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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Hargeysa is roughly 63% more expensive than in Bosaso, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.65 SOS 1,506

$1.98 SOS 1,123

33.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.02 SOS 8,532

$10.07 SOS 5,720

49.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.58 SOS 3,169

$4.85 SOS 2,757

15.05%

Cappuccino

$1.15 SOS 656

$1.23 SOS 701

-6.50%

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

$0.95 SOS 538

$0.98 SOS 558

-3.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 SOS 274

$0.50 SOS 286

-4.00%

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

$2.57 SOS 1,461

-47.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 SOS 409

$0.98 SOS 556

-26.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 SOS 943

$1.02 SOS 581

62.75%

Eggs

$2.73 SOS 1,548

$1.84 SOS 1,047

48.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.02 SOS 1,148

$5.96 SOS 3,384

-66.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.09 SOS 3,457

$6.60 SOS 3,747

-7.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.53 SOS 2,570

$5.38 SOS 3,054

-15.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.41 SOS 1,936

$3.55 SOS 2,019

-3.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 SOS 1,151

$3.49 SOS 1,982

-41.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 SOS 1,535

$3.04 SOS 1,729

-11.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.84 SOS 479

$1.97 SOS 1,118

-57.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 SOS 582

$2.02 SOS 1,146

-49.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 SOS 742

$0.98 SOS 555

33.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 SOS 298

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 SOS 451

$1.61 SOS 917

-50.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.98 SOS 556

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 SOS 152

$0.31 SOS 177

-12.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.10 SOS 17.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 SOS 1,717

$1.46 SOS 831

106.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 SOS 531

$0.62 SOS 351

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.90 SOS 3,921

$2.96 SOS 1,681

133.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 SOS 570

$1.02 SOS 579

-1.96%

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)

$7.48 SOS 4,249

$9.98 SOS 5,668

-25.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.10 SOS 15.4K

$31.46 SOS 17.9K

-13.86%

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

$10.82 SOS 6,145

103.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.21 SOS 11.5K

$15.24 SOS 8,657

32.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$20.29 SOS 11.5K

$12.89 SOS 7,324

57.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.40 SOS 17.3K

$14.90 SOS 8,464

104.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$187 SOS 106.2K

$124 SOS 70.2K

51.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$123 SOS 69.6K

$83.5 SOS 47.4K

46.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 SOS 254.5K

$199 SOS 112.8K

125.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$246 SOS 139.9K

$187 SOS 106.3K

31.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,019 SOS 2.9M

$29.7K SOS 16.9M

-83.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$300 SOS 170.6K

$299 SOS 169.9K

0.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.57

133.37%

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

Last update for Hargeysa: July 14, 2026

Last update for Bosaso: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $187 in Hargeysa and $124 in Bosaso. 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: $15.00 in Hargeysa vs $10.00 in Bosaso. Groceries flip the comparison at $150 vs $202, 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

Hargeysa vs Bosaso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Average pay runs 0% higher in Hargeysa, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $187 in Hargeysa versus $124 in Bosaso. 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 $679 per month in Hargeysa versus $418 in Bosaso – 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, Hargeysa and Bosaso 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.