Cost of Living Comparison Between Hargeysa and Mogadishu Cost of Living Comparison Between Hargeysa and Mogadishu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $679 per month in Hargeysa vs $600 in Mogadishu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,009 per month in Hargeysa vs $944 in Mogadishu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,339 per month in Hargeysa vs $1,289 in Mogadishu, rent included.

Hargeysa costs about 13% more than Mogadishu, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Hargeysa and Mogadishu are more affordable than the global median – Hargeysa 49% lower, Mogadishu 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.65 SOS 1,506

$3.55 SOS 2,016

-25.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.02 SOS 8,532

$18.03 SOS 10.2K

-16.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.58 SOS 3,169

$4.38 SOS 2,487

27.40%

Cappuccino

$1.15 SOS 656

$1.47 SOS 835

-21.77%

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

$0.95 SOS 538

$0.49 SOS 278

93.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 SOS 274

$0.33 SOS 187

45.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.18 SOS 5,781

$4.04 SOS 2,293

151.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.80 SOS 5,568

$15.09 SOS 8,570

-35.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 SOS 760

$1.45 SOS 822

-7.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 SOS 409

$1.35 SOS 768

-46.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 SOS 943

$0.93 SOS 528

78.49%

Eggs

$2.73 SOS 1,548

$1.91 SOS 1,087

42.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.02 SOS 1,148

$5.04 SOS 2,865

-59.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.09 SOS 3,457

$4.06 SOS 2,305

50.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.53 SOS 2,570

$5.01 SOS 2,847

-9.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.41 SOS 1,936

$3.47 SOS 1,972

-1.73%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 SOS 1,151

$0.97 SOS 551

109.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 SOS 1,535

$3.23 SOS 1,834

-16.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.84 SOS 479

$1.36 SOS 772

-38.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 SOS 582

$1.19 SOS 676

-13.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 SOS 742

$1.51 SOS 860

-13.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 SOS 298

$1.34 SOS 762

-61.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 SOS 451

$0.48 SOS 273

64.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.98 SOS 556

$1.21 SOS 688

-19.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 SOS 1,128

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 SOS 152

$0.48 SOS 274

-43.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.10 SOS 17.1K

$20.18 SOS 11.5K

49.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 SOS 1,717

$1.01 SOS 575

199.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 SOS 531

$0.58 SOS 330

60.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.90 SOS 3,921

$6.42 SOS 3,646

7.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 SOS 570

$1.02 SOS 579

-1.96%

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

$7,519 SOS 4.3M

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

$6,136 SOS 3.5M

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

$112 SOS 63.5K

$84.4 SOS 47.9K

32.55%

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

$7.48 SOS 4,249

$5.04 SOS 2,860

48.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.10 SOS 15.4K

$57.0 SOS 32.4K

-52.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.36 SOS 19.5K

$30.90 SOS 17.6K

11.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.08 SOS 5,157

$10.41 SOS 5,912

-12.78%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 SOS 2,786

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

$37.39 SOS 21.2K

$49.70 SOS 28.2K

-24.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$600 SOS 340.6K

$577 SOS 327.5K

4.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.07 SOS 12.5K

$17.37 SOS 9,864

27.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.21 SOS 11.5K

$24.39 SOS 13.9K

-17.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$20.29 SOS 11.5K

$26.34 SOS 15.0K

-22.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.40 SOS 17.3K

$60.3 SOS 34.3K

-49.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$187 SOS 106.2K

$158 SOS 89.5K

18.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$123 SOS 69.6K

$66.7 SOS 37.9K

83.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 SOS 254.5K

$466 SOS 264.9K

-3.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$246 SOS 139.9K

$177 SOS 100.3K

39.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,019 SOS 2.9M

$3,226 SOS 1.8M

55.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,405 SOS 1.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$300 SOS 170.6K

$262 SOS 148.6K

14.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

150.00%

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

Last update for Hargeysa: July 14, 2026

Last update for Mogadishu: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $187 in Hargeysa versus $158 in Mogadishu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 15% higher in Hargeysa, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Hargeysa versus $18.00 in Mogadishu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $150 vs $160 – making Hargeysa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Mogadishu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hargeysa costs about 13% more than Mogadishu, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,019 per month in Hargeysa and $900 in Mogadishu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mogadishu, 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 $600 in Mogadishu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 49% less in Mogadishu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $679 in Hargeysa and $600 in Mogadishu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mogadishu – 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 Mogadishu. 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.