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: $1,055 in Baghdad versus $635 in Mosul.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,565 in Baghdad versus $1,005 in Mosul.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,074 in Baghdad versus $1,375 in Mosul.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 66% more expensive than in Mosul, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 21% lower, Mosul 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.50 IQD 7,206

$3.43 IQD 4,485

60.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.22 IQD 47.4K

$19.15 IQD 25.1K

89.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

$6.14 IQD 8,035

25.41%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,903

$1.55 IQD 2,031

92.26%

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

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.41 IQD 532

-12.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 219

$0.21 IQD 270

-19.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,590

$1.51 IQD 1,977

132.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 IQD 3,839

$1.55 IQD 2,035

89.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,768

$0.94 IQD 1,230

43.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,023

$0.79 IQD 1,028

-1.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 IQD 2,076

$1.30 IQD 1,701

22.31%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,338

$1.53 IQD 2,003

16.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,999

$3.48 IQD 4,556

31.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,296

$3.78 IQD 4,950

27.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

$11.50 IQD 15.1K

22.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$0.73 IQD 951

68.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,590

$1.07 IQD 1,400

13.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,311

$0.67 IQD 880

49.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 970

$0.43 IQD 565

72.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 854

$0.46 IQD 600

41.30%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 881

$0.58 IQD 757

15.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 817

$0.47 IQD 616

31.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 861

$0.57 IQD 741

15.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.05 IQD 2,690

$1.89 IQD 2,469

8.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

76.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,346

$1.39 IQD 1,816

28.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,821

$1.96 IQD 2,566

9.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 IQD 976

$0.39 IQD 517

92.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

$75.2 IQD 98.5K

-62.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 IQD 5,147

$1.55 IQD 2,027

153.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,922

$1.48 IQD 1,935

-0.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 IQD 9,826

$4.61 IQD 6,041

62.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 740

$0.53 IQD 693

5.66%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

$17.5K IQD 22.9M

12.32%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

-2.35%

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

$176 IQD 230.7K

$102 IQD 133.4K

72.99%

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

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

$15.03 IQD 19.7K

71.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

$29.43 IQD 38.5K

40.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.14 IQD 55.2K

$22.69 IQD 29.7K

85.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$21.94 IQD 28.7K

-15.41%

Cinema Ticket

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$9.29 IQD 12.2K

-16.36%

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

$168 IQD 220.3K

$182 IQD 237.9K

-7.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,627 IQD 4.7M

$3,295 IQD 4.3M

10.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

$15.50 IQD 20.3K

80.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

$18.89 IQD 24.7K

61.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

$26.86 IQD 35.2K

141.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

$25.13 IQD 32.9K

74.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 IQD 725.1K

$153 IQD 199.8K

262.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 IQD 419.7K

$85.6 IQD 112.1K

274.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$839 IQD 1.1M

$269 IQD 352.0K

212.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 764.1K

$282 IQD 369.4K

106.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,745 IQD 6.2M

$792 IQD 1.0M

499.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,597 IQD 2.1M

$918 IQD 1.2M

73.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$612 IQD 800.9K

$483 IQD 632.4K

26.64%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mosul: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $554 in Baghdad and $153 in Mosul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 27% 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 $19.00 in Mosul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $145 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 66% 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 27% 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 $153 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 170% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $168 in Baghdad versus $182 in Mosul. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $635 in Mosul versus $1,055 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 66% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.