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: $1,055 in Baghdad versus $720 in Al-mawsil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,565 in Baghdad versus $1,071 in Al-mawsil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,074 in Baghdad versus $1,422 in Al-mawsil.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 46% more expensive than in Al-mawsil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 21% lower, Al-mawsil 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.50 IQD 7,206

$7.88 IQD 10.3K

-30.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.22 IQD 47.4K

$12.14 IQD 15.9K

198.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

$5.57 IQD 7,296

38.24%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,903

$0.80 IQD 1,051

272.50%

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

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.39 IQD 513

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 219

$0.16 IQD 214

6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,590

$0.99 IQD 1,301

254.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 IQD 3,839

$1.55 IQD 2,030

89.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,768

$0.90 IQD 1,172

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,023

$0.76 IQD 994

2.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 IQD 2,076

$1.06 IQD 1,383

50.00%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,338

$1.95 IQD 2,559

-8.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,999

$7.48 IQD 9,791

-38.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,296

$3.23 IQD 4,232

48.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

$6.93 IQD 9,070

103.90%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$0.84 IQD 1,096

46.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,590

$0.87 IQD 1,139

39.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,311

$0.77 IQD 1,015

29.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 970

$0.39 IQD 511

89.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 854

$0.39 IQD 505

66.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 881

$0.42 IQD 548

59.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 817

$0.52 IQD 677

19.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 861

$0.50 IQD 650

32.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.05 IQD 2,690

$2.00 IQD 2,622

2.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

$12.48 IQD 16.3K

8.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,346

$1.43 IQD 1,867

25.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,821

$1.97 IQD 2,578

9.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 IQD 976

$0.36 IQD 474

108.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

$31.06 IQD 40.7K

-10.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 IQD 5,147

$2.19 IQD 2,866

79.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,922

$1.99 IQD 2,604

-26.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 IQD 9,826

$3.29 IQD 4,303

127.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 740

$0.32 IQD 425

75.00%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

$15.5K IQD 20.2M

27.27%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

11.68%

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

$176 IQD 230.7K

$102 IQD 134.0K

72.16%

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

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

43.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

$26.91 IQD 35.2K

53.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.14 IQD 55.2K

$23.79 IQD 31.2K

77.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$18.68 IQD 24.5K

-0.64%

Cinema Ticket

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$11.15 IQD 14.6K

-30.31%

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

$168 IQD 220.3K

$196 IQD 257.2K

-14.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,627 IQD 4.7M

$696 IQD 911.7K

420.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

$14.02 IQD 18.4K

99.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

$17.43 IQD 22.8K

74.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

$83.1 IQD 108.8K

-21.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

$19.33 IQD 25.3K

126.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 IQD 725.1K

$243 IQD 318.5K

127.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 IQD 419.7K

$180 IQD 236.1K

77.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$839 IQD 1.1M

$588 IQD 769.6K

42.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 764.1K

$339 IQD 444.1K

72.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,745 IQD 6.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,597 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$612 IQD 800.9K

$601 IQD 786.5K

1.82%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Al-mawsil: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $554 in Baghdad and $243 in Al-mawsil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 2% 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: $36.00 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 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 2% higher in Baghdad, 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: $554 in Baghdad versus $243 in Al-mawsil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $168 in Baghdad versus $196 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 $720 in Al-mawsil versus $1,055 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 46% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.