Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Al-mawsil Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Al-mawsil

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,101 in Erbil versus $617 in Al-mawsil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,630 in Erbil versus $827 in Al-mawsil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,158 in Erbil versus $1,038 in Al-mawsil.

Living in Erbil is roughly 79% more expensive than in Al-mawsil, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erbil 19% lower, Al-mawsil 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$7.55 IQD 9,891

1.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

$12.36 IQD 16.2K

259.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 IQD 11.0K

$5.61 IQD 7,344

50.09%

Cappuccino

$3.84 IQD 5,027

$0.75 IQD 981

412.00%

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

$1.03 IQD 1,353

$0.37 IQD 484

178.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 IQD 580

$0.19 IQD 252

131.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$0.97 IQD 1,265

523.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 IQD 6,166

$1.51 IQD 1,982

211.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,657

$0.78 IQD 1,015

62.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,083

$0.73 IQD 959

13.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 IQD 2,197

$0.62 IQD 815

170.97%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,345

$1.13 IQD 1,482

58.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.06 IQD 10.6K

$7.97 IQD 10.4K

1.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.78 IQD 7,574

$3.48 IQD 4,551

66.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.84 IQD 19.4K

$9.22 IQD 12.1K

60.95%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,483

$0.73 IQD 956

54.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,443

$0.74 IQD 965

48.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$0.60 IQD 781

105.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,068

$0.28 IQD 368

192.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.32 IQD 425

118.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 905

$0.37 IQD 482

86.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 969

$0.78 IQD 1,028

-5.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 723

$0.59 IQD 772

-6.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 IQD 3,294

$1.87 IQD 2,444

34.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.54 IQD 16.4K

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

1.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 IQD 2,217

$1.69 IQD 2,210

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,735

$2.08 IQD 2,720

0.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.39 IQD 514

51.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.81 IQD 57.4K

$30.48 IQD 39.9K

43.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 IQD 2,544

$1.85 IQD 2,426

4.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,381

$1.82 IQD 2,382

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.56 IQD 8,588

$4.54 IQD 5,945

44.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 882

$0.33 IQD 430

103.03%

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

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

$15.3K IQD 20.0M

20.14%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

13.21%

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

$128 IQD 167.0K

$109 IQD 142.3K

17.33%

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

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

$13.97 IQD 18.3K

-0.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.49 IQD 37.3K

$26.34 IQD 34.5K

8.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.0 IQD 86.4K

$23.02 IQD 30.1K

186.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.62 IQD 19.1K

$7.44 IQD 9,736

96.51%

Cinema Ticket

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

49.42%

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

$309 IQD 405.1K

$306 IQD 401.0K

1.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,144 IQD 4.1M

$688 IQD 900.4K

357.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.32 IQD 41.0K

$19.01 IQD 24.9K

64.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.84 IQD 58.7K

$15.44 IQD 20.2K

190.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 IQD 90.7K

$70.5 IQD 92.3K

-1.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.4 IQD 88.3K

$18.06 IQD 23.6K

273.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 IQD 602.5K

$113 IQD 148.3K

306.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$297 IQD 389.4K

$76.3 IQD 100.0K

289.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.5K

$301 IQD 393.7K

146.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 IQD 566.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,092 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$665 IQD 870.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$614 IQD 803.9K

$608 IQD 795.7K

1.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

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

Last update for Erbil: September 14, 2026

Last update for Al-mawsil: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $460 in Erbil and $113 in Al-mawsil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Erbil 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: $44.00 in Erbil vs $12.00 in Al-mawsil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 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

Erbil vs Al-mawsil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-mawsil is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 79% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 1% higher in Erbil, 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: $460 in Erbil versus $113 in Al-mawsil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $309 in Erbil 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 34% higher in Erbil. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $617 in Al-mawsil versus $1,101 in Erbil, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-mawsil but tight or insufficient in Erbil. 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.

Safety-wise, Erbil and Al-mawsil are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Al-mawsil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.