Moving to Afghanistan from Somalia

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Somalia to Afghanistan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Somalia to Afghanistan, and you’d need to navigate life in Dari, Pashto and Turkmen. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kabul averages 67°F vs 86°F in Mogadishu, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Afghanistan compared to Somalia.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SO
20.2
AF
24.1

Somalia performs better than Afghanistan across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SO
$52
AF
$330
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

SO
0.2
AF
2.5

Afghanistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Somalia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

SO
64.0
AF
143.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SO
0.0t
AF
0.3t

Somalia performs better than Afghanistan across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SO
0.7
AF
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SO
24.5%
AF
54.8%

Somalia generally does better on infrastructure, though Afghanistan leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SO
19.0%
AF
14.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SO
$1,500
AF
$2,000

Afghanistan generally does better on employment & economy, though Somalia leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SO
55.7 yrs
AF
53.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SO
86.5
AF
104.9

Somalia generally does better on family life, though Afghanistan leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Mogadishu Rain: 18.7 in/yr (474 mm)
86° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

Kabul Rain: 12.3 in/yr (312 mm)
67° / 40°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Mogadishu Kabul
Jan–Mar 86°/74°F (30°/24°C) 45°/25°F (8°/-4°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/76°F (31°/25°C) 76°/48°F (25°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 84°/73°F (29°/23°C) 88°/56°F (31°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 87°/75°F (30°/24°C) 59°/31°F (15°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Mogadishu Kabul
Jan 86°/73°F (30.1°/23.0°C) 40°/19°F (4.5°/-7.1°C)
Feb 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C) 42°/22°F (5.5°/-5.7°C)
Mar 87°/76°F (30.7°/24.7°C) 54°/33°F (12.5°/0.7°C)
Apr 90°/78°F (32.0°/25.5°C) 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C)
May 88°/76°F (31.1°/24.7°C) 76°/48°F (24.4°/8.8°C)
Jun 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.6°C) 86°/54°F (30.2°/12.4°C)
Jul 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C) 90°/60°F (32.1°/15.3°C)
Aug 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C) 90°/58°F (32.0°/14.3°C)
Sep 85°/74°F (29.2°/23.2°C) 83°/49°F (28.5°/9.4°C)
Oct 86°/76°F (30.1°/24.2°C) 72°/39°F (22.4°/3.9°C)
Nov 87°/75°F (30.5°/24.1°C) 59°/30°F (15.0°/-1.2°C)
Dec 87°/74°F (30.6°/23.5°C) 47°/24°F (8.3°/-4.7°C)

Data:

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Somalia and Afghanistan. To live, work, or study long-term in Afghanistan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Afghanistan's immigration authority.

Somalia passport

Somalia passport holder visiting Afghanistan

Visa Required
Somalia passport holders need a visa to enter Afghanistan.
Afghanistan passport

Afghanistan passport holder visiting Somalia

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Afghanistan passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Somalia.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Afghanistan?

Connectivity is usually fine (Afghanistan: 0.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Afghanistan offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Afghanistan safe for expats?

Somalia performs better than Afghanistan across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Afghanistan compared to Somalia?

Afghanistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Somalia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 2.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Afghanistan, compared to 0.2 in Somalia. Afghanistan scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Somalia: 27).

What's the weather like in Afghanistan compared to Somalia?

The average high temperature in Kabul is 67°F, compared to 86°F in Mogadishu. Kabul receives around 12.3 in of rainfall per year, while Mogadishu gets 18.7 in.

What language do they speak in Afghanistan?

The official languages in Afghanistan are Dari, Pashto and Turkmen. In Somalia, the official languages are Arabic and Somali.

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At a Glance

SO AF
Population 12,386,248 38,346,720
Currency Somali Shilling (SOS) Afghan Afghani (AFN)
Languages Arabic, Somali Dari, Pashto, Turkmen
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +252 +93
Time zones 1 1