Cost of Living Comparison Between Mogadishu and Borama Cost of Living Comparison Between Mogadishu and Borama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $600 per month in Mogadishu vs $92.7 in Borama, rent included.

A couple spends around $944 per month in Mogadishu vs $239 in Borama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,289 per month in Mogadishu vs $386 in Borama, rent included.

Mogadishu costs about 548% more than Borama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mogadishu and Borama are more affordable than the global median – Mogadishu 55% lower, Borama 93% 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

$0.98 SOS 555

47.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 SOS 768

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 SOS 528

Eggs

$1.91 SOS 1,087

$3.02 SOS 1,716

-36.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.04 SOS 2,865

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.06 SOS 2,305

$2.97 SOS 1,686

36.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.01 SOS 2,847

Apples (1kg)

$3.47 SOS 1,972

$2.03 SOS 1,154

70.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 SOS 551

$1.01 SOS 577

-3.96%

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

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

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$158 SOS 89.5K

$59.7 SOS 33.9K

164.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.7 SOS 37.9K

$39.84 SOS 22.6K

67.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 SOS 264.9K

$304 SOS 172.9K

53.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 SOS 100.3K

$248 SOS 140.9K

-28.83%

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 Borama: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $158 in Mogadishu versus $59.7 in Borama. 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 Borama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $600 in Mogadishu, $92.7 in Borama – roughly 548% 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 $139 in Borama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Borama, 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 $92.7 in Borama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 203% 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 $92.7 in Borama, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Borama – 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 Borama. 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.