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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $453 per month in Hargeysa vs $621 in Mogadishu, rent included.

A couple spends around $744 per month in Hargeysa vs $948 in Mogadishu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,035 per month in Hargeysa vs $1,274 in Mogadishu, rent included.

Hargeysa is about 27% cheaper than Mogadishu, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Hargeysa and Mogadishu are more affordable than the global median – Hargeysa 67% lower, Mogadishu 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.91 SOS 2,787

$2.94 SOS 1,671

67.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.79 SOS 10.1K

$34.31 SOS 19.5K

-48.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.43 SOS 3,084

$4.41 SOS 2,504

23.13%

Cappuccino

$1.54 SOS 874

$2.02 SOS 1,148

-23.76%

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

$0.97 SOS 551

$1.19 SOS 678

-18.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 SOS 629

$0.50 SOS 285

122.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 SOS 729

$1.31 SOS 746

-2.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 SOS 628

$1.57 SOS 894

-29.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 SOS 591

$0.76 SOS 431

36.84%

Eggs

$2.52 SOS 1,431

$1.94 SOS 1,103

29.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.94 SOS 2,805

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.54 SOS 3,716

$3.93 SOS 2,233

66.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.09 SOS 2,320

$4.54 SOS 2,576

-9.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.95 SOS 1,107

$3.85 SOS 2,188

-49.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 SOS 844

$0.99 SOS 561

50.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 SOS 1,159

$3.08 SOS 1,748

-33.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 SOS 722

$1.25 SOS 712

1.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 SOS 724

$1.46 SOS 828

-13.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 SOS 870

$1.78 SOS 1,009

-14.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 SOS 578

$1.54 SOS 877

-33.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 SOS 359

$0.50 SOS 287

26.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.02 SOS 578

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 SOS 1,119

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 SOS 151

$0.48 SOS 274

-43.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.02 SOS 6,829

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.79 SOS 449

$0.98 SOS 555

-19.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 SOS 357

$0.54 SOS 305

16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.05 SOS 2,298

$2.93 SOS 1,667

38.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 SOS 601

$0.92 SOS 522

15.22%

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

$9,966 SOS 5.7M

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

$12.2K SOS 6.9M

$6,464 SOS 3.7M

88.42%

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

$45.02 SOS 25.6K

$157 SOS 89.1K

-71.29%

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

$7.20 SOS 4,092

$5.02 SOS 2,849

43.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.35 SOS 11.6K

$66.3 SOS 37.7K

-69.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.29 SOS 21.2K

$31.89 SOS 18.1K

16.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.03 SOS 1,152

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

$24.98 SOS 14.2K

$78.6 SOS 44.7K

-68.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$274 SOS 155.4K

$751 SOS 426.6K

-63.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.34 SOS 7,007

$14.26 SOS 8,102

-13.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.35 SOS 11.6K

$14.25 SOS 8,096

42.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$17.57 SOS 9,979

$25.29 SOS 14.4K

-30.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.20 SOS 17.2K

$32.84 SOS 18.7K

-8.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$108 SOS 61.4K

$193 SOS 109.6K

-43.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$69.8 SOS 39.6K

$78.9 SOS 44.8K

-11.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$302 SOS 171.4K

$484 SOS 274.7K

-37.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$167 SOS 94.7K

$189 SOS 107.4K

-11.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,971 SOS 2.8M

$3,230 SOS 1.8M

53.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,437 SOS 1.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$296 SOS 168.0K

$275 SOS 156.3K

7.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Hargeysa: August 30, 2026

Last update for Mogadishu: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $108 in Hargeysa versus $193 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 7% higher in Hargeysa, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Hargeysa versus $34.00 in Mogadishu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $135 vs $162 – 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

Mogadishu costs about 37% more than Hargeysa, 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 $680 per month in Hargeysa and $932 in Mogadishu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hargeysa, 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 $453 in Hargeysa and $621 in Mogadishu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $24.98 per month in Hargeysa and $78.6 in Mogadishu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $453 in Hargeysa and $621 in Mogadishu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Hargeysa – 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 Hargeysa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mogadishu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.