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: $453 in Hargeysa versus $324 in Bosaso.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $744 in Hargeysa versus $496 in Bosaso.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,035 in Hargeysa versus $667 in Bosaso.

Living in Hargeysa is roughly 40% more expensive than in Bosaso, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hargeysa 67% lower, Bosaso 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.12 SOS 2,907

$2.01 SOS 1,142

154.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.57 SOS 9,979

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 SOS 3,039

$5.05 SOS 2,868

5.94%

Cappuccino

$1.46 SOS 830

$1.51 SOS 860

-3.31%

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

$0.98 SOS 555

$1.02 SOS 579

-3.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 SOS 646

$0.63 SOS 360

80.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 SOS 734

$2.94 SOS 1,671

-56.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 SOS 625

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 SOS 615

$0.39 SOS 221

176.92%

Eggs

$2.50 SOS 1,418

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.36 SOS 3,613

$2.96 SOS 1,680

114.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.90 SOS 2,217

$4.06 SOS 2,306

-3.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 SOS 1,159

$1.99 SOS 1,128

2.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 SOS 862

$2.94 SOS 1,670

-48.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 SOS 1,156

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 SOS 759

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 SOS 690

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 SOS 839

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 SOS 579

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 SOS 355

$1.51 SOS 860

-58.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.98 SOS 559

$1.02 SOS 579

-3.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 SOS 165

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.40 SOS 7,045

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 SOS 432

$1.73 SOS 985

-56.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 SOS 384

$0.87 SOS 497

-21.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.06 SOS 2,304

$2.52 SOS 1,429

61.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 SOS 576

$0.89 SOS 503

13.48%

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

$10.1K SOS 5.7M

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

$11.8K SOS 6.7M

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

$44.64 SOS 25.4K

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

$7.55 SOS 4,291

$9.85 SOS 5,596

-23.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.17 SOS 11.5K

$32.31 SOS 18.4K

-37.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.67 SOS 21.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.96 SOS 1,113

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

$25.02 SOS 14.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$266 SOS 151.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.42 SOS 7,052

$11.18 SOS 6,349

11.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.73 SOS 11.2K

$15.06 SOS 8,557

31.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$17.71 SOS 10.1K

$13.20 SOS 7,495

34.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.68 SOS 16.9K

$14.79 SOS 8,402

100.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 SOS 63.3K

$124 SOS 70.2K

-9.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$69.7 SOS 39.6K

$86.2 SOS 48.9K

-19.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$302 SOS 171.8K

$203 SOS 115.1K

49.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$168 SOS 95.7K

$189 SOS 107.5K

-10.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,082 SOS 2.9M

$30.1K SOS 17.1M

-83.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$306 SOS 173.6K

$299 SOS 170.1K

2.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

100.00%

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

Last update for Hargeysa: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bosaso: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $111 in Hargeysa and $124 in Bosaso. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hargeysa pays 2% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 40% in total monthly costs ($453 vs $324 including rent). Bosaso is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 2% 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: $111 in Hargeysa versus $124 in Bosaso. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Hargeysa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $453 per month in Hargeysa versus $324 in Bosaso – a 40% 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 40% less than in Hargeysa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.