Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Mosul Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Mosul

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,074 in Baghdad versus $614 in Mosul.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Baghdad versus $991 in Mosul.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,073 in Baghdad versus $1,368 in Mosul.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 75% more expensive than Mosul, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 20% lower, Mosul 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 IQD 6,895

$3.48 IQD 4,552

51.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.86 IQD 48.3K

$19.03 IQD 24.9K

93.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$6.07 IQD 7,948

28.17%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,909

$1.55 IQD 2,027

92.26%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.38 IQD 492

2.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 216

$0.21 IQD 271

-19.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 IQD 4,429

$1.57 IQD 2,060

115.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 IQD 3,785

$1.57 IQD 2,062

84.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 IQD 1,702

$0.97 IQD 1,273

34.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,087

$0.82 IQD 1,069

1.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,181

$1.30 IQD 1,702

28.46%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,343

$1.54 IQD 2,011

16.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,918

$3.37 IQD 4,416

34.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 IQD 6,342

$3.97 IQD 5,199

21.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

20.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,680

$0.69 IQD 907

85.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,504

$1.06 IQD 1,391

8.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$0.67 IQD 871

55.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 914

$0.44 IQD 573

59.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 897

$0.48 IQD 635

43.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.53 IQD 700

16.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 IQD 883

$0.44 IQD 580

52.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 IQD 824

$0.52 IQD 687

21.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 IQD 2,786

$1.88 IQD 2,468

13.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

74.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,348

$1.39 IQD 1,815

28.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,812

$1.90 IQD 2,483

13.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 IQD 993

$0.40 IQD 520

90.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.16 IQD 36.9K

$75.6 IQD 99.0K

-62.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 IQD 4,954

$1.51 IQD 1,977

150.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 1,999

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.54 IQD 9,868

$4.61 IQD 6,035

63.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 750

$0.53 IQD 691

7.55%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$17.5K IQD 22.9M

14.09%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

1.37%

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

$181 IQD 236.7K

$102 IQD 133.7K

77.13%

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

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

$15.38 IQD 20.1K

66.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.76 IQD 53.4K

$29.50 IQD 38.6K

38.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.00 IQD 53.7K

$22.36 IQD 29.3K

83.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$21.31 IQD 27.9K

-12.90%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$9.82 IQD 12.9K

-20.47%

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

$166 IQD 217.8K

$181 IQD 237.3K

-8.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

$3,299 IQD 4.3M

6.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

$15.42 IQD 20.2K

83.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

$19.47 IQD 25.5K

55.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.3 IQD 82.9K

$27.19 IQD 35.6K

132.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

$25.07 IQD 32.8K

74.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$553 IQD 724.7K

$151 IQD 197.9K

266.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 IQD 418.5K

$86.9 IQD 113.7K

267.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 IQD 1.1M

$269 IQD 351.7K

204.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 763.6K

$283 IQD 371.0K

105.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,017 IQD 5.3M

$793 IQD 1.0M

406.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,614 IQD 2.1M

$917 IQD 1.2M

75.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$648 IQD 848.7K

$480 IQD 628.2K

35.10%

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 Baghdad: June 9, 2026

Last update for Mosul: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $553 in Baghdad and $151 in Mosul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 35% 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 $19.00 in Mosul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $146 per month, with Mosul 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 Mosul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mosul wins on cost – living expenses run 75% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mosul the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Baghdad pays 35% 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 $151 in Mosul. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Mosul runs roughly 168% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $166 in Baghdad versus $181 in Mosul. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $614 in Mosul versus $1,074 in Baghdad, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mosul but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Mosul 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 Mosul gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.