Cost of Living Comparison Between Mosul and Baghdad Cost of Living Comparison Between Mosul and Baghdad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $614 in Mosul versus $1,074 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $991 in Mosul versus $1,573 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,368 in Mosul versus $2,073 in Baghdad.

Living in Mosul costs roughly 43% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mosul 54% lower, Baghdad 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.48 IQD 4,552

$5.27 IQD 6,895

-33.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.03 IQD 24.9K

$36.86 IQD 48.3K

-48.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.07 IQD 7,948

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-21.98%

Cappuccino

$1.55 IQD 2,027

$2.98 IQD 3,909

-47.99%

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

$0.38 IQD 492

$0.39 IQD 512

-2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 271

$0.17 IQD 216

23.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 IQD 2,060

$3.38 IQD 4,429

-53.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 IQD 2,062

$2.89 IQD 3,785

-45.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 IQD 1,273

$1.30 IQD 1,702

-25.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,069

$0.83 IQD 1,087

-1.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,702

$1.67 IQD 2,181

-22.16%

Eggs

$1.54 IQD 2,011

$1.79 IQD 2,343

-13.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.37 IQD 4,416

$4.52 IQD 5,918

-25.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.97 IQD 5,199

$4.84 IQD 6,342

-17.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

-17.24%

Apples (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 907

$1.28 IQD 1,680

-46.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,391

$1.15 IQD 1,504

-7.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 871

$1.04 IQD 1,363

-35.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.44 IQD 573

$0.70 IQD 914

-37.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 IQD 635

$0.69 IQD 897

-30.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 IQD 700

$0.62 IQD 813

-14.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 IQD 580

$0.67 IQD 883

-34.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 687

$0.63 IQD 824

-17.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,468

$2.13 IQD 2,786

-11.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

-42.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,815

$1.79 IQD 2,348

-22.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 IQD 2,483

$2.15 IQD 2,812

-11.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 520

$0.76 IQD 993

-47.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 IQD 99.0K

$28.16 IQD 36.9K

168.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 IQD 1,977

$3.78 IQD 4,954

-60.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 1,999

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 IQD 6,035

$7.54 IQD 9,868

-38.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 691

$0.57 IQD 750

-7.02%

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

$17.5K IQD 22.9M

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

-12.35%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-1.35%

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

$102 IQD 133.7K

$181 IQD 236.7K

-43.54%

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

$15.38 IQD 20.1K

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

-40.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.50 IQD 38.6K

$40.76 IQD 53.4K

-27.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.36 IQD 29.3K

$41.00 IQD 53.7K

-45.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.31 IQD 27.9K

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

14.82%

Cinema Ticket

$9.82 IQD 12.9K

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

25.74%

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

$181 IQD 237.3K

$166 IQD 217.8K

8.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,299 IQD 4.3M

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

-6.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.42 IQD 20.2K

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

-45.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.47 IQD 25.5K

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

-35.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$27.19 IQD 35.6K

$63.3 IQD 82.9K

-57.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.07 IQD 32.8K

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

-42.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 IQD 197.9K

$553 IQD 724.7K

-72.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$86.9 IQD 113.7K

$320 IQD 418.5K

-72.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 IQD 351.7K

$818 IQD 1.1M

-67.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 IQD 371.0K

$583 IQD 763.6K

-51.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$793 IQD 1.0M

$4,017 IQD 5.3M

-80.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$917 IQD 1.2M

$1,614 IQD 2.1M

-43.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$480 IQD 628.2K

$648 IQD 848.7K

-25.98%

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 Mosul: June 8, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $151 in Mosul and $553 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 35% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Mosul vs $37.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $146 vs $190 per month, with Mosul 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

Mosul vs Baghdad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mosul wins on cost – living expenses run 75% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mosul the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Baghdad earns 35% 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: $151 in Mosul versus $553 in Baghdad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Mosul runs roughly 168% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $181 in Mosul versus $166 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $614 in Mosul versus $1,074 in Baghdad, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mosul but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Mosul 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.

Expats usually find Mosul gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.