Cost of Living Comparison Between Mogadishu and Essaouira Cost of Living Comparison Between Mogadishu and Essaouira

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $600 per month in Mogadishu vs $837 in Essaouira, rent included.

A couple spends around $944 per month in Mogadishu vs $1,254 in Essaouira, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,289 per month in Mogadishu vs $1,671 in Essaouira, rent included.

Mogadishu is about 28% cheaper than Essaouira, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Mogadishu and Essaouira are more affordable than the global median – Mogadishu 55% lower, Essaouira 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.55 SOS 2,016

$4.36 MAD 40.68

-18.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.03 SOS 10.2K

$25.14 MAD 234

-28.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.38 SOS 2,487

$4.97 MAD 46.37

-11.87%

Cappuccino

$1.47 SOS 835

$1.76 MAD 16.37

-16.48%

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

$0.49 SOS 278

$0.46 MAD 4.26

6.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 SOS 187

$0.26 MAD 2.41

26.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.04 SOS 2,293

$3.79 MAD 35.36

6.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$15.09 SOS 8,570

$3.72 MAD 34.69

305.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 SOS 822

$0.84 MAD 7.87

72.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 SOS 768

$0.49 MAD 4.57

175.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 SOS 528

$1.65 MAD 15.43

-43.64%

Eggs

$1.91 SOS 1,087

$1.81 MAD 16.90

5.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.04 SOS 2,865

$9.24 MAD 86.1

-45.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.06 SOS 2,305

$5.29 MAD 49.31

-23.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.01 SOS 2,847

$11.42 MAD 107

-56.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.47 SOS 1,972

$1.42 MAD 13.21

144.37%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 SOS 551

$1.22 MAD 11.42

-20.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.23 SOS 1,834

$0.72 MAD 6.69

348.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 SOS 772

$0.88 MAD 8.22

54.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 SOS 676

$0.70 MAD 6.52

70.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 SOS 860

$0.91 MAD 8.48

65.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 SOS 762

$0.39 MAD 3.66

243.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 SOS 273

$0.53 MAD 4.97

-9.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.21 SOS 688

$4.15 MAD 38.66

-70.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.45 MAD 60.1

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 SOS 1,128

$1.93 MAD 18.03

3.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 MAD 20.52

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 SOS 274

$0.87 MAD 8.11

-44.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.18 SOS 11.5K

$16.46 MAD 154

22.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 SOS 575

$0.63 MAD 5.92

60.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 SOS 330

$0.48 MAD 4.43

20.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.42 SOS 3,646

$8.98 MAD 83.8

-28.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 SOS 579

$1.58 MAD 14.70

-35.44%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$7,519 SOS 4.3M

$37.2K MAD 346.5K

-79.77%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$6,136 SOS 3.5M

$21.1K MAD 196.4K

-70.86%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$84.4 SOS 47.9K

$27.86 MAD 260

202.84%

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

$5.04 SOS 2,860

$13.90 MAD 130

-63.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.0 SOS 32.4K

$27.94 MAD 261

103.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.90 SOS 17.6K

$21.61 MAD 202

42.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.41 SOS 5,912

$22.76 MAD 212

-54.26%

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 MAD 62.0

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

$49.70 SOS 28.2K

$75.3 MAD 702

-33.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$577 SOS 327.5K

$1,956 MAD 18.2K

-70.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.37 SOS 9,864

$30.88 MAD 288

-43.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.39 SOS 13.9K

$39.68 MAD 370

-38.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.34 SOS 15.0K

$49.28 MAD 460

-46.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.3 SOS 34.3K

$44.34 MAD 413

36.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$158 SOS 89.5K

$388 MAD 3,617

-59.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.7 SOS 37.9K

$346 MAD 3,229

-80.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 SOS 264.9K

$813 MAD 7,584

-42.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 SOS 100.3K

$559 MAD 5,209

-68.40%

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

$268 MAD 2,498

-2.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

45.45%

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

Last update for Mogadishu: July 13, 2026

Last update for Essaouira: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $158 in Mogadishu versus $388 in Essaouira. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 2% higher in Essaouira, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Mogadishu versus $25.00 in Essaouira. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $160 vs $176 – making Mogadishu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Essaouira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Essaouira is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $900 per month in Mogadishu and $1,256 in Essaouira. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mogadishu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Essaouira, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Mogadishu and $25.00 in Essaouira. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $600 in Mogadishu and $837 in Essaouira, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Mogadishu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Essaouira makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.