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: $1,017 in Erbil versus $714 in Al-mawsil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,518 in Erbil versus $1,063 in Al-mawsil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,019 in Erbil versus $1,412 in Al-mawsil.

Living in Erbil is roughly 42% more expensive than Al-mawsil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erbil 24% lower, Al-mawsil 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 IQD 9,938

$7.48 IQD 9,795

1.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

$12.45 IQD 16.3K

83.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

$5.61 IQD 7,350

54.19%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,260

$0.74 IQD 965

339.19%

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

$0.52 IQD 676

$0.36 IQD 473

44.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.18 IQD 229

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 IQD 2,555

$0.98 IQD 1,288

98.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$1.55 IQD 2,025

31.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,725

$0.92 IQD 1,206

43.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,062

$0.73 IQD 959

10.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,357

$1.10 IQD 1,441

63.64%

Eggs

$1.91 IQD 2,505

$1.90 IQD 2,482

0.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 IQD 9,816

$7.24 IQD 9,476

3.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 IQD 6,315

$3.27 IQD 4,287

47.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

$7.26 IQD 9,502

94.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$0.90 IQD 1,177

31.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$0.87 IQD 1,136

32.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,494

$0.80 IQD 1,049

42.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,045

$0.36 IQD 476

122.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 863

$0.38 IQD 498

73.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,002

$0.46 IQD 602

67.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,008

$0.52 IQD 685

48.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.49 IQD 647

12.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 IQD 3,594

$2.02 IQD 2,642

35.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

0.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 IQD 1,794

$1.38 IQD 1,804

-0.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,619

$1.94 IQD 2,536

3.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 768

$0.39 IQD 514

51.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

$30.80 IQD 40.3K

13.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$2.19 IQD 2,867

2.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

$2.02 IQD 2,639

13.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 IQD 8,966

$3.26 IQD 4,266

110.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 839

$0.35 IQD 458

82.86%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$15.3K IQD 20.0M

26.50%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

$17.6K IQD 23.0M

18.22%

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

$101 IQD 132.2K

$102 IQD 134.1K

-1.41%

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

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

$17.73 IQD 23.2K

-2.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

$27.00 IQD 35.4K

12.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

$24.44 IQD 32.0K

195.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

$18.72 IQD 24.5K

-38.35%

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

$11.16 IQD 14.6K

1.08%

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

$271 IQD 354.5K

$204 IQD 267.1K

32.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

$681 IQD 891.8K

380.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

$13.92 IQD 18.2K

132.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$17.64 IQD 23.1K

181.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

$83.6 IQD 109.5K

-3.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

$18.91 IQD 24.8K

308.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 IQD 556.0K

$245 IQD 320.9K

73.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 IQD 365.3K

$180 IQD 236.1K

54.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.0K

$574 IQD 752.2K

28.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 IQD 643.3K

$346 IQD 453.1K

41.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 845.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 IQD 773.3K

$621 IQD 813.8K

-4.97%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Al-mawsil: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $425 in Erbil and $245 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 $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 42% 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: $425 in Erbil versus $245 in Al-mawsil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $271 in Erbil versus $204 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 $714 in Al-mawsil versus $1,017 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 42% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.