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: $720 in Al-mawsil versus $1,043 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,071 in Al-mawsil versus $1,545 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,422 in Al-mawsil versus $2,046 in Erbil.

Living in Al-mawsil costs roughly 31% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-mawsil 46% lower, Erbil 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.88 IQD 10.3K

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

0.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.14 IQD 15.9K

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

-47.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.57 IQD 7,296

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

-38.18%

Cappuccino

$0.80 IQD 1,051

$3.24 IQD 4,240

-75.31%

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

$0.39 IQD 513

$0.49 IQD 640

-20.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 IQD 214

$0.22 IQD 288

-27.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 IQD 1,301

$1.96 IQD 2,562

-49.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 IQD 2,030

$2.16 IQD 2,824

-28.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 IQD 1,172

$1.31 IQD 1,718

-31.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 IQD 994

$0.79 IQD 1,034

-3.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,383

$1.87 IQD 2,450

-43.32%

Eggs

$1.95 IQD 2,559

$1.95 IQD 2,557

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.48 IQD 9,791

$7.26 IQD 9,502

3.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.23 IQD 4,232

$4.69 IQD 6,144

-31.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.93 IQD 9,070

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

-50.78%

Apples (1kg)

$0.84 IQD 1,096

$1.15 IQD 1,502

-26.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 IQD 1,139

$1.18 IQD 1,547

-26.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,015

$1.13 IQD 1,480

-31.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.39 IQD 511

$0.75 IQD 982

-48.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 IQD 505

$0.72 IQD 948

-45.83%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 IQD 548

$0.76 IQD 990

-44.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 IQD 677

$0.76 IQD 1,001

-31.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 IQD 650

$0.56 IQD 738

-10.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.00 IQD 2,622

$2.66 IQD 3,486

-24.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.48 IQD 16.3K

$12.28 IQD 16.1K

1.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 IQD 1,867

$1.44 IQD 1,880

-0.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 IQD 2,578

$1.94 IQD 2,538

1.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 474

$0.59 IQD 767

-38.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.06 IQD 40.7K

$34.79 IQD 45.6K

-10.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.19 IQD 2,866

$2.27 IQD 2,971

-3.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.99 IQD 2,604

$2.32 IQD 3,033

-14.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 IQD 4,303

$7.05 IQD 9,233

-53.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.32 IQD 425

$0.64 IQD 837

-50.00%

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

$15.5K IQD 20.2M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

-18.25%

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

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-13.42%

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

$102 IQD 134.0K

$101 IQD 132.5K

1.10%

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

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

0.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.91 IQD 35.2K

$29.56 IQD 38.7K

-8.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.79 IQD 31.2K

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

-67.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.68 IQD 24.5K

$11.76 IQD 15.4K

58.84%

Cinema Ticket

$11.15 IQD 14.6K

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

-0.89%

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

$196 IQD 257.2K

$269 IQD 351.6K

-26.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$696 IQD 911.7K

$3,330 IQD 4.4M

-79.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.02 IQD 18.4K

$32.93 IQD 43.1K

-57.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.43 IQD 22.8K

$49.13 IQD 64.3K

-64.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 IQD 108.8K

$80.7 IQD 105.7K

2.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$19.33 IQD 25.3K

$77.9 IQD 102.0K

-75.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 IQD 318.5K

$436 IQD 571.5K

-44.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.1K

$275 IQD 360.4K

-34.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 IQD 769.6K

$739 IQD 968.0K

-20.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 IQD 444.1K

$496 IQD 649.8K

-31.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,089 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 IQD 855.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$601 IQD 786.5K

$580 IQD 759.9K

3.51%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $243 in Al-mawsil and $436 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al-mawsil pays 4% 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 $194 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 45% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 4% higher in Al-mawsil, 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: $243 in Al-mawsil versus $436 in Erbil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $196 in Al-mawsil versus $269 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 $720 in Al-mawsil versus $1,043 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 45% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.