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: $1,019 in Erbil versus $735 in Al-mawsil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,524 in Erbil versus $1,098 in Al-mawsil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,029 in Erbil versus $1,460 in Al-mawsil.

Living in Erbil is roughly 39% more expensive than Al-mawsil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erbil 24% lower, Al-mawsil 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$7.50 IQD 9,825

3.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

87.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

$5.65 IQD 7,402

58.76%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,252

$0.73 IQD 959

345.21%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.36 IQD 478

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 289

$0.18 IQD 235

22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 IQD 2,633

$0.95 IQD 1,242

111.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,671

$1.52 IQD 1,986

34.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,727

$0.90 IQD 1,177

46.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,115

$0.75 IQD 989

13.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 IQD 2,368

$1.06 IQD 1,391

70.75%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,590

$1.92 IQD 2,521

3.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.44 IQD 9,745

$7.31 IQD 9,583

1.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.75 IQD 6,229

$3.30 IQD 4,327

43.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

$6.96 IQD 9,122

101.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,509

$0.90 IQD 1,185

27.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,514

$0.90 IQD 1,173

28.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,483

$0.80 IQD 1,055

41.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,061

$0.39 IQD 516

107.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 936

$0.38 IQD 501

86.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 997

$0.46 IQD 596

65.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 IQD 1,002

$0.48 IQD 625

58.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 690

$0.49 IQD 640

8.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.76 IQD 3,610

$1.97 IQD 2,583

40.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

$12.39 IQD 16.2K

-0.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 IQD 1,862

$1.43 IQD 1,874

-0.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,627

$1.93 IQD 2,532

3.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 IQD 728

$0.36 IQD 476

55.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

$31.31 IQD 41.0K

10.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,992

$2.11 IQD 2,759

8.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,997

$2.06 IQD 2,693

11.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.92 IQD 9,060

$3.26 IQD 4,265

112.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.33 IQD 429

112.12%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$15.0K IQD 19.7M

26.67%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

$17.9K IQD 23.5M

15.61%

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

$100 IQD 131.3K

-0.01%

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

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

$17.45 IQD 22.9K

0.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

$26.64 IQD 34.9K

11.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

$23.52 IQD 30.8K

215.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

$18.63 IQD 24.4K

-36.55%

Cinema Ticket

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

$11.17 IQD 14.6K

3.58%

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

$264 IQD 345.7K

$200 IQD 261.6K

32.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

$699 IQD 916.2K

369.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

$14.26 IQD 18.7K

131.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.58 IQD 65.0K

$17.36 IQD 22.7K

185.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

$83.7 IQD 109.6K

0.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

$19.20 IQD 25.2K

299.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 IQD 562.8K

$242 IQD 317.4K

77.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 IQD 367.7K

$176 IQD 230.0K

59.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 IQD 938.5K

$588 IQD 769.8K

21.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$486 IQD 637.2K

$348 IQD 455.7K

39.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

$1,987 IQD 2.6M

-44.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$652 IQD 854.1K

$1,490 IQD 2.0M

-56.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$576 IQD 754.2K

$602 IQD 789.0K

-4.41%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Al-mawsil: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $430 in Erbil and $242 in Al-mawsil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al-mawsil pays 5% 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 $195 vs $149 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 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Al-mawsil earns 5% less. 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: $430 in Erbil versus $242 in Al-mawsil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $264 in Erbil versus $200 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 $735 in Al-mawsil versus $1,019 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 39% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.