Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hargeysa and Bosaso

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.

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

How much you'll spend in Hargeysa and in Bosaso

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

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

  • Hargeysa $451
  • Bosaso $320

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

  • Hargeysa $738
  • Bosaso $495

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

  • Hargeysa $1,025
  • Bosaso $670

Living in Hargeysa is roughly 41% more expensive than in Bosaso, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hargeysa
Bosaso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.96 SOS 2,817
$1.99 SOS 1,128
149.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.81 SOS 10.1K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 SOS 3,108
$5.09 SOS 2,890
7.47%
Cappuccino
$1.52 SOS 866
$1.47 SOS 834
3.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 SOS 518
$1.02 SOS 579
-10.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 SOS 646
$0.62 SOS 352
83.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hargeysa
Bosaso
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 SOS 741
$3.08 SOS 1,752
-57.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.10 SOS 626
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.09 SOS 619
$0.39 SOS 220
179.49%
Eggs
$2.46 SOS 1,395
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.45 SOS 3,666
$3.07 SOS 1,743
110.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.93 SOS 2,235
$4.03 SOS 2,289
-2.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.04 SOS 1,158
$1.98 SOS 1,122
3.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 SOS 844
$2.92 SOS 1,659
-48.97%
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)
$0.62 SOS 352
$1.47 SOS 834
-57.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.02 SOS 579
$0.98 SOS 555
4.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Hargeysa
Bosaso
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 SOS 167
$0.31 SOS 178
-6.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.15 SOS 6,900
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.78 SOS 443
$1.71 SOS 974
-54.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 SOS 384
$0.93 SOS 527
-26.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.91 SOS 2,223
$2.45 SOS 1,392
59.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 SOS 601
$0.87 SOS 493
21.84%
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
Hargeysa
Bosaso
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)
$7.56 SOS 4,292
$10.10 SOS 5,739
-25.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.91 SOS 11.3K
$31.92 SOS 18.1K
-37.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hargeysa
Bosaso
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.84 SOS 20.9K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.03 SOS 1,150
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hargeysa
Bosaso
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
Hargeysa
Bosaso
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$12.57 SOS 7,141
$10.82 SOS 6,144
16.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.70 SOS 11.2K
$14.82 SOS 8,420
32.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$17.76 SOS 10.1K
$13.14 SOS 7,466
35.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.47 SOS 17.3K
$14.75 SOS 8,379
106.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hargeysa
Bosaso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$109 SOS 61.7K
$126 SOS 71.4K
-13.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$70.6 SOS 40.1K
$85.8 SOS 48.7K
-17.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$295 SOS 167.8K
$198 SOS 112.3K
49.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$170 SOS 96.4K
$189 SOS 107.2K
-10.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,918 SOS 2.8M
$29.6K SOS 16.8M
-83.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hargeysa
Bosaso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$299 SOS 170.0K
$303 SOS 172.4K
-1.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20
10
100.00%

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

Last update for Hargeysa: October 24, 2026

Last update for Bosaso: October 26, 2026

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

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 $109 in Hargeysa and $126 in Bosaso. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Good to know
🇸🇴 Hargeysa
🇸🇴 Bosaso
🕒 Local time
05:31 5:31 AM
05:31 5:31 AM
Same time as Hargeysa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,960,000 Capital
74,287
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SOS – Somali Shilling Converter

Somali Shilling exchange rates as of November 2, 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
  • Hargeysa Bosaso 590 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Hargeysa
  • Bosaso

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
Hargeysa vs Bosaso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hargeysa and in Bosaso?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $451 in Hargeysa and $320 in Bosaso, so Bosaso is about 29% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Hargeysa compared to Bosaso?
You’d need roughly $676 in Hargeysa and $480 in Bosaso 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 Hargeysa and in Bosaso?
Rent for a central apartment: $109 in Hargeysa versus $126 in Bosaso. 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: Hargeysa or Bosaso?
All in, you’ll spend $451 per month in Hargeysa versus $320 in Bosaso – Bosaso is about 29% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How far does $1,200 go in Hargeysa compared to Bosaso?
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 Hargeysa and Bosaso?
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.

Hargeysa vs other spots: cost of living compared

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