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: $1,043 in Erbil versus $720 in Al-mawsil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,545 in Erbil versus $1,071 in Al-mawsil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,046 in Erbil versus $1,422 in Al-mawsil.

Living in Erbil is roughly 45% more expensive than in Al-mawsil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erbil 22% lower, Al-mawsil 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$7.88 IQD 10.3K

-0.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

$12.14 IQD 15.9K

90.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

$5.57 IQD 7,296

61.76%

Cappuccino

$3.24 IQD 4,240

$0.80 IQD 1,051

305.00%

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

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.39 IQD 513

25.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.16 IQD 214

37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 IQD 2,562

$0.99 IQD 1,301

97.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,824

$1.55 IQD 2,030

39.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,718

$0.90 IQD 1,172

45.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,034

$0.76 IQD 994

3.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

$1.06 IQD 1,383

76.42%

Eggs

$1.95 IQD 2,557

$1.95 IQD 2,559

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 IQD 9,502

$7.48 IQD 9,791

-2.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 IQD 6,144

$3.23 IQD 4,232

45.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

$6.93 IQD 9,070

103.17%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$0.84 IQD 1,096

36.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,547

$0.87 IQD 1,139

35.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,480

$0.77 IQD 1,015

46.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 982

$0.39 IQD 511

92.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 948

$0.39 IQD 505

84.62%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 990

$0.42 IQD 548

80.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 IQD 1,001

$0.52 IQD 677

46.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 738

$0.50 IQD 650

12.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.66 IQD 3,486

$2.00 IQD 2,622

33.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.28 IQD 16.1K

$12.48 IQD 16.3K

-1.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 IQD 1,880

$1.43 IQD 1,867

0.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 IQD 2,538

$1.97 IQD 2,578

-1.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 767

$0.36 IQD 474

63.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.79 IQD 45.6K

$31.06 IQD 40.7K

12.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,971

$2.19 IQD 2,866

3.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.32 IQD 3,033

$1.99 IQD 2,604

16.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.05 IQD 9,233

$3.29 IQD 4,303

114.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 837

$0.32 IQD 425

100.00%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$15.5K IQD 20.2M

22.33%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

15.50%

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

$101 IQD 132.5K

$102 IQD 134.0K

-1.08%

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

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

-0.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.56 IQD 38.7K

$26.91 IQD 35.2K

9.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

$23.79 IQD 31.2K

210.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.76 IQD 15.4K

$18.68 IQD 24.5K

-37.04%

Cinema Ticket

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

$11.15 IQD 14.6K

0.90%

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

$269 IQD 351.6K

$196 IQD 257.2K

36.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,330 IQD 4.4M

$696 IQD 911.7K

378.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.93 IQD 43.1K

$14.02 IQD 18.4K

134.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.13 IQD 64.3K

$17.43 IQD 22.8K

181.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 IQD 105.7K

$83.1 IQD 108.8K

-2.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 IQD 102.0K

$19.33 IQD 25.3K

303.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 IQD 571.5K

$243 IQD 318.5K

79.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.4K

$180 IQD 236.1K

52.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$739 IQD 968.0K

$588 IQD 769.6K

25.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$496 IQD 649.8K

$339 IQD 444.1K

46.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,089 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 IQD 855.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.9K

$601 IQD 786.5K

-3.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

5.67

152.73%

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

Last update for Erbil: July 27, 2026

Last update for Al-mawsil: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $436 in Erbil and $243 in Al-mawsil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al-mawsil pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $23.00 in Erbil vs $12.00 in Al-mawsil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $148 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 45% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 4% lower in Al-mawsil. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $436 in Erbil versus $243 in Al-mawsil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $269 in Erbil versus $196 in Al-mawsil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Erbil. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $720 in Al-mawsil versus $1,043 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 45% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.