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: $642 in Mosul versus $1,143 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,004 in Mosul versus $1,702 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,366 in Mosul versus $2,262 in Baghdad.

Living in Mosul costs roughly 44% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mosul 53% lower, Baghdad 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.49 IQD 4,569

$4.91 IQD 6,430

-28.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.06 IQD 25.0K

$34.26 IQD 44.9K

-44.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.21 IQD 8,131

$7.84 IQD 10.3K

-20.79%

Cappuccino

$1.62 IQD 2,125

$3.08 IQD 4,033

-47.40%

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

$0.40 IQD 530

$0.39 IQD 514

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 IQD 214

$0.26 IQD 342

-38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 IQD 1,965

$3.78 IQD 4,956

-60.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 IQD 2,057

$3.75 IQD 4,907

-58.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 IQD 1,023

$1.04 IQD 1,364

-25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.83 IQD 1,090

-10.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,706

$1.54 IQD 2,015

-15.58%

Eggs

$1.49 IQD 1,952

$1.89 IQD 2,479

-21.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.69 IQD 4,829

$3.77 IQD 4,937

-2.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 IQD 5,645

$4.59 IQD 6,004

-6.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.00 IQD 15.7K

$14.44 IQD 18.9K

-16.90%

Apples (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 892

$1.13 IQD 1,480

-39.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,388

$1.06 IQD 1,390

Oranges (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 963

$1.03 IQD 1,345

-28.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 IQD 653

$0.74 IQD 968

-32.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 IQD 604

$0.69 IQD 906

-33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 IQD 624

$0.70 IQD 912

-31.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 IQD 551

$0.64 IQD 838

-34.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 IQD 849

$0.69 IQD 907

-5.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 IQD 2,484

$1.78 IQD 2,336

6.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.42 IQD 9,714

$13.81 IQD 18.1K

-46.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 IQD 2,522

$2.14 IQD 2,806

-9.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 IQD 2,564

$2.27 IQD 2,977

-13.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 483

$0.69 IQD 905

-46.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

$23.15 IQD 30.3K

230.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 IQD 1,977

$2.23 IQD 2,918

-32.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 IQD 2,059

$1.54 IQD 2,021

1.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.64 IQD 6,070

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

-39.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 IQD 652

$0.62 IQD 806

-19.35%

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

$17.5K IQD 22.9M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

-9.76%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

5.49%

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

$87.3 IQD 114.3K

$213 IQD 279.2K

-59.08%

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

$15.21 IQD 19.9K

$21.75 IQD 28.5K

-30.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.88 IQD 43.1K

$41.04 IQD 53.7K

-19.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.41 IQD 30.7K

$47.75 IQD 62.5K

-50.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.43 IQD 33.3K

$21.22 IQD 27.8K

19.84%

Cinema Ticket

$9.62 IQD 12.6K

$10.68 IQD 14.0K

-9.93%

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

$196 IQD 256.5K

$169 IQD 221.7K

15.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,583 IQD 4.7M

$3,468 IQD 4.5M

3.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.36 IQD 16.2K

$30.14 IQD 39.5K

-58.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.83 IQD 24.7K

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

-50.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$27.21 IQD 35.6K

$73.0 IQD 95.6K

-62.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.46 IQD 33.3K

$47.87 IQD 62.7K

-46.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$161 IQD 211.4K

$568 IQD 743.5K

-71.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 IQD 152.1K

$351 IQD 459.9K

-66.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 IQD 363.2K

$935 IQD 1.2M

-70.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 IQD 377.8K

$692 IQD 905.7K

-58.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$811 IQD 1.1M

$4,625 IQD 6.1M

-82.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$925 IQD 1.2M

$1,587 IQD 2.1M

-41.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$487 IQD 637.1K

$615 IQD 805.3K

-20.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

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

Last update for Mosul: September 14, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $161 in Mosul and $568 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 26% 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 $34.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $150 vs $187 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 78% 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, salaries run 26% lower in Baghdad. 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: $161 in Mosul versus $568 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 231% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $196 in Mosul versus $169 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $642 in Mosul versus $1,143 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 78% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.