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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $676 per month in Hargeysa vs $596 in Mogadishu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,015 per month in Hargeysa vs $925 in Mogadishu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,353 per month in Hargeysa vs $1,253 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 50% lower, Mogadishu 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.62 SOS 1,488

$3.40 SOS 1,930

-22.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.25 SOS 8,664

$17.86 SOS 10.1K

-14.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.45 SOS 3,094

$4.41 SOS 2,506

23.58%

Cappuccino

$1.15 SOS 651

$1.48 SOS 841

-22.30%

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

$0.91 SOS 516

$0.48 SOS 271

89.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 SOS 273

$0.33 SOS 189

45.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.07 SOS 5,719

$3.93 SOS 2,233

156.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.13 SOS 5,756

$14.97 SOS 8,505

-32.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 SOS 720

$1.45 SOS 822

-12.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 SOS 445

$1.35 SOS 764

-42.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 SOS 960

$0.90 SOS 510

87.78%

Eggs

$2.75 SOS 1,561

$1.90 SOS 1,082

44.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.96 SOS 1,111

$5.02 SOS 2,851

-60.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.15 SOS 3,494

$3.92 SOS 2,227

56.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 SOS 2,598

$4.95 SOS 2,813

-7.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 SOS 1,902

$3.33 SOS 1,891

0.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 SOS 1,113

$0.99 SOS 560

97.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.60 SOS 1,476

$3.23 SOS 1,836

-19.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.84 SOS 479

$1.36 SOS 772

-38.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 SOS 561

$1.23 SOS 701

-19.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 SOS 773

$1.51 SOS 858

-9.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 SOS 297

$1.36 SOS 774

-61.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 SOS 429

$0.52 SOS 295

46.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.97 SOS 553

$1.22 SOS 691

-20.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 SOS 1,148

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 SOS 152

$0.48 SOS 273

-43.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.45 SOS 16.7K

$19.69 SOS 11.2K

49.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 SOS 1,713

$1.02 SOS 582

196.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 SOS 501

$0.61 SOS 347

44.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.06 SOS 4,011

$6.54 SOS 3,714

7.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 SOS 599

$1.01 SOS 571

4.95%

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

$7,566 SOS 4.3M

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

$6,238 SOS 3.5M

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

$110 SOS 62.4K

$84.1 SOS 47.8K

30.61%

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

$7.46 SOS 4,236

$5.12 SOS 2,909

45.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.30 SOS 15.5K

$58.3 SOS 33.1K

-53.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.11 SOS 19.9K

$31.42 SOS 17.8K

11.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.83 SOS 5,015

$10.54 SOS 5,988

-16.22%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 SOS 2,881

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

$36.97 SOS 21.0K

$50.4 SOS 28.7K

-26.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$604 SOS 343.1K

$571 SOS 324.3K

5.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.63 SOS 12.9K

$17.51 SOS 9,948

29.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.91 SOS 11.3K

$24.48 SOS 13.9K

-18.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.83 SOS 11.3K

$26.72 SOS 15.2K

-25.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.85 SOS 17.0K

$59.9 SOS 34.0K

-50.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$187 SOS 106.1K

$158 SOS 89.7K

18.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$123 SOS 69.6K

$68.7 SOS 39.0K

78.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$444 SOS 252.0K

$466 SOS 264.4K

-4.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$247 SOS 140.4K

$182 SOS 103.6K

35.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,939 SOS 2.8M

$3,232 SOS 1.8M

52.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,439 SOS 1.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$269 SOS 152.6K

$260 SOS 147.7K

3.34%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mogadishu: May 31, 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 3% 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: $149 vs $159 – 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 $1,014 per month in Hargeysa and $894 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 $676 in Hargeysa and $596 in Mogadishu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 50% 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 $676 in Hargeysa and $596 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.