Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-mawsil and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-mawsil and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $735 in Al-mawsil versus $1,019 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,098 in Al-mawsil versus $1,524 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,460 in Al-mawsil versus $2,029 in Erbil.

Living in Al-mawsil costs roughly 28% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-mawsil 45% lower, Erbil 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.50 IQD 9,823

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-3.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

-46.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 IQD 7,400

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

-37.01%

Cappuccino

$0.73 IQD 958

$3.25 IQD 4,251

-77.54%

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

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.48 IQD 630

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 235

$0.22 IQD 289

-18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.95 IQD 1,241

$2.01 IQD 2,632

-52.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 IQD 1,986

$2.04 IQD 2,671

-25.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 IQD 1,177

$1.32 IQD 1,726

-31.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 IQD 988

$0.85 IQD 1,115

-11.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,390

$1.81 IQD 2,368

-41.44%

Eggs

$1.92 IQD 2,521

$1.98 IQD 2,589

-3.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.31 IQD 9,581

$7.44 IQD 9,743

-1.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 IQD 4,326

$4.75 IQD 6,228

-30.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.96 IQD 9,120

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

-50.25%

Apples (1kg)

$0.90 IQD 1,185

$1.15 IQD 1,509

-21.74%

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 IQD 1,173

$1.16 IQD 1,513

-22.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,054

$1.13 IQD 1,482

-29.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.39 IQD 516

$0.81 IQD 1,061

-51.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 IQD 501

$0.71 IQD 935

-46.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 IQD 596

$0.76 IQD 996

-39.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 IQD 625

$0.76 IQD 1,001

-36.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.53 IQD 690

-7.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 IQD 2,582

$2.76 IQD 3,609

-28.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.39 IQD 16.2K

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

0.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 IQD 1,873

$1.42 IQD 1,862

0.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 IQD 2,531

$2.00 IQD 2,626

-3.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 476

$0.56 IQD 727

-35.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.31 IQD 41.0K

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

-9.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 IQD 2,759

$2.28 IQD 2,991

-7.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 IQD 2,693

$2.29 IQD 2,996

-10.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 IQD 4,264

$6.92 IQD 9,058

-52.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 IQD 429

$0.70 IQD 910

-52.86%

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

$15.0K IQD 19.7M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

-21.06%

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

$17.9K IQD 23.5M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

-13.50%

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

$100 IQD 131.3K

0.01%

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

$17.45 IQD 22.9K

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

-0.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.64 IQD 34.9K

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

-10.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.52 IQD 30.8K

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

-68.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.63 IQD 24.4K

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

57.61%

Cinema Ticket

$11.17 IQD 14.6K

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

-3.46%

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

$200 IQD 261.6K

$264 IQD 345.6K

-24.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$699 IQD 916.0K

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

-78.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.26 IQD 18.7K

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

-56.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.36 IQD 22.7K

$49.58 IQD 64.9K

-64.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.7 IQD 109.6K

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

-0.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$19.20 IQD 25.1K

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

-74.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 IQD 317.3K

$430 IQD 562.7K

-43.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 IQD 230.0K

$281 IQD 367.6K

-37.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 IQD 769.6K

$716 IQD 938.3K

-17.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 IQD 455.6K

$486 IQD 637.1K

-28.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,987 IQD 2.6M

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

78.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,490 IQD 2.0M

$652 IQD 853.9K

128.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 IQD 788.8K

$576 IQD 754.0K

4.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

14.33

-60.43%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Al-mawsil: April 26, 2026

Last update for Erbil: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Al-mawsil and $430 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al-mawsil pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12.00 in Al-mawsil vs $23.00 in Erbil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $149 vs $195 per month, with Al-mawsil cheaper across the board.

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

Al-mawsil vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-mawsil is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Al-mawsil pays 5% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $242 in Al-mawsil versus $430 in Erbil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $200 in Al-mawsil versus $264 in Erbil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Erbil. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $735 in Al-mawsil versus $1,019 in Erbil, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-mawsil but tight or insufficient in Erbil. The gap between the two cities makes Al-mawsil the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Al-mawsil and Erbil are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Al-mawsil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.