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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $635 per month in Mosul vs $1,043 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,005 per month in Mosul vs $1,545 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,375 per month in Mosul vs $2,046 in Erbil, rent included.

Mosul is about 39% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mosul and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Mosul 52% lower, Erbil 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.43 IQD 4,485

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-56.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.15 IQD 25.1K

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

-17.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.14 IQD 8,035

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

-31.85%

Cappuccino

$1.55 IQD 2,031

$3.24 IQD 4,240

-52.16%

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

$0.41 IQD 532

$0.49 IQD 640

-16.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 270

$0.22 IQD 288

-4.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 IQD 1,977

$1.96 IQD 2,562

-22.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 IQD 2,035

$2.16 IQD 2,824

-28.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 IQD 1,230

$1.31 IQD 1,718

-28.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,028

$0.79 IQD 1,034

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,701

$1.87 IQD 2,450

-30.48%

Eggs

$1.53 IQD 2,003

$1.95 IQD 2,557

-21.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.48 IQD 4,556

$7.26 IQD 9,502

-52.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 IQD 4,950

$4.69 IQD 6,144

-19.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.50 IQD 15.1K

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

-18.32%

Apples (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 951

$1.15 IQD 1,502

-36.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 IQD 1,400

$1.18 IQD 1,547

-9.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 880

$1.13 IQD 1,480

-40.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.43 IQD 565

$0.75 IQD 982

-42.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 IQD 600

$0.72 IQD 948

-36.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 IQD 757

$0.76 IQD 990

-23.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 IQD 616

$0.76 IQD 1,001

-38.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 IQD 741

$0.56 IQD 738

1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,469

$2.66 IQD 3,486

-28.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

$12.28 IQD 16.1K

-37.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,816

$1.44 IQD 1,880

-3.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 IQD 2,566

$1.94 IQD 2,538

1.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 517

$0.59 IQD 767

-33.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 IQD 98.5K

$34.79 IQD 45.6K

116.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.55 IQD 2,027

$2.27 IQD 2,971

-31.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,935

$2.32 IQD 3,033

-36.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 IQD 6,041

$7.05 IQD 9,233

-34.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 693

$0.64 IQD 837

-17.19%

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

$17.5K IQD 22.9M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

-7.37%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-0.97%

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

$102 IQD 133.4K

$101 IQD 132.5K

0.61%

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

$15.03 IQD 19.7K

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

-15.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.43 IQD 38.5K

$29.56 IQD 38.7K

-0.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.69 IQD 29.7K

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

-69.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.94 IQD 28.7K

$11.76 IQD 15.4K

86.56%

Cinema Ticket

$9.29 IQD 12.2K

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

-17.42%

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

$182 IQD 237.9K

$269 IQD 351.6K

-32.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,295 IQD 4.3M

$3,330 IQD 4.4M

-1.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.50 IQD 20.3K

$32.93 IQD 43.1K

-52.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.89 IQD 24.7K

$49.13 IQD 64.3K

-61.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.86 IQD 35.2K

$80.7 IQD 105.7K

-66.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.13 IQD 32.9K

$77.9 IQD 102.0K

-67.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$153 IQD 199.8K

$436 IQD 571.5K

-65.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$85.6 IQD 112.1K

$275 IQD 360.4K

-68.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 IQD 352.0K

$739 IQD 968.0K

-63.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 IQD 369.4K

$496 IQD 649.8K

-43.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$792 IQD 1.0M

$1,089 IQD 1.4M

-27.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$918 IQD 1.2M

$653 IQD 855.1K

40.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$483 IQD 632.4K

$580 IQD 759.9K

-16.78%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $153 in Mosul versus $436 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 20% 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: $145 vs $194 – 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 64%, 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 $953 per month in Mosul and $1,565 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 $635, than in Erbil at $1,043. 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.