Cost of Living Comparison Between Mogadishu and Bosaso Cost of Living Comparison Between Mogadishu and Bosaso

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $621 in Mogadishu versus $316 in Bosaso.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $948 in Mogadishu versus $488 in Bosaso.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,274 in Mogadishu versus $659 in Bosaso.

Living in Mogadishu is roughly 97% more expensive than in Bosaso, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mogadishu 55% lower, Bosaso 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.94 SOS 1,671

$2.02 SOS 1,150

45.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.31 SOS 19.5K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.41 SOS 2,504

$5.13 SOS 2,913

-14.04%

Cappuccino

$2.02 SOS 1,148

$1.52 SOS 866

32.89%

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

$1.19 SOS 678

$1.02 SOS 577

16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 SOS 285

$0.68 SOS 386

-26.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 SOS 746

$3.08 SOS 1,751

-57.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 SOS 894

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.76 SOS 431

$0.38 SOS 216

100.00%

Eggs

$1.94 SOS 1,103

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.94 SOS 2,805

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.93 SOS 2,233

$3.02 SOS 1,717

30.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.54 SOS 2,576

$4.11 SOS 2,336

10.46%

Apples (1kg)

$3.85 SOS 2,188

$1.98 SOS 1,126

94.44%

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 SOS 561

$2.93 SOS 1,665

-66.21%

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

$1.49 SOS 845

-66.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.02 SOS 580

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 SOS 1,119

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 SOS 274

$0.29 SOS 165

65.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 SOS 555

$1.70 SOS 966

-42.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 SOS 305

$0.94 SOS 532

-42.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 SOS 1,667

$2.54 SOS 1,445

15.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 SOS 522

$0.87 SOS 494

5.75%

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

$9.87 SOS 5,605

-49.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 SOS 37.7K

$32.21 SOS 18.3K

105.96%

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

$10.95 SOS 6,218

30.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.25 SOS 8,096

$15.13 SOS 8,595

-5.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$25.29 SOS 14.4K

$12.91 SOS 7,335

95.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.84 SOS 18.7K

$14.85 SOS 8,436

121.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$193 SOS 109.6K

$126 SOS 71.5K

53.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.9 SOS 44.8K

$85.3 SOS 48.5K

-7.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 SOS 274.7K

$202 SOS 114.6K

139.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$189 SOS 107.4K

$194 SOS 110.0K

-2.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,230 SOS 1.8M

$29.9K SOS 17.0M

-89.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,437 SOS 1.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 SOS 156.3K

$298 SOS 169.5K

-7.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mogadishu: August 30, 2026

Last update for Bosaso: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $193 in Mogadishu and $126 in Bosaso. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bosaso pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Bosaso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mogadishu and Bosaso differ by about 97% in total monthly costs ($621 vs $316 including rent). Bosaso is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 8% lower in Bosaso. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $193 in Mogadishu versus $126 in Bosaso. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 54% 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 $316 in Bosaso – a 97% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Bosaso 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 Bosaso gentler on the wallet – expenses run 97% less than in Mogadishu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.