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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Erbil vs $614 in Mosul, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,518 per month in Erbil vs $991 in Mosul, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,019 per month in Erbil vs $1,368 in Mosul, rent included.

Erbil costs about 66% more than Mosul, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Erbil and Mosul are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 24% lower, Mosul 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 IQD 9,938

$3.48 IQD 4,552

118.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

$19.03 IQD 24.9K

20.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

$6.07 IQD 7,948

42.50%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,260

$1.55 IQD 2,027

109.68%

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

$0.52 IQD 676

$0.38 IQD 492

36.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.21 IQD 271

-4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 IQD 2,555

$1.57 IQD 2,060

24.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$1.57 IQD 2,062

29.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,725

$0.97 IQD 1,273

36.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,062

$0.82 IQD 1,069

-1.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,357

$1.30 IQD 1,702

38.46%

Eggs

$1.91 IQD 2,505

$1.54 IQD 2,011

24.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 IQD 9,816

$3.37 IQD 4,416

122.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 IQD 6,315

$3.97 IQD 5,199

21.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

21.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$0.69 IQD 907

71.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$1.06 IQD 1,391

8.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,494

$0.67 IQD 871

70.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,045

$0.44 IQD 573

81.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 863

$0.48 IQD 635

37.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,002

$0.53 IQD 700

45.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,008

$0.44 IQD 580

75.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.52 IQD 687

5.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 IQD 3,594

$1.88 IQD 2,468

45.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

58.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 IQD 1,794

$1.39 IQD 1,815

-1.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,619

$1.90 IQD 2,483

5.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 768

$0.40 IQD 520

47.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

$75.6 IQD 99.0K

-53.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$1.51 IQD 1,977

49.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

$1.53 IQD 1,999

49.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 IQD 8,966

$4.61 IQD 6,035

48.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 839

$0.53 IQD 691

20.75%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$17.5K IQD 22.9M

10.44%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

3.60%

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

$101 IQD 132.2K

$102 IQD 133.7K

-1.09%

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

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

$15.38 IQD 20.1K

12.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

$29.50 IQD 38.6K

2.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

$22.36 IQD 29.3K

222.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

$21.31 IQD 27.9K

-45.85%

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

$9.82 IQD 12.9K

14.87%

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

$271 IQD 354.5K

$181 IQD 237.3K

49.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

$3,299 IQD 4.3M

-0.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

$15.42 IQD 20.2K

109.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$19.47 IQD 25.5K

154.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

$27.19 IQD 35.6K

198.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

$25.07 IQD 32.8K

207.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 IQD 556.0K

$151 IQD 197.9K

180.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 IQD 365.3K

$86.9 IQD 113.7K

221.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.0K

$269 IQD 351.7K

175.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 IQD 643.3K

$283 IQD 371.0K

73.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

$793 IQD 1.0M

38.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 845.4K

$917 IQD 1.2M

-29.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 IQD 773.3K

$480 IQD 628.2K

23.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

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

Last update for Erbil: June 6, 2026

Last update for Mosul: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Erbil versus $151 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 23% 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 $23.00 in Erbil versus $19.00 in Mosul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $146 – 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 66%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Erbil and $922 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 34% 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 $23.00 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 $614, than in Erbil at $1,017. 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.