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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,043 per month in Erbil vs $635 in Mosul, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,545 per month in Erbil vs $1,005 in Mosul, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,046 per month in Erbil vs $1,375 in Mosul, rent included.

Erbil costs about 64% more than Mosul, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Erbil and Mosul are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 22% lower, Mosul 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$3.43 IQD 4,485

128.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

$19.15 IQD 25.1K

20.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

$6.14 IQD 8,035

46.74%

Cappuccino

$3.24 IQD 4,240

$1.55 IQD 2,031

109.03%

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

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.41 IQD 532

19.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.21 IQD 270

4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 IQD 2,562

$1.51 IQD 1,977

29.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,824

$1.55 IQD 2,035

39.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,718

$0.94 IQD 1,230

39.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,034

$0.79 IQD 1,028

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

$1.30 IQD 1,701

43.85%

Eggs

$1.95 IQD 2,557

$1.53 IQD 2,003

27.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 IQD 9,502

$3.48 IQD 4,556

108.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 IQD 6,144

$3.78 IQD 4,950

24.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

$11.50 IQD 15.1K

22.43%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$0.73 IQD 951

57.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,547

$1.07 IQD 1,400

10.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,480

$0.67 IQD 880

68.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 982

$0.43 IQD 565

74.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 948

$0.46 IQD 600

56.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 990

$0.58 IQD 757

31.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 IQD 1,001

$0.47 IQD 616

61.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 738

$0.57 IQD 741

-1.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.66 IQD 3,486

$1.89 IQD 2,469

40.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.28 IQD 16.1K

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

60.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 IQD 1,880

$1.39 IQD 1,816

3.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 IQD 2,538

$1.96 IQD 2,566

-1.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 767

$0.39 IQD 517

51.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.79 IQD 45.6K

$75.2 IQD 98.5K

-53.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,971

$1.55 IQD 2,027

46.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.32 IQD 3,033

$1.48 IQD 1,935

56.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.05 IQD 9,233

$4.61 IQD 6,041

52.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 837

$0.53 IQD 693

20.75%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$17.5K IQD 22.9M

7.96%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

0.98%

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

$101 IQD 132.5K

$102 IQD 133.4K

-0.61%

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

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

$15.03 IQD 19.7K

18.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.56 IQD 38.7K

$29.43 IQD 38.5K

0.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

$22.69 IQD 29.7K

225.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.76 IQD 15.4K

$21.94 IQD 28.7K

-46.40%

Cinema Ticket

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

$9.29 IQD 12.2K

21.10%

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

$269 IQD 351.6K

$182 IQD 237.9K

47.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,330 IQD 4.4M

$3,295 IQD 4.3M

1.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.93 IQD 43.1K

$15.50 IQD 20.3K

112.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.13 IQD 64.3K

$18.89 IQD 24.7K

160.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 IQD 105.7K

$26.86 IQD 35.2K

200.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 IQD 102.0K

$25.13 IQD 32.9K

210.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 IQD 571.5K

$153 IQD 199.8K

186.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.4K

$85.6 IQD 112.1K

221.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$739 IQD 968.0K

$269 IQD 352.0K

175.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$496 IQD 649.8K

$282 IQD 369.4K

75.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,089 IQD 1.4M

$792 IQD 1.0M

37.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 IQD 855.1K

$918 IQD 1.2M

-28.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.9K

$483 IQD 632.4K

20.16%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mosul: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $436 in Erbil versus $153 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 20% 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: $194 vs $145 – 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 64%, 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 $1,565 per month in Erbil and $953 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 $635, than in Erbil at $1,043. 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.