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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $642 per month in Mosul vs $1,101 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,004 per month in Mosul vs $1,630 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,366 per month in Mosul vs $2,158 in Erbil, rent included.

Mosul is about 42% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mosul and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Mosul 53% lower, Erbil 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.49 IQD 4,569

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

-54.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.06 IQD 25.0K

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

-57.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.21 IQD 8,131

$8.42 IQD 11.0K

-26.25%

Cappuccino

$1.62 IQD 2,125

$3.84 IQD 5,027

-57.81%

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

$0.40 IQD 530

$1.03 IQD 1,353

-61.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 IQD 214

$0.44 IQD 580

-63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 IQD 1,965

$6.05 IQD 7,920

-75.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 IQD 2,057

$4.71 IQD 6,166

-66.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 IQD 1,023

$1.27 IQD 1,657

-38.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.83 IQD 1,083

-10.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,706

$1.68 IQD 2,197

-22.62%

Eggs

$1.49 IQD 1,952

$1.79 IQD 2,345

-16.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.69 IQD 4,829

$8.06 IQD 10.6K

-54.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 IQD 5,645

$5.78 IQD 7,574

-25.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.00 IQD 15.7K

$14.84 IQD 19.4K

-19.14%

Apples (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 892

$1.13 IQD 1,483

-39.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,388

$1.10 IQD 1,443

-3.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 963

$1.23 IQD 1,612

-39.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 IQD 653

$0.82 IQD 1,068

-39.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 IQD 604

$0.70 IQD 911

-34.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 IQD 624

$0.69 IQD 905

-30.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 IQD 551

$0.74 IQD 969

-43.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 IQD 849

$0.55 IQD 723

18.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 IQD 2,484

$2.52 IQD 3,294

-24.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.42 IQD 9,714

$12.54 IQD 16.4K

-40.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 IQD 2,522

$1.69 IQD 2,217

14.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 IQD 2,564

$2.09 IQD 2,735

-6.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 483

$0.59 IQD 772

-37.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

$43.81 IQD 57.4K

74.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 IQD 1,977

$1.94 IQD 2,544

-22.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 IQD 2,059

$1.82 IQD 2,381

-13.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.64 IQD 6,070

$6.56 IQD 8,588

-29.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 IQD 652

$0.67 IQD 882

-25.37%

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

$17.5K IQD 22.9M

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

-4.66%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

1.31%

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

$87.3 IQD 114.3K

$128 IQD 167.0K

-31.57%

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

$15.21 IQD 19.9K

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

9.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.88 IQD 43.1K

$28.49 IQD 37.3K

15.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.41 IQD 30.7K

$66.0 IQD 86.4K

-64.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.43 IQD 33.3K

$14.62 IQD 19.1K

73.94%

Cinema Ticket

$9.62 IQD 12.6K

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

-17.57%

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

$196 IQD 256.5K

$309 IQD 405.1K

-36.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,583 IQD 4.7M

$3,144 IQD 4.1M

13.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.36 IQD 16.2K

$31.32 IQD 41.0K

-60.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.83 IQD 24.7K

$44.84 IQD 58.7K

-58.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$27.21 IQD 35.6K

$69.3 IQD 90.7K

-60.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.46 IQD 33.3K

$67.4 IQD 88.3K

-62.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$161 IQD 211.4K

$460 IQD 602.5K

-64.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 IQD 152.1K

$297 IQD 389.4K

-60.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 IQD 363.2K

$740 IQD 969.5K

-62.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 IQD 377.8K

$432 IQD 566.1K

-33.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$811 IQD 1.1M

$1,092 IQD 1.4M

-25.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$925 IQD 1.2M

$665 IQD 870.8K

39.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$487 IQD 637.1K

$614 IQD 803.9K

-20.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

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

Last update for Mosul: September 14, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $161 in Mosul versus $460 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 26% 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 $44.00 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $150 vs $204 – 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 72%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $963 per month in Mosul and $1,652 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 36% 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 $44.00 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 $642, than in Erbil at $1,101. 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.