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: $617 in Al-mawsil versus $1,101 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $827 in Al-mawsil versus $1,630 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,038 in Al-mawsil versus $2,158 in Erbil.

Living in Al-mawsil costs roughly 44% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-mawsil 55% lower, Erbil 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.55 IQD 9,891

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

-1.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.36 IQD 16.2K

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

-72.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 IQD 7,344

$8.42 IQD 11.0K

-33.37%

Cappuccino

$0.75 IQD 981

$3.84 IQD 5,027

-80.47%

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

$0.37 IQD 484

$1.03 IQD 1,353

-64.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 252

$0.44 IQD 580

-56.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 IQD 1,265

$6.05 IQD 7,920

-83.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,982

$4.71 IQD 6,166

-67.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 IQD 1,015

$1.27 IQD 1,657

-38.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 IQD 959

$0.83 IQD 1,083

-12.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 815

$1.68 IQD 2,197

-63.10%

Eggs

$1.13 IQD 1,482

$1.79 IQD 2,345

-36.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.97 IQD 10.4K

$8.06 IQD 10.6K

-1.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 IQD 4,551

$5.78 IQD 7,574

-39.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.22 IQD 12.1K

$14.84 IQD 19.4K

-37.87%

Apples (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 956

$1.13 IQD 1,483

-35.40%

Banana (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 965

$1.10 IQD 1,443

-32.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 781

$1.23 IQD 1,612

-51.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.28 IQD 368

$0.82 IQD 1,068

-65.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 IQD 425

$0.70 IQD 911

-54.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.69 IQD 905

-46.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,028

$0.74 IQD 969

5.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.55 IQD 723

7.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 IQD 2,444

$2.52 IQD 3,294

-25.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

$12.54 IQD 16.4K

-1.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 IQD 2,210

$1.69 IQD 2,217

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,720

$2.09 IQD 2,735

-0.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.59 IQD 772

-33.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.48 IQD 39.9K

$43.81 IQD 57.4K

-30.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 IQD 2,426

$1.94 IQD 2,544

-4.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,382

$1.82 IQD 2,381

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.54 IQD 5,945

$6.56 IQD 8,588

-30.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 IQD 430

$0.67 IQD 882

-50.75%

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

$15.3K IQD 20.0M

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

-16.77%

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

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

-11.67%

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

$109 IQD 142.3K

$128 IQD 167.0K

-14.77%

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

$13.97 IQD 18.3K

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

0.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.34 IQD 34.5K

$28.49 IQD 37.3K

-7.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.02 IQD 30.1K

$66.0 IQD 86.4K

-65.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.44 IQD 9,736

$14.62 IQD 19.1K

-49.11%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

-33.08%

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

$306 IQD 401.0K

$309 IQD 405.1K

-1.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$688 IQD 900.4K

$3,144 IQD 4.1M

-78.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.01 IQD 24.9K

$31.32 IQD 41.0K

-39.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.44 IQD 20.2K

$44.84 IQD 58.7K

-65.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.5 IQD 92.3K

$69.3 IQD 90.7K

1.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$18.06 IQD 23.6K

$67.4 IQD 88.3K

-73.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$113 IQD 148.3K

$460 IQD 602.5K

-75.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.3 IQD 100.0K

$297 IQD 389.4K

-74.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$301 IQD 393.7K

$740 IQD 969.5K

-59.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 IQD 566.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,092 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$665 IQD 870.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$608 IQD 795.7K

$614 IQD 803.9K

-1.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

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

Last update for Al-mawsil: September 14, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $113 in Al-mawsil and $460 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Erbil pays 1% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $12.00 in Al-mawsil vs $44.00 in Erbil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $152 vs $204 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, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 79% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 1% lower in Erbil. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $113 in Al-mawsil versus $460 in Erbil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $306 in Al-mawsil versus $309 in Erbil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Erbil. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $617 in Al-mawsil versus $1,101 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 79% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.