Cost of Living Comparison Between Mogadishu and Hargeysa Cost of Living Comparison Between Mogadishu and Hargeysa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $621 per month in Mogadishu vs $453 in Hargeysa, rent included.

A couple spends around $948 per month in Mogadishu vs $744 in Hargeysa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,274 per month in Mogadishu vs $1,035 in Hargeysa, rent included.

Mogadishu costs about 37% more than Hargeysa, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Mogadishu and Hargeysa are more affordable than the global median – Mogadishu 55% lower, Hargeysa 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.94 SOS 1,671

$4.91 SOS 2,787

-40.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.31 SOS 19.5K

$17.79 SOS 10.1K

92.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.41 SOS 2,504

$5.43 SOS 3,084

-18.78%

Cappuccino

$2.02 SOS 1,148

$1.54 SOS 874

31.17%

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

$1.19 SOS 678

$0.97 SOS 551

22.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 SOS 285

$1.11 SOS 629

-54.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 SOS 746

$1.28 SOS 729

2.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 SOS 894

$1.11 SOS 628

41.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.76 SOS 431

$1.04 SOS 591

-26.92%

Eggs

$1.94 SOS 1,103

$2.52 SOS 1,431

-23.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.94 SOS 2,805

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.93 SOS 2,233

$6.54 SOS 3,716

-39.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.54 SOS 2,576

$4.09 SOS 2,320

11.00%

Apples (1kg)

$3.85 SOS 2,188

$1.95 SOS 1,107

97.44%

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 SOS 561

$1.49 SOS 844

-33.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.08 SOS 1,748

$2.04 SOS 1,159

50.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 SOS 712

$1.27 SOS 722

-1.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 SOS 828

$1.27 SOS 724

14.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.78 SOS 1,009

$1.53 SOS 870

16.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 SOS 877

$1.02 SOS 578

50.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 SOS 287

$0.63 SOS 359

-20.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.02 SOS 578

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 SOS 1,119

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 SOS 274

$0.27 SOS 151

77.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.02 SOS 6,829

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 SOS 555

$0.79 SOS 449

24.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 SOS 305

$0.63 SOS 357

-14.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 SOS 1,667

$4.05 SOS 2,298

-27.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 SOS 522

$1.06 SOS 601

-13.21%

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

$9,966 SOS 5.7M

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

$6,464 SOS 3.7M

$12.2K SOS 6.9M

-46.93%

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

$157 SOS 89.1K

$45.02 SOS 25.6K

248.36%

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

$5.02 SOS 2,849

$7.20 SOS 4,092

-30.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 SOS 37.7K

$20.35 SOS 11.6K

226.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.89 SOS 18.1K

$37.29 SOS 21.2K

-14.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.03 SOS 1,152

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

$78.6 SOS 44.7K

$24.98 SOS 14.2K

214.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$751 SOS 426.6K

$274 SOS 155.4K

174.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.26 SOS 8,102

$12.34 SOS 7,007

15.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.25 SOS 8,096

$20.35 SOS 11.6K

-29.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$25.29 SOS 14.4K

$17.57 SOS 9,979

43.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.84 SOS 18.7K

$30.20 SOS 17.2K

8.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$193 SOS 109.6K

$108 SOS 61.4K

78.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.9 SOS 44.8K

$69.8 SOS 39.6K

12.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 SOS 274.7K

$302 SOS 171.4K

60.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$189 SOS 107.4K

$167 SOS 94.7K

13.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,230 SOS 1.8M

$4,971 SOS 2.8M

-35.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,437 SOS 1.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 SOS 156.3K

$296 SOS 168.0K

-6.93%

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 Hargeysa: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $193 in Mogadishu versus $108 in Hargeysa. 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 7% higher in Hargeysa, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Mogadishu versus $18.00 in Hargeysa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $162 vs $135 – making Hargeysa 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 Hargeysa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mogadishu costs about 37% more than Hargeysa, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $932 per month in Mogadishu and $680 in Hargeysa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hargeysa, 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 $621 in Mogadishu and $453 in Hargeysa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $78.6 per month in Mogadishu and $24.98 in Hargeysa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $621 in Mogadishu and $453 in Hargeysa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Hargeysa – 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 Hargeysa. 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.