Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Mogadishu

Accommodation

$15-35 per night

Basic guesthouses, shared rooms in budget hotels, or simple private rooms with minimal amenities

Food & Dining

$8-20 per day

Local street food, traditional Somali restaurants, markets, and basic cafeterias serving rice, pasta, and meat dishes

Transportation

$3-12 per day

Shared taxis (bajaaj), public minibuses, walking, and occasional private taxi for longer distances

Activities

$5-25 per day

Beach visits, local markets, cultural sites, walking tours, and free or low-cost community experiences

Eat at local Somali restaurants and street food stalls instead of hotel restaurants (typically 60-80% cheaper)

Use shared taxis and bajaaj instead of private cars for city transport (usually 70% less expensive)

Stay in guesthouses run by local families rather than international-style hotels (often 40-60% savings)

Shop for supplies and snacks at local markets instead of hotel shops (typically 50-70% cheaper)

Book accommodation directly with properties rather than through international booking sites (can save 10-20%)

Travel with a local guide from the community rather than international tour operators (usually 40-60% less)

Visit during the cooler months when demand is lower for better negotiating power on prices

Only eating at hotel restaurants and avoiding local cuisine (typically costs 3-4x more than street food)

Taking private taxis for every trip instead of learning the shared transport system (can increase transport costs by 300-500%)

Not negotiating prices for tours and activities (missing potential 20-40% savings)

Booking last-minute accommodation during peak periods (often 50-100% higher rates)

Not carrying small bills for local purchases (vendors may not have change, leading to overpaying)