Living in Mogadishu
What it really costs to live in Mogadishu, what you can earn, the visas that get you in, and the taxes you'll pay — for Somalia, updated 2026. Mogadishu lies in Eastern Africa. The main languages are Somali, Arabic. Somalia borders Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya.
Cost of Living in Mogadishu
Full Monthly Breakdown for Mogadishu
What You Can Earn in Somalia
Typical gross annual salaries in Somalia by sector (entry · median · senior). Mogadishu pay usually sits around the national median.
| Sector | Entry | Median | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| it | €6 000 | €8 500 | €12 000 |
| retail | €2 000 | €3 000 | €4 500 |
| finance | €5 000 | €7 000 | €10 000 |
| education | €3 000 | €4 000 | €5 500 |
| healthcare | €3 500 | €5 000 | €7 500 |
| engineering | €5 000 | €7 000 | €9 500 |
| hospitality | €2 500 | €3 500 | €5 000 |
| construction | €3 500 | €5 000 | €6 500 |
Living in Mogadishu: Safety, Health & Climate
Mogadishu shares Somalia's wider quality-of-life profile. Mogadishu has a tropical climate. Here is what daily life looks like on the things that matter most when you relocate.
Visa Routes to Somalia
Affording Mogadishu is only half the question — you also need a visa that lets you stay in Somalia. The main routes:
- Permanent residence after about 5 years.
- Investment route from about €20 000 (USD).
Taxes in Somalia
Top marginal rate 15%, VAT 0%.
Settling into Mogadishu
- Budget around €1 500 for first-month setup in Mogadishu.
- Regulated professions needing credential recognition: Medicine, Law, Engineering, Education.
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How much does it cost to live in Mogadishu?
A single person in central Mogadishu should budget about €635/month, roughly €555 outside the centre. A family of four needs around €1 600/month.
Can I get a visa to live in Somalia?
Yes — the main route usually needs a job offer, with permanent residence reachable in about 5 years. See the full Somalia visa comparison for the route that fits you.
Sources: salaries, taxes, safety, healthcare and visa data from World Bank, OECD, the Global Peace Index and official government portals. Cost-of-living figures are community-sourced benchmarks — a guide, not a quote. Last reviewed 2026-05.
Related: Somalia Guide · Visa Comparison · All Countries