Economy Guide in Somalia
Economic overview, job market trends, income levels, and financial landscape for expats
GDP
$8.13B
Total economic output of the country
HDI
N/A
Health, education & standard of living index
Quality of Life
N/A
Composite score based on cost of living, safety, healthcare & climate
Purchasing Power
N/A
How much your salary buys after living costs
Cost of Living Index
Estimated to be very affordable. Rent (index: 3.4), groceries (index: 28.6), and restaurant prices (index: 25.3) are significantly lower than the NYC baseline.
Housing Market
The property price to income ratio is extremely high at 179.5 years, indicating a very expensive market for purchasing property. However, the rent index is very low (3.4), suggesting renting is significantly more affordable.
Average Income Levels
Exact purchasing power data is unavailable. Based on the country's low GDP, average income and purchasing power are estimated to be very low.
Tax System
Somalia has a developing tax system. Personal income tax rates are progressive, reaching up to 30% for higher incomes, with lower brackets at 0% and 15%. Corporate tax is 10-15%, and a sales tax of approximately 5% applies to certain goods and services. Property tax ranges from 15% to 22.5%. Tax collection and administration are improving, and investment incentives are offered.
Business Environment
Somalia ranks 190 out of 190 economies in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business index, indicating a challenging regulatory environment. However, the startup ecosystem is growing, ranked #100 globally in 2025. The government is working to improve business regulations and offers investment incentives to foreign investors.
Social Security
Somalia's social security system is developing. The 'Baxnaano' program provides cash transfers to vulnerable households, supporting over four million people. A civil service pension system was enacted in 2024. However, healthcare is largely private and faces significant challenges in infrastructure and access, particularly in rural areas, with limited universal coverage. Private sector pensions are mostly employer-driven.
Banking & Financial Safety
Somalia has recently strengthened its financial regulatory framework with new Financial Institutions and Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CFT) laws, and its technical compliance report was adopted by MENAFATF in May 2025. However, as of April 2024, there is a lack of an operational deposit insurance scheme for customer savings in the Federal Government of Somalia, which contributes to low public trust in the banking sector. Somaliland is in the process of establishing its own deposit insurance system.
Deposit Protection: up to $0 USD (see sources)More Insights for your Move to Somalia
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