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: $600 in Mogadishu versus $250 in Afgoye.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $944 in Mogadishu versus $326 in Afgoye.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,289 in Mogadishu versus $401 in Afgoye.

Living in Mogadishu is roughly 140% more expensive than in Afgoye, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mogadishu 55% lower, Afgoye 81% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.55 SOS 2,016

$0.98 SOS 559

262.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.03 SOS 10.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.38 SOS 2,487

$3.43 SOS 1,946

27.70%

Cappuccino

$1.47 SOS 835

$0.48 SOS 275

206.25%

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

$0.49 SOS 278

$0.48 SOS 272

2.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 SOS 187

$0.23 SOS 131

43.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.04 SOS 2,293

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$15.09 SOS 8,570

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 SOS 822

$2.93 SOS 1,662

-50.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 SOS 768

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 SOS 528

Eggs

$1.91 SOS 1,087

$3.56 SOS 2,025

-46.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.04 SOS 2,865

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.06 SOS 2,305

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.01 SOS 2,847

$7.95 SOS 4,516

-36.98%

Apples (1kg)

$3.47 SOS 1,972

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 SOS 551

Oranges (1kg)

$3.23 SOS 1,834

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 SOS 772

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 SOS 676

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 SOS 860

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 SOS 762

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 SOS 273

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.21 SOS 688

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 SOS 1,128

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 SOS 274

$0.26 SOS 149

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.18 SOS 11.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 SOS 575

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 SOS 330

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.42 SOS 3,646

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 SOS 579

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)

$84.4 SOS 47.9K

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

$5.04 SOS 2,860

$4.93 SOS 2,802

2.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.0 SOS 32.4K

$24.89 SOS 14.1K

128.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.90 SOS 17.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.41 SOS 5,912

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

$49.70 SOS 28.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$577 SOS 327.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.37 SOS 9,864

$10.03 SOS 5,699

73.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.39 SOS 13.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.34 SOS 15.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.3 SOS 34.3K

$43.36 SOS 24.6K

39.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$158 SOS 89.5K

$99.0 SOS 56.2K

59.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.7 SOS 37.9K

$97.1 SOS 55.1K

-31.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 SOS 264.9K

$292 SOS 165.8K

59.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 SOS 100.3K

$80.8 SOS 45.9K

118.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,226 SOS 1.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,405 SOS 1.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$262 SOS 148.6K

$198 SOS 112.3K

32.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mogadishu: July 13, 2026

Last update for Afgoye: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $158 in Mogadishu and $99.0 in Afgoye. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mogadishu pays 32% 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 140% in total monthly costs ($600 vs $250 including rent). Afgoye is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 32% 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: $158 in Mogadishu versus $99.0 in Afgoye. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 138% higher in Mogadishu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $600 per month in Mogadishu versus $250 in Afgoye – a 140% 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 140% less than in Mogadishu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.