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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $596 per month in Mogadishu vs $810 in Essaouira, rent included.

A couple spends around $925 per month in Mogadishu vs $1,226 in Essaouira, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,253 per month in Mogadishu vs $1,642 in Essaouira, rent included.

Mogadishu is about 26% cheaper than Essaouira, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Mogadishu and Essaouira are more affordable than the global median – Mogadishu 56% lower, Essaouira 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 SOS 1,930

$4.34 MAD 39.86

-21.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.86 SOS 10.1K

$24.74 MAD 227

-27.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.41 SOS 2,506

$4.99 MAD 45.88

-11.62%

Cappuccino

$1.48 SOS 841

$1.84 MAD 16.91

-19.57%

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

$0.48 SOS 271

$0.45 MAD 4.13

6.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 SOS 189

$0.26 MAD 2.36

26.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.93 SOS 2,233

$3.85 MAD 35.40

2.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.97 SOS 8,505

$3.57 MAD 32.83

319.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 SOS 822

$0.85 MAD 7.80

70.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 SOS 764

$0.53 MAD 4.90

154.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 SOS 510

$1.69 MAD 15.57

-46.75%

Eggs

$1.90 SOS 1,082

$1.80 MAD 16.52

5.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.02 SOS 2,851

$9.59 MAD 88.1

-47.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.92 SOS 2,227

$5.34 MAD 49.08

-26.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.95 SOS 2,813

$11.51 MAD 106

-56.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 SOS 1,891

$1.37 MAD 12.55

143.07%

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 SOS 560

$1.27 MAD 11.70

-22.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.23 SOS 1,836

$0.72 MAD 6.59

348.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 SOS 772

$0.93 MAD 8.56

46.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 SOS 701

$0.69 MAD 6.36

78.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 SOS 858

$0.92 MAD 8.47

64.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 SOS 774

$0.39 MAD 3.60

248.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 SOS 295

$0.54 MAD 4.92

-3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.22 SOS 691

$4.07 MAD 37.43

-70.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.61 MAD 60.8

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 SOS 1,148

$1.93 MAD 17.76

4.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 MAD 19.83

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 SOS 273

$0.90 MAD 8.25

-46.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.69 SOS 11.2K

$16.40 MAD 151

20.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 SOS 582

$0.68 MAD 6.26

50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 SOS 347

$0.51 MAD 4.72

19.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.54 SOS 3,714

$8.69 MAD 79.8

-24.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 SOS 571

$1.58 MAD 14.54

-36.08%

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

$7,566 SOS 4.3M

$37.6K MAD 345.7K

-79.89%

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

$6,238 SOS 3.5M

$21.0K MAD 193.3K

-70.35%

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

$84.1 SOS 47.8K

$28.04 MAD 258

199.93%

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

$5.12 SOS 2,909

$13.82 MAD 127

-62.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.3 SOS 33.1K

$28.65 MAD 263

103.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.42 SOS 17.8K

$22.11 MAD 203

42.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.54 SOS 5,988

$23.63 MAD 217

-55.40%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 MAD 61.7

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

$50.4 SOS 28.7K

$75.6 MAD 695

-33.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$571 SOS 324.3K

$1,990 MAD 18.3K

-71.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.51 SOS 9,948

$31.43 MAD 289

-44.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.48 SOS 13.9K

$39.79 MAD 366

-38.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.72 SOS 15.2K

$48.84 MAD 449

-45.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.9 SOS 34.0K

$44.20 MAD 406

35.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$158 SOS 89.7K

$388 MAD 3,563

-59.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.7 SOS 39.0K

$345 MAD 3,173

-80.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 SOS 264.4K

$795 MAD 7,308

-41.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 SOS 103.6K

$545 MAD 5,011

-66.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,232 SOS 1.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,439 SOS 1.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$260 SOS 147.7K

$268 MAD 2,462

-2.96%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Essaouira: June 1, 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 3% 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: $159 vs $179 – 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 36%, 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 $894 per month in Mogadishu and $1,215 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 12% 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 $596 in Mogadishu and $810 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.