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: $635 in Mosul versus $1,055 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,005 in Mosul versus $1,565 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,375 in Mosul versus $2,074 in Baghdad.

Living in Mosul costs roughly 40% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mosul 52% lower, Baghdad 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.43 IQD 4,485

$5.50 IQD 7,206

-37.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.15 IQD 25.1K

$36.22 IQD 47.4K

-47.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.14 IQD 8,035

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

-20.26%

Cappuccino

$1.55 IQD 2,031

$2.98 IQD 3,903

-47.99%

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

$0.41 IQD 532

$0.36 IQD 477

13.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 270

$0.17 IQD 219

23.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 IQD 1,977

$3.51 IQD 4,590

-56.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 IQD 2,035

$2.93 IQD 3,839

-47.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 IQD 1,230

$1.35 IQD 1,768

-30.37%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,028

$0.78 IQD 1,023

1.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,701

$1.59 IQD 2,076

-18.24%

Eggs

$1.53 IQD 2,003

$1.79 IQD 2,338

-14.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.48 IQD 4,556

$4.58 IQD 5,999

-24.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 IQD 4,950

$4.81 IQD 6,296

-21.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.50 IQD 15.1K

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

-18.61%

Apples (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 951

$1.23 IQD 1,612

-40.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 IQD 1,400

$1.21 IQD 1,590

-11.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 880

$1.00 IQD 1,311

-33.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.43 IQD 565

$0.74 IQD 970

-41.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 IQD 600

$0.65 IQD 854

-29.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 IQD 757

$0.67 IQD 881

-13.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 IQD 616

$0.62 IQD 817

-24.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 IQD 741

$0.66 IQD 861

-13.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,469

$2.05 IQD 2,690

-7.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

-43.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,816

$1.79 IQD 2,346

-22.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 IQD 2,566

$2.15 IQD 2,821

-8.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 517

$0.75 IQD 976

-48.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 IQD 98.5K

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

169.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.55 IQD 2,027

$3.93 IQD 5,147

-60.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,935

$1.47 IQD 1,922

0.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 IQD 6,041

$7.50 IQD 9,826

-38.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 693

$0.56 IQD 740

-5.36%

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

$17.5K IQD 22.9M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

-10.97%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

2.41%

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

$102 IQD 133.4K

$176 IQD 230.7K

-42.19%

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

$15.03 IQD 19.7K

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

-41.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.43 IQD 38.5K

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

-28.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.69 IQD 29.7K

$42.14 IQD 55.2K

-46.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.94 IQD 28.7K

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

18.21%

Cinema Ticket

$9.29 IQD 12.2K

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

19.56%

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

$182 IQD 237.9K

$168 IQD 220.3K

7.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,295 IQD 4.3M

$3,627 IQD 4.7M

-9.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.50 IQD 20.3K

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

-44.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.89 IQD 24.7K

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

-37.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.86 IQD 35.2K

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

-58.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.13 IQD 32.9K

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

-42.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$153 IQD 199.8K

$554 IQD 725.1K

-72.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$85.6 IQD 112.1K

$321 IQD 419.7K

-73.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 IQD 352.0K

$839 IQD 1.1M

-67.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 IQD 369.4K

$583 IQD 764.1K

-51.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$792 IQD 1.0M

$4,745 IQD 6.2M

-83.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$918 IQD 1.2M

$1,597 IQD 2.1M

-42.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$483 IQD 632.4K

$612 IQD 800.9K

-21.04%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $153 in Mosul and $554 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 27% 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 $36.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $145 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 66% 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 27% 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: $153 in Mosul versus $554 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 170% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $182 in Mosul versus $168 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $635 in Mosul versus $1,055 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 66% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.