Cost of Living Comparison Between Mogadishu and Galcaio Cost of Living Comparison Between Mogadishu and Galcaio

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $610 per month in Mogadishu vs $187 in Galcaio, rent included.

A couple spends around $937 per month in Mogadishu vs $304 in Galcaio, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,264 per month in Mogadishu vs $421 in Galcaio, rent included.

Mogadishu costs about 225% more than Galcaio, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Mogadishu and Galcaio are more affordable than the global median – Mogadishu 56% lower, Galcaio 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 SOS 1,716

$3.03 SOS 1,719

-0.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.60 SOS 20.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.47 SOS 2,538

$3.98 SOS 2,261

12.31%

Cappuccino

$2.05 SOS 1,166

$1.01 SOS 574

102.97%

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

$1.16 SOS 658

$0.57 SOS 324

103.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 SOS 284

$0.20 SOS 115

150.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 SOS 745

$1.54 SOS 872

-14.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 SOS 908

$0.52 SOS 294

207.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.77 SOS 437

$0.73 SOS 417

5.48%

Eggs

$1.92 SOS 1,092

$3.03 SOS 1,720

-36.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.09 SOS 2,891

$1.95 SOS 1,105

161.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.76 SOS 2,138

$4.94 SOS 2,804

-23.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.61 SOS 2,619

$6.18 SOS 3,508

-25.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.77 SOS 2,142

$1.96 SOS 1,111

92.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 SOS 581

$0.73 SOS 413

39.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 SOS 1,695

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 SOS 715

$1.02 SOS 579

23.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.48 SOS 843

$1.02 SOS 578

45.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 SOS 1,006

$1.01 SOS 574

75.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.53 SOS 866

$0.52 SOS 295

194.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 SOS 301

$0.98 SOS 555

-45.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.48 SOS 274

Wine (Bottle)

$2.05 SOS 1,165

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 SOS 1,127

$2.03 SOS 1,152

-2.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 SOS 1,159

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 SOS 274

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 SOS 560

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 SOS 323

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 SOS 1,720

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 SOS 480

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

$6,458 SOS 3.7M

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

$160 SOS 90.8K

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

$5.08 SOS 2,883

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 SOS 37.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.73 SOS 18.0K

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

$79.8 SOS 45.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$761 SOS 432.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.27 SOS 8,103

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.87 SOS 7,877

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$25.11 SOS 14.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.36 SOS 18.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$192 SOS 109.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.7 SOS 44.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$471 SOS 267.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$190 SOS 108.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,219 SOS 1.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,427 SOS 1.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$278 SOS 158.0K

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

Last update for Mogadishu: September 7, 2026

Last update for Galcaio: September 7, 2026

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 Galcaio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mogadishu is pricier by about 225%, 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 $915 per month in Mogadishu and $281 in Galcaio. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $610 in Mogadishu and $187 in Galcaio. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 14% more in Mogadishu, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $610 in Mogadishu and $187 in Galcaio, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Galcaio – 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 Galcaio. 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.