Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Mosul Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Mosul

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,101 per month in Erbil vs $642 in Mosul, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,630 per month in Erbil vs $1,004 in Mosul, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,158 per month in Erbil vs $1,366 in Mosul, rent included.

Erbil costs about 72% more than Mosul, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Erbil and Mosul are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 19% lower, Mosul 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$3.49 IQD 4,569

120.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

$19.06 IQD 25.0K

132.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 IQD 11.0K

$6.21 IQD 8,131

35.59%

Cappuccino

$3.84 IQD 5,027

$1.62 IQD 2,125

137.04%

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

$1.03 IQD 1,353

$0.40 IQD 530

157.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 IQD 580

$0.16 IQD 214

175.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$1.50 IQD 1,965

303.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 IQD 6,166

$1.57 IQD 2,057

200.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,657

$0.78 IQD 1,023

62.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,083

$0.74 IQD 964

12.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 IQD 2,197

$1.30 IQD 1,706

29.23%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,345

$1.49 IQD 1,952

20.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.06 IQD 10.6K

$3.69 IQD 4,829

118.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.78 IQD 7,574

$4.31 IQD 5,645

34.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.84 IQD 19.4K

$12.00 IQD 15.7K

23.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,483

$0.68 IQD 892

66.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,443

$1.06 IQD 1,388

3.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$0.74 IQD 963

66.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,068

$0.50 IQD 653

64.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.46 IQD 604

52.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 905

$0.48 IQD 624

43.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 969

$0.42 IQD 551

76.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 723

$0.65 IQD 849

-15.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 IQD 3,294

$1.90 IQD 2,484

32.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.54 IQD 16.4K

$7.42 IQD 9,714

69.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 IQD 2,217

$1.93 IQD 2,522

-12.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,735

$1.96 IQD 2,564

6.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.37 IQD 483

59.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.81 IQD 57.4K

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

-42.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 IQD 2,544

$1.51 IQD 1,977

28.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,381

$1.57 IQD 2,059

15.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.56 IQD 8,588

$4.64 IQD 6,070

41.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 882

$0.50 IQD 652

34.00%

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

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

$17.5K IQD 22.9M

4.88%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

-1.30%

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

$128 IQD 167.0K

$87.3 IQD 114.3K

46.13%

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

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

$15.21 IQD 19.9K

-8.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.49 IQD 37.3K

$32.88 IQD 43.1K

-13.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.0 IQD 86.4K

$23.41 IQD 30.7K

181.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.62 IQD 19.1K

$25.43 IQD 33.3K

-42.51%

Cinema Ticket

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

$9.62 IQD 12.6K

21.31%

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

$309 IQD 405.1K

$196 IQD 256.5K

57.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,144 IQD 4.1M

$3,583 IQD 4.7M

-12.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.32 IQD 41.0K

$12.36 IQD 16.2K

153.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.84 IQD 58.7K

$18.83 IQD 24.7K

138.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 IQD 90.7K

$27.21 IQD 35.6K

154.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.4 IQD 88.3K

$25.46 IQD 33.3K

164.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 IQD 602.5K

$161 IQD 211.4K

185.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$297 IQD 389.4K

$116 IQD 152.1K

155.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.5K

$277 IQD 363.2K

166.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 IQD 566.1K

$289 IQD 377.8K

49.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,092 IQD 1.4M

$811 IQD 1.1M

34.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$665 IQD 870.8K

$925 IQD 1.2M

-28.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$614 IQD 803.9K

$487 IQD 637.1K

26.18%

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 Mosul: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $460 in Erbil versus $161 in Mosul. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 26% higher in Erbil, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Erbil versus $19.00 in Mosul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $150 – making Mosul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Mosul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 72%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,652 per month in Erbil and $963 in Mosul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mosul, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% more in Erbil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Erbil and $19.00 in Mosul. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mosul, where all-in costs run around $642, than in Erbil at $1,101. In Mosul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mosul – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Mosul. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Erbil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.