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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,074 in Baghdad versus $714 in Al-mawsil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Baghdad versus $1,063 in Al-mawsil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,073 in Baghdad versus $1,412 in Al-mawsil.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 50% more expensive than Al-mawsil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 20% lower, Al-mawsil 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 IQD 6,895

$7.48 IQD 9,795

-29.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.86 IQD 48.3K

$12.45 IQD 16.3K

196.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$5.61 IQD 7,350

38.68%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,909

$0.74 IQD 965

302.70%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.36 IQD 473

8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 216

$0.18 IQD 229

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 IQD 4,429

$0.98 IQD 1,288

244.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 IQD 3,785

$1.55 IQD 2,025

86.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 IQD 1,702

$0.92 IQD 1,206

41.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,087

$0.73 IQD 959

13.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,181

$1.10 IQD 1,441

51.82%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,343

$1.90 IQD 2,482

-5.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,918

$7.24 IQD 9,476

-37.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 IQD 6,342

$3.27 IQD 4,287

48.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

$7.26 IQD 9,502

93.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,680

$0.90 IQD 1,177

42.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,504

$0.87 IQD 1,136

32.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$0.80 IQD 1,049

30.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 914

$0.36 IQD 476

94.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 897

$0.38 IQD 498

81.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.46 IQD 602

34.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 IQD 883

$0.52 IQD 685

28.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 IQD 824

$0.49 IQD 647

28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 IQD 2,786

$2.02 IQD 2,642

5.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

11.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,348

$1.38 IQD 1,804

29.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,812

$1.94 IQD 2,536

10.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 IQD 993

$0.39 IQD 514

94.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.16 IQD 36.9K

$30.80 IQD 40.3K

-8.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 IQD 4,954

$2.19 IQD 2,867

72.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 1,999

$2.02 IQD 2,639

-24.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.54 IQD 9,868

$3.26 IQD 4,266

131.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 750

$0.35 IQD 458

62.86%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$15.3K IQD 20.0M

30.67%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$17.6K IQD 23.0M

15.67%

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

$181 IQD 236.7K

$102 IQD 134.1K

76.56%

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

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

$17.73 IQD 23.2K

44.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.76 IQD 53.4K

$27.00 IQD 35.4K

50.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.00 IQD 53.7K

$24.44 IQD 32.0K

67.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$18.72 IQD 24.5K

-0.85%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$11.16 IQD 14.6K

-30.02%

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

$166 IQD 217.8K

$204 IQD 267.1K

-18.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

$681 IQD 891.8K

417.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

$13.92 IQD 18.2K

103.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

$17.64 IQD 23.1K

71.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.3 IQD 82.9K

$83.6 IQD 109.5K

-24.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

$18.91 IQD 24.8K

131.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$553 IQD 724.7K

$245 IQD 320.9K

125.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 IQD 418.5K

$180 IQD 236.1K

77.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 IQD 1.1M

$574 IQD 752.2K

42.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 763.6K

$346 IQD 453.1K

68.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,017 IQD 5.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,614 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$648 IQD 848.7K

$621 IQD 813.8K

4.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

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

Last update for Baghdad: June 9, 2026

Last update for Al-mawsil: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $553 in Baghdad and $245 in Al-mawsil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 4% 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: $37.00 in Baghdad vs $12.00 in Al-mawsil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $148 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

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

Al-mawsil is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 50% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Baghdad pays 4% 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: $553 in Baghdad versus $245 in Al-mawsil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $166 in Baghdad versus $204 in Al-mawsil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Baghdad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $714 in Al-mawsil versus $1,074 in Baghdad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-mawsil but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. 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.

Expats usually find Al-mawsil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.