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: $596 in Mogadishu versus $247 in Afgoye.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $925 in Mogadishu versus $323 in Afgoye.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,253 in Mogadishu versus $398 in Afgoye.

Living in Mogadishu is roughly 141% more expensive than Afgoye, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mogadishu 56% lower, Afgoye 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 SOS 1,930

$1.01 SOS 574

236.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.86 SOS 10.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.41 SOS 2,506

$3.60 SOS 2,046

22.50%

Cappuccino

$1.48 SOS 841

$0.48 SOS 274

208.33%

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

$0.48 SOS 271

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 SOS 189

$0.21 SOS 119

57.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.93 SOS 2,233

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.97 SOS 8,505

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 SOS 822

$2.98 SOS 1,690

-51.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 SOS 764

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 SOS 510

Eggs

$1.90 SOS 1,082

$3.62 SOS 2,057

-47.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.02 SOS 2,851

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.92 SOS 2,227

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.95 SOS 2,813

$8.19 SOS 4,650

-39.56%

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 SOS 1,891

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 SOS 560

Oranges (1kg)

$3.23 SOS 1,836

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 SOS 772

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 SOS 701

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 SOS 858

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 SOS 774

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 SOS 295

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.22 SOS 691

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 SOS 1,148

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 SOS 273

$0.26 SOS 148

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.69 SOS 11.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 SOS 582

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 SOS 347

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.54 SOS 3,714

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 SOS 571

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)

$84.1 SOS 47.8K

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

$5.12 SOS 2,909

$5.11 SOS 2,902

0.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.3 SOS 33.1K

$25.10 SOS 14.3K

132.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.42 SOS 17.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.54 SOS 5,988

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

$50.4 SOS 28.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$571 SOS 324.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.51 SOS 9,948

$10.13 SOS 5,752

72.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.48 SOS 13.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.72 SOS 15.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.9 SOS 34.0K

$44.14 SOS 25.1K

35.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$158 SOS 89.7K

$99.2 SOS 56.3K

59.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.7 SOS 39.0K

$96.7 SOS 54.9K

-28.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 SOS 264.4K

$283 SOS 161.0K

64.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 SOS 103.6K

$80.7 SOS 45.8K

126.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,232 SOS 1.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,439 SOS 1.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$260 SOS 147.7K

$199 SOS 113.2K

30.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mogadishu: May 31, 2026

Last update for Afgoye: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $158 in Mogadishu and $99.2 in Afgoye. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mogadishu pays 30% 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 141% in total monthly costs ($596 vs $247 including rent). Afgoye is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Mogadishu pays 30% more on average, 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: $158 in Mogadishu versus $99.2 in Afgoye. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 132% higher in Mogadishu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $596 per month in Mogadishu versus $247 in Afgoye – a 141% 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 141% less than in Mogadishu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.