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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $614 per month in Mosul vs $1,017 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $991 per month in Mosul vs $1,518 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,368 per month in Mosul vs $2,019 in Erbil, rent included.

Mosul is about 40% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mosul and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Mosul 54% lower, Erbil 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.48 IQD 4,552

$7.59 IQD 9,938

-54.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.03 IQD 24.9K

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

-16.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.07 IQD 7,948

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

-29.83%

Cappuccino

$1.55 IQD 2,027

$3.25 IQD 4,260

-52.31%

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

$0.38 IQD 492

$0.52 IQD 676

-26.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 271

$0.20 IQD 261

5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 IQD 2,060

$1.95 IQD 2,555

-19.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 IQD 2,062

$2.04 IQD 2,675

-23.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 IQD 1,273

$1.32 IQD 1,725

-26.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,069

$0.81 IQD 1,062

1.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,702

$1.80 IQD 2,357

-27.78%

Eggs

$1.54 IQD 2,011

$1.91 IQD 2,505

-19.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.37 IQD 4,416

$7.50 IQD 9,816

-55.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.97 IQD 5,199

$4.82 IQD 6,315

-17.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

-17.59%

Apples (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 907

$1.18 IQD 1,551

-41.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,391

$1.15 IQD 1,500

-7.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 871

$1.14 IQD 1,494

-41.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.44 IQD 573

$0.80 IQD 1,045

-45.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 IQD 635

$0.66 IQD 863

-27.27%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 IQD 700

$0.77 IQD 1,002

-31.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 IQD 580

$0.77 IQD 1,008

-42.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 687

$0.55 IQD 721

-5.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,468

$2.74 IQD 3,594

-31.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

-36.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,815

$1.37 IQD 1,794

1.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 IQD 2,483

$2.00 IQD 2,619

-5.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 520

$0.59 IQD 768

-32.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 IQD 99.0K

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

116.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 IQD 1,977

$2.25 IQD 2,942

-32.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 1,999

$2.29 IQD 2,993

-33.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 IQD 6,035

$6.85 IQD 8,966

-32.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 691

$0.64 IQD 839

-17.19%

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

$17.5K IQD 22.9M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

-9.46%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

-3.48%

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

$102 IQD 133.7K

$101 IQD 132.2K

1.10%

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

$15.38 IQD 20.1K

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

-11.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.50 IQD 38.6K

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

-2.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.36 IQD 29.3K

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

-69.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.31 IQD 27.9K

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

84.66%

Cinema Ticket

$9.82 IQD 12.9K

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

-12.94%

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

$181 IQD 237.3K

$271 IQD 354.5K

-33.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,299 IQD 4.3M

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

0.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.42 IQD 20.2K

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

-52.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.47 IQD 25.5K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-60.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$27.19 IQD 35.6K

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

-66.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.07 IQD 32.8K

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

-67.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 IQD 197.9K

$425 IQD 556.0K

-64.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$86.9 IQD 113.7K

$279 IQD 365.3K

-68.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 IQD 351.7K

$740 IQD 969.0K

-63.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 IQD 371.0K

$491 IQD 643.3K

-42.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$793 IQD 1.0M

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

-27.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$917 IQD 1.2M

$646 IQD 845.4K

42.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$480 IQD 628.2K

$591 IQD 773.3K

-18.77%

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 Mosul: June 8, 2026

Last update for Erbil: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $151 in Mosul versus $425 in Erbil. 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 23% 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 $19.00 in Mosul versus $23.00 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $146 vs $195 – 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

Mosul vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 66%, 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 $922 per month in Mosul and $1,525 in Erbil. 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 $19.00 in Mosul and $23.00 in Erbil. 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 $614, than in Erbil at $1,017. 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.