Cost of Living Comparison Between Hargeysa and Galcaio Cost of Living Comparison Between Hargeysa and Galcaio

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $676 per month in Hargeysa vs $366 in Galcaio, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,015 per month in Hargeysa vs $582 in Galcaio, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,353 per month in Hargeysa vs $799 in Galcaio, rent included.

Hargeysa costs about 85% more than Galcaio, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hargeysa and Galcaio are more affordable than the global median – Hargeysa 50% lower, Galcaio 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.62 SOS 1,485

$5.06 SOS 2,869

-48.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.25 SOS 8,649

$29.46 SOS 16.7K

-48.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.45 SOS 3,088

$6.86 SOS 3,891

-20.55%

Cappuccino

$1.15 SOS 649

$1.02 SOS 581

12.75%

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

$0.91 SOS 515

$0.48 SOS 271

89.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 SOS 272

$0.31 SOS 177

54.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.07 SOS 5,709

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.13 SOS 5,746

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 SOS 719

$1.54 SOS 872

-17.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 SOS 444

$0.51 SOS 290

52.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 SOS 958

$0.98 SOS 557

72.45%

Eggs

$2.75 SOS 1,558

$2.19 SOS 1,243

25.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.96 SOS 1,109

$5.82 SOS 3,300

-66.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.15 SOS 3,488

$2.96 SOS 1,679

107.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 SOS 2,593

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 SOS 1,899

$1.98 SOS 1,123

69.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 SOS 1,112

$1.83 SOS 1,037

7.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.60 SOS 1,473

$2.57 SOS 1,458

1.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.84 SOS 478

$1.17 SOS 663

-28.21%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 SOS 560

$0.78 SOS 445

26.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 SOS 771

$0.51 SOS 290

166.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 SOS 297

$0.48 SOS 271

8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 SOS 428

$0.81 SOS 461

-6.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.97 SOS 552

$1.22 SOS 691

-20.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$1.98 SOS 1,122

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 SOS 152

$0.43 SOS 245

-37.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.45 SOS 16.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 SOS 1,710

$1.51 SOS 857

100.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 SOS 501

$1.54 SOS 873

-42.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.06 SOS 4,004

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 SOS 598

$1.13 SOS 641

-6.19%

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

$10.1K SOS 5.7M

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

$110 SOS 62.3K

$101 SOS 57.3K

8.77%

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

$7.46 SOS 4,228

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.30 SOS 15.5K

$29.50 SOS 16.7K

-7.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.11 SOS 19.9K

$25.08 SOS 14.2K

39.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.83 SOS 5,006

$10.13 SOS 5,745

-12.83%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 SOS 2,876

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

$36.97 SOS 21.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$604 SOS 342.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.63 SOS 12.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.91 SOS 11.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.83 SOS 11.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.85 SOS 16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$187 SOS 105.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$123 SOS 69.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$444 SOS 251.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$247 SOS 140.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,939 SOS 2.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$269 SOS 152.4K

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 Galcaio: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Hargeysa versus $29.00 in Galcaio. Groceries tell a different story – $149 in Hargeysa vs $121 in Galcaio – so Galcaio wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Galcaio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Hargeysa is pricier by about 85%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,014 per month in Hargeysa and $548 in Galcaio. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Hargeysa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Hargeysa and $29.00 in Galcaio. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $676 in Hargeysa and $366 in Galcaio, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Galcaio – 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 Galcaio. 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.