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 $735 in Al-mawsil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,581 in Baghdad versus $1,098 in Al-mawsil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,088 in Baghdad versus $1,460 in Al-mawsil.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 20% lower, Al-mawsil 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 IQD 6,893

$7.50 IQD 9,825

-29.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.91 IQD 48.4K

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

201.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.46 IQD 9,779

$5.65 IQD 7,402

32.04%

Cappuccino

$3.01 IQD 3,940

$0.73 IQD 959

312.33%

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

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.36 IQD 478

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 230

$0.18 IQD 235

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,597

$0.95 IQD 1,242

269.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 IQD 3,707

$1.52 IQD 1,986

86.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,785

$0.90 IQD 1,177

51.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,042

$0.75 IQD 989

6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,103

$1.06 IQD 1,391

51.89%

Eggs

$1.72 IQD 2,248

$1.92 IQD 2,521

-10.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,760

$7.31 IQD 9,583

-39.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 IQD 6,374

$3.30 IQD 4,327

47.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.88 IQD 18.2K

$6.96 IQD 9,122

99.43%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,678

$0.90 IQD 1,185

42.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,523

$0.90 IQD 1,173

28.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,323

$0.80 IQD 1,055

26.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 921

$0.39 IQD 516

79.49%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 895

$0.38 IQD 501

78.95%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 831

$0.46 IQD 596

36.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 824

$0.48 IQD 625

31.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 867

$0.49 IQD 640

34.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 IQD 2,714

$1.97 IQD 2,583

5.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.58 IQD 17.8K

$12.39 IQD 16.2K

9.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,413

$1.43 IQD 1,874

28.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,712

$1.93 IQD 2,532

7.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.36 IQD 476

105.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

$31.31 IQD 41.0K

-9.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 IQD 5,114

$2.11 IQD 2,759

84.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,923

$2.06 IQD 2,693

-28.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 IQD 9,966

$3.26 IQD 4,265

133.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 701

$0.33 IQD 429

60.61%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

$15.0K IQD 19.7M

32.11%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$17.9K IQD 23.5M

11.25%

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

$179 IQD 234.4K

$100 IQD 131.3K

78.48%

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

$25.76 IQD 33.7K

$17.45 IQD 22.9K

47.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.94 IQD 53.6K

$26.64 IQD 34.9K

53.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

$23.52 IQD 30.8K

76.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.57 IQD 24.3K

$18.63 IQD 24.4K

-0.32%

Cinema Ticket

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

$11.17 IQD 14.6K

-31.42%

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

$168 IQD 220.4K

$200 IQD 261.6K

-15.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,533 IQD 4.6M

$699 IQD 916.2K

405.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

$14.26 IQD 18.7K

98.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

$17.36 IQD 22.7K

77.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 IQD 85.2K

$83.7 IQD 109.6K

-22.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.91 IQD 57.5K

$19.20 IQD 25.2K

128.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$557 IQD 730.1K

$242 IQD 317.4K

130.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 IQD 424.9K

$176 IQD 230.0K

84.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 IQD 1.1M

$588 IQD 769.8K

39.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 IQD 778.1K

$348 IQD 455.7K

70.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,867 IQD 5.1M

$1,987 IQD 2.6M

94.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,428 IQD 1.9M

$1,490 IQD 2.0M

-4.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$622 IQD 814.6K

$602 IQD 789.0K

3.24%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Al-mawsil: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $557 in Baghdad and $242 in Al-mawsil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 3% 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 $189 vs $149 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.

Baghdad pays 3% 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: $557 in Baghdad versus $242 in Al-mawsil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $168 in Baghdad versus $200 in Al-mawsil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Baghdad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $735 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 46% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.