysa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $676 in Hargeysa and $94.0 in Borama, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Borama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Borama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hargeysa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.