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: $1,143 in Baghdad versus $617 in Al-mawsil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,702 in Baghdad versus $827 in Al-mawsil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,262 in Baghdad versus $1,038 in Al-mawsil.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 85% more expensive than in Al-mawsil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 16% lower, Al-mawsil 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.91 IQD 6,430

$7.55 IQD 9,891

-34.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.26 IQD 44.9K

$12.36 IQD 16.2K

177.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 IQD 10.3K

$5.61 IQD 7,344

39.75%

Cappuccino

$3.08 IQD 4,033

$0.75 IQD 981

310.67%

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

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.37 IQD 484

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 342

$0.19 IQD 252

36.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.78 IQD 4,956

$0.97 IQD 1,265

289.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 IQD 4,907

$1.51 IQD 1,982

148.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 IQD 1,364

$0.78 IQD 1,015

33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,090

$0.73 IQD 959

13.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 IQD 2,015

$0.62 IQD 815

148.39%

Eggs

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$1.13 IQD 1,482

67.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.77 IQD 4,937

$7.97 IQD 10.4K

-52.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 IQD 6,004

$3.48 IQD 4,551

31.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.44 IQD 18.9K

$9.22 IQD 12.1K

56.62%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,480

$0.73 IQD 956

54.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,390

$0.74 IQD 965

43.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,345

$0.60 IQD 781

71.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 968

$0.28 IQD 368

164.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 906

$0.32 IQD 425

115.62%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 912

$0.37 IQD 482

89.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 IQD 838

$0.78 IQD 1,028

-17.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 IQD 907

$0.59 IQD 772

16.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 IQD 2,336

$1.87 IQD 2,444

-4.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.81 IQD 18.1K

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

11.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,806

$1.69 IQD 2,210

26.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 IQD 2,977

$2.08 IQD 2,720

9.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 IQD 905

$0.39 IQD 514

76.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.15 IQD 30.3K

$30.48 IQD 39.9K

-24.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 IQD 2,918

$1.85 IQD 2,426

20.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,021

$1.82 IQD 2,382

-15.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

$4.54 IQD 5,945

68.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.62 IQD 806

$0.33 IQD 430

87.88%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$15.3K IQD 20.0M

26.94%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

8.72%

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

$213 IQD 279.2K

$109 IQD 142.3K

96.20%

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

$21.75 IQD 28.5K

$13.97 IQD 18.3K

55.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.04 IQD 53.7K

$26.34 IQD 34.5K

55.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.75 IQD 62.5K

$23.02 IQD 30.1K

107.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.22 IQD 27.8K

$7.44 IQD 9,736

185.22%

Cinema Ticket

$10.68 IQD 14.0K

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

36.75%

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

$169 IQD 221.7K

$306 IQD 401.0K

-44.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,468 IQD 4.5M

$688 IQD 900.4K

404.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.14 IQD 39.5K

$19.01 IQD 24.9K

58.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

$15.44 IQD 20.2K

148.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 IQD 95.6K

$70.5 IQD 92.3K

3.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.87 IQD 62.7K

$18.06 IQD 23.6K

165.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 IQD 743.5K

$113 IQD 148.3K

401.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 IQD 459.9K

$76.3 IQD 100.0K

360.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$935 IQD 1.2M

$301 IQD 393.7K

210.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 IQD 905.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,625 IQD 6.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,587 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$615 IQD 805.3K

$608 IQD 795.7K

1.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

2.53

62.85%

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

Last update for Baghdad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Al-mawsil: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $568 in Baghdad and $113 in Al-mawsil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad 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: $34.00 in Baghdad vs $12.00 in Al-mawsil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $152 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, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 85% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 1% 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: $568 in Baghdad versus $113 in Al-mawsil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $169 in Baghdad versus $306 in Al-mawsil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Baghdad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $617 in Al-mawsil versus $1,143 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 85% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.