Cost of Living Comparison Between Mogadishu and Afgoye Cost of Living Comparison Between Mogadishu and Afgoye

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $621 in Mogadishu versus $137 in Afgoye.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $948 in Mogadishu versus $262 in Afgoye.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,274 in Mogadishu versus $386 in Afgoye.

Living in Mogadishu is roughly 353% more expensive than in Afgoye, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mogadishu 55% lower, Afgoye 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.94 SOS 1,671

$1.02 SOS 582

188.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.31 SOS 19.5K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.41 SOS 2,504

$3.40 SOS 1,930

29.71%

Cappuccino

$2.02 SOS 1,148

$0.52 SOS 295

288.46%

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

$1.19 SOS 678

$0.52 SOS 297

128.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 SOS 285

$0.23 SOS 131

117.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 SOS 746

$2.96 SOS 1,684

-55.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 SOS 894

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.76 SOS 431

Eggs

$1.94 SOS 1,103

$3.63 SOS 2,059

-46.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.94 SOS 2,805

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.93 SOS 2,233

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.54 SOS 2,576

$7.76 SOS 4,410

-41.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.85 SOS 2,188

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 SOS 561

Oranges (1kg)

$3.08 SOS 1,748

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 SOS 712

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 SOS 828

Onion (1kg)

$1.78 SOS 1,009

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 SOS 877

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 SOS 287

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 SOS 1,119

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 SOS 274

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 SOS 555

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 SOS 305

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 SOS 1,667

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 SOS 522

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

$6,464 SOS 3.7M

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

$157 SOS 89.1K

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

$5.02 SOS 2,849

$4.94 SOS 2,803

1.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 SOS 37.7K

$25.23 SOS 14.3K

162.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.89 SOS 18.1K

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

$78.6 SOS 44.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$751 SOS 426.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.26 SOS 8,102

$10.05 SOS 5,710

41.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.25 SOS 8,096

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$25.29 SOS 14.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.84 SOS 18.7K

$18.12 SOS 10.3K

81.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$193 SOS 109.6K

$60.5 SOS 34.4K

219.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.9 SOS 44.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 SOS 274.7K

$158 SOS 89.9K

205.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$189 SOS 107.4K

$89.1 SOS 50.6K

112.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,230 SOS 1.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,437 SOS 1.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 SOS 156.3K

$202 SOS 114.7K

36.29%

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

Last update for Mogadishu: August 30, 2026

Last update for Afgoye: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $193 in Mogadishu and $60.5 in Afgoye. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mogadishu pays 36% 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

Mogadishu vs Afgoye: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mogadishu and Afgoye differ by about 353% in total monthly costs ($621 vs $137 including rent). Afgoye is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 36% higher in Mogadishu, 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: $193 in Mogadishu versus $60.5 in Afgoye. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 139% higher in Mogadishu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $621 per month in Mogadishu versus $137 in Afgoye – a 353% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Afgoye 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.

Expats usually find Afgoye gentler on the wallet – expenses run 353% less than in Mogadishu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.