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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $679 per month in Hargeysa vs $92.7 in Borama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,009 per month in Hargeysa vs $239 in Borama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,339 per month in Hargeysa vs $386 in Borama, rent included.

Hargeysa costs about 633% more than Borama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hargeysa and Borama are more affordable than the global median – Hargeysa 49% lower, Borama 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.65 SOS 1,506

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.02 SOS 8,532

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.58 SOS 3,169

Cappuccino

$1.15 SOS 656

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

$0.95 SOS 538

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 SOS 274

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)

$1.34 SOS 760

$0.98 SOS 555

36.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 SOS 409

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 SOS 943

Eggs

$2.73 SOS 1,548

$3.02 SOS 1,716

-9.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.02 SOS 1,148

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.09 SOS 3,457

$2.97 SOS 1,686

105.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.53 SOS 2,570

Apples (1kg)

$3.41 SOS 1,936

$2.03 SOS 1,154

67.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 SOS 1,151

$1.01 SOS 577

100.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 SOS 1,535

Tomato (1kg)

$0.84 SOS 479

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 SOS 582

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 SOS 742

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 SOS 298

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 SOS 451

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.98 SOS 556

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 SOS 152

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.10 SOS 17.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 SOS 1,717

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 SOS 531

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.90 SOS 3,921

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 SOS 570

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)

$7.48 SOS 4,249

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.10 SOS 15.4K

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)

$22.07 SOS 12.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.21 SOS 11.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$20.29 SOS 11.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.40 SOS 17.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$187 SOS 106.2K

$59.7 SOS 33.9K

213.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$123 SOS 69.6K

$39.84 SOS 22.6K

207.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 SOS 254.5K

$304 SOS 172.9K

47.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$246 SOS 139.9K

$248 SOS 140.9K

-0.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,019 SOS 2.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$300 SOS 170.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Hargeysa: July 14, 2026

Last update for Borama: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $187 in Hargeysa versus $59.7 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: $679 in Hargeysa, $92.7 in Borama – roughly 633% apart. Hargeysa costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,019 per month in Hargeysa and $139 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 $679 in Hargeysa and $92.7 in Borama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 183% 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 $679 in Hargeysa and $92.7 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.