Cost of Living Comparison Between Mogadishu and Baidoa Cost of Living Comparison Between Mogadishu and Baidoa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $600 per month in Mogadishu vs $164 in Baidoa, rent included.

A couple spends around $944 per month in Mogadishu vs $289 in Baidoa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,289 per month in Mogadishu vs $415 in Baidoa, rent included.

Mogadishu costs about 266% more than Baidoa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mogadishu and Baidoa are more affordable than the global median – Mogadishu 55% lower, Baidoa 88% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.55 SOS 2,016

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.03 SOS 10.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.38 SOS 2,487

Cappuccino

$1.47 SOS 835

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

$0.49 SOS 278

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 SOS 187

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

$2.01 SOS 1,144

-27.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 SOS 768

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 SOS 528

$1.18 SOS 672

-21.19%

Eggs

$1.91 SOS 1,087

$3.51 SOS 1,994

-45.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.04 SOS 2,865

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.06 SOS 2,305

$9.10 SOS 5,166

-55.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.01 SOS 2,847

$6.83 SOS 3,878

-26.65%

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

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

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.0 SOS 32.4K

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

$9.96 SOS 5,656

74.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.39 SOS 13.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.34 SOS 15.0K

$19.65 SOS 11.2K

34.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.3 SOS 34.3K

$29.44 SOS 16.7K

104.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$158 SOS 89.5K

$49.30 SOS 28.0K

219.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.7 SOS 37.9K

$30.10 SOS 17.1K

121.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 SOS 264.9K

$152 SOS 86.2K

207.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 SOS 100.3K

$89.0 SOS 50.6K

98.31%

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

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 Baidoa: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $158 in Mogadishu versus $49.30 in Baidoa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Baidoa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $600 in Mogadishu, $164 in Baidoa – roughly 266% apart. Mogadishu costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $900 per month in Mogadishu and $246 in Baidoa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Baidoa, 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 $600 in Mogadishu and $164 in Baidoa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 53% more in Mogadishu, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $600 in Mogadishu and $164 in Baidoa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Baidoa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Baidoa. 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.