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: $1,143 in Baghdad versus $642 in Mosul.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,702 in Baghdad versus $1,004 in Mosul.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,262 in Baghdad versus $1,366 in Mosul.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 78% more expensive than in Mosul, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 16% lower, Mosul 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.91 IQD 6,430

$3.49 IQD 4,569

40.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.26 IQD 44.9K

$19.06 IQD 25.0K

79.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 IQD 10.3K

$6.21 IQD 8,131

26.25%

Cappuccino

$3.08 IQD 4,033

$1.62 IQD 2,125

90.12%

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

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.40 IQD 530

-2.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 342

$0.16 IQD 214

62.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.78 IQD 4,956

$1.50 IQD 1,965

152.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 IQD 4,907

$1.57 IQD 2,057

138.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 IQD 1,364

$0.78 IQD 1,023

33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,090

$0.74 IQD 964

12.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 IQD 2,015

$1.30 IQD 1,706

18.46%

Eggs

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$1.49 IQD 1,952

26.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.77 IQD 4,937

$3.69 IQD 4,829

2.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 IQD 6,004

$4.31 IQD 5,645

6.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.44 IQD 18.9K

$12.00 IQD 15.7K

20.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,480

$0.68 IQD 892

66.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,390

$1.06 IQD 1,388

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,345

$0.74 IQD 963

39.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 968

$0.50 IQD 653

48.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 906

$0.46 IQD 604

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 912

$0.48 IQD 624

45.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 IQD 838

$0.42 IQD 551

52.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 IQD 907

$0.65 IQD 849

6.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 IQD 2,336

$1.90 IQD 2,484

-6.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.81 IQD 18.1K

$7.42 IQD 9,714

86.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,806

$1.93 IQD 2,522

10.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 IQD 2,977

$1.96 IQD 2,564

15.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 IQD 905

$0.37 IQD 483

86.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.15 IQD 30.3K

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

-69.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 IQD 2,918

$1.51 IQD 1,977

47.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,021

$1.57 IQD 2,059

-1.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

$4.64 IQD 6,070

64.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.62 IQD 806

$0.50 IQD 652

24.00%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$17.5K IQD 22.9M

10.82%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

-5.21%

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

$213 IQD 279.2K

$87.3 IQD 114.3K

144.36%

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

$21.75 IQD 28.5K

$15.21 IQD 19.9K

43.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.04 IQD 53.7K

$32.88 IQD 43.1K

24.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.75 IQD 62.5K

$23.41 IQD 30.7K

103.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.22 IQD 27.8K

$25.43 IQD 33.3K

-16.56%

Cinema Ticket

$10.68 IQD 14.0K

$9.62 IQD 12.6K

11.02%

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

$169 IQD 221.7K

$196 IQD 256.5K

-13.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,468 IQD 4.5M

$3,583 IQD 4.7M

-3.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.14 IQD 39.5K

$12.36 IQD 16.2K

143.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

$18.83 IQD 24.7K

103.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 IQD 95.6K

$27.21 IQD 35.6K

168.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.87 IQD 62.7K

$25.46 IQD 33.3K

88.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 IQD 743.5K

$161 IQD 211.4K

251.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 IQD 459.9K

$116 IQD 152.1K

202.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$935 IQD 1.2M

$277 IQD 363.2K

237.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 IQD 905.7K

$289 IQD 377.8K

139.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,625 IQD 6.1M

$811 IQD 1.1M

470.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,587 IQD 2.1M

$925 IQD 1.2M

71.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$615 IQD 805.3K

$487 IQD 637.1K

26.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

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

Last update for Baghdad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mosul: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $568 in Baghdad and $161 in Mosul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 26% 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 $19.00 in Mosul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $150 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 78% 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.

Average pay runs 26% 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 $161 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 231% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $169 in Baghdad versus $196 in Mosul. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $642 in Mosul versus $1,143 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 78% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.