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: $631 in Mosul versus $1,074 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,000 in Mosul versus $1,581 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,368 in Mosul versus $2,088 in Baghdad.

Living in Mosul costs roughly 41% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mosul 53% lower, Baghdad 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.38 IQD 4,422

$5.26 IQD 6,892

-35.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.24 IQD 25.2K

$36.91 IQD 48.3K

-47.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.08 IQD 7,961

$7.46 IQD 9,777

-18.50%

Cappuccino

$1.62 IQD 2,128

$3.01 IQD 3,939

-46.18%

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

$0.41 IQD 533

$0.36 IQD 477

13.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 265

$0.18 IQD 230

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 IQD 1,965

$3.51 IQD 4,596

-57.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 IQD 2,032

$2.83 IQD 3,706

-45.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 IQD 1,237

$1.36 IQD 1,784

-30.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,079

$0.80 IQD 1,042

2.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,690

$1.61 IQD 2,102

-19.88%

Eggs

$1.51 IQD 1,972

$1.72 IQD 2,247

-12.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.38 IQD 4,422

$4.40 IQD 5,759

-23.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.89 IQD 5,101

$4.87 IQD 6,373

-20.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.42 IQD 15.0K

$13.88 IQD 18.2K

-17.72%

Apples (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 951

$1.28 IQD 1,678

-42.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,409

$1.16 IQD 1,523

-6.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 883

$1.01 IQD 1,323

-33.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 IQD 612

$0.70 IQD 920

-32.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.68 IQD 895

-29.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 IQD 709

$0.63 IQD 831

-14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 IQD 583

$0.63 IQD 823

-28.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 739

$0.66 IQD 867

-15.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.86 IQD 2,437

$2.07 IQD 2,713

-10.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.58 IQD 9,930

$13.58 IQD 17.8K

-44.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 IQD 1,871

$1.84 IQD 2,413

-22.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 IQD 2,454

$2.07 IQD 2,712

-9.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.74 IQD 964

-51.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.8 IQD 100.6K

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

171.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 IQD 1,963

$3.90 IQD 5,113

-61.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,950

$1.47 IQD 1,923

1.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 IQD 5,855

$7.61 IQD 9,964

-41.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 693

$0.53 IQD 700

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

$17.3K IQD 22.6M

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

-12.97%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

-0.05%

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

$99.1 IQD 129.8K

$179 IQD 234.3K

-44.62%

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

$15.15 IQD 19.8K

$25.76 IQD 33.7K

-41.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.53 IQD 38.7K

$40.94 IQD 53.6K

-27.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.55 IQD 29.5K

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

-45.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.52 IQD 28.2K

$18.57 IQD 24.3K

15.89%

Cinema Ticket

$9.77 IQD 12.8K

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

27.55%

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

$180 IQD 235.5K

$168 IQD 220.3K

6.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,263 IQD 4.3M

$3,533 IQD 4.6M

-7.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.47 IQD 20.3K

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

-45.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 IQD 24.7K

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

-38.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$27.14 IQD 35.5K

$65.0 IQD 85.1K

-58.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.47 IQD 33.4K

$43.91 IQD 57.5K

-41.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$153 IQD 201.0K

$557 IQD 729.9K

-72.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.3 IQD 114.3K

$324 IQD 424.8K

-73.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 IQD 343.6K

$822 IQD 1.1M

-68.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 IQD 364.9K

$594 IQD 777.9K

-53.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$795 IQD 1.0M

$3,867 IQD 5.1M

-79.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 IQD 1.2M

$1,428 IQD 1.9M

-35.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$484 IQD 633.5K

$622 IQD 814.4K

-22.21%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $153 in Mosul and $557 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 29% 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 $145 vs $189 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 70% 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 29% 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: $153 in Mosul versus $557 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 171% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $180 in Mosul versus $168 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $631 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 70% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.