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: $714 in Al-mawsil versus $1,017 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,063 in Al-mawsil versus $1,518 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,412 in Al-mawsil versus $2,019 in Erbil.

Living in Al-mawsil costs roughly 30% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-mawsil 47% lower, Erbil 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.48 IQD 9,795

$7.59 IQD 9,938

-1.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.45 IQD 16.3K

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

-45.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 IQD 7,350

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

-35.14%

Cappuccino

$0.74 IQD 965

$3.25 IQD 4,260

-77.23%

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

$0.36 IQD 473

$0.52 IQD 676

-30.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 229

$0.20 IQD 261

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 IQD 1,288

$1.95 IQD 2,555

-49.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 IQD 2,025

$2.04 IQD 2,675

-24.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 IQD 1,206

$1.32 IQD 1,725

-30.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 IQD 959

$0.81 IQD 1,062

-9.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,441

$1.80 IQD 2,357

-38.89%

Eggs

$1.90 IQD 2,482

$1.91 IQD 2,505

-0.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.24 IQD 9,476

$7.50 IQD 9,816

-3.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.27 IQD 4,287

$4.82 IQD 6,315

-32.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.26 IQD 9,502

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

-48.51%

Apples (1kg)

$0.90 IQD 1,177

$1.18 IQD 1,551

-23.73%

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 IQD 1,136

$1.15 IQD 1,500

-24.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,049

$1.14 IQD 1,494

-29.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.36 IQD 476

$0.80 IQD 1,045

-55.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 IQD 498

$0.66 IQD 863

-42.42%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 IQD 602

$0.77 IQD 1,002

-40.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 IQD 685

$0.77 IQD 1,008

-32.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 IQD 647

$0.55 IQD 721

-10.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 IQD 2,642

$2.74 IQD 3,594

-26.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

-0.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 IQD 1,804

$1.37 IQD 1,794

0.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 IQD 2,536

$2.00 IQD 2,619

-3.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.59 IQD 768

-33.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.80 IQD 40.3K

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

-11.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.19 IQD 2,867

$2.25 IQD 2,942

-2.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 IQD 2,639

$2.29 IQD 2,993

-11.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 IQD 4,266

$6.85 IQD 8,966

-52.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 IQD 458

$0.64 IQD 839

-45.31%

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

$15.3K IQD 20.0M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

-20.95%

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

$17.6K IQD 23.0M

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

-15.41%

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

$102 IQD 134.1K

$101 IQD 132.2K

1.43%

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

$17.73 IQD 23.2K

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

2.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.00 IQD 35.4K

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

-10.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.44 IQD 32.0K

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

-66.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.72 IQD 24.5K

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

62.22%

Cinema Ticket

$11.16 IQD 14.6K

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

-1.06%

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

$204 IQD 267.1K

$271 IQD 354.5K

-24.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$681 IQD 891.8K

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

-79.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.92 IQD 18.2K

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

-56.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.64 IQD 23.1K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-64.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 IQD 109.5K

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

3.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$18.91 IQD 24.8K

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

-75.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$245 IQD 320.9K

$425 IQD 556.0K

-42.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.1K

$279 IQD 365.3K

-35.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 IQD 752.2K

$740 IQD 969.0K

-22.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.1K

$491 IQD 643.3K

-29.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 845.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$621 IQD 813.8K

$591 IQD 773.3K

5.23%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Erbil: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $245 in Al-mawsil and $425 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 $148 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 42% 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: $245 in Al-mawsil versus $425 in Erbil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $204 in Al-mawsil versus $271 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 $714 in Al-mawsil versus $1,017 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 42% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.