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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $631 per month in Mosul vs $1,019 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,000 per month in Mosul vs $1,524 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,368 per month in Mosul vs $2,029 in Erbil, rent included.

Mosul is about 38% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mosul and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Mosul 53% lower, Erbil 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.38 IQD 4,422

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-56.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.24 IQD 25.2K

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

-16.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.08 IQD 7,961

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

-32.22%

Cappuccino

$1.62 IQD 2,128

$3.25 IQD 4,251

-50.15%

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

$0.41 IQD 533

$0.48 IQD 630

-14.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 265

$0.22 IQD 289

-9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 IQD 1,965

$2.01 IQD 2,632

-25.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 IQD 2,032

$2.04 IQD 2,671

-24.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 IQD 1,237

$1.32 IQD 1,726

-28.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,079

$0.85 IQD 1,115

-3.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,690

$1.81 IQD 2,368

-28.73%

Eggs

$1.51 IQD 1,972

$1.98 IQD 2,589

-23.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.38 IQD 4,422

$7.44 IQD 9,743

-54.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.89 IQD 5,101

$4.75 IQD 6,228

-18.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.42 IQD 15.0K

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

-18.37%

Apples (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 951

$1.15 IQD 1,509

-36.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,409

$1.16 IQD 1,513

-6.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 883

$1.13 IQD 1,482

-40.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 IQD 612

$0.81 IQD 1,061

-41.98%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.71 IQD 935

-32.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 IQD 709

$0.76 IQD 996

-28.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 IQD 583

$0.76 IQD 1,001

-40.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 739

$0.53 IQD 690

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.86 IQD 2,437

$2.76 IQD 3,609

-32.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.58 IQD 9,930

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

-38.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 IQD 1,871

$1.42 IQD 1,862

0.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 IQD 2,454

$2.00 IQD 2,626

-6.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.56 IQD 727

-35.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.8 IQD 100.6K

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

122.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 IQD 1,963

$2.28 IQD 2,991

-34.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,950

$2.29 IQD 2,996

-34.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 IQD 5,855

$6.92 IQD 9,058

-35.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 693

$0.70 IQD 910

-24.29%

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

$17.3K IQD 22.6M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

-9.23%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

-3.82%

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

$99.1 IQD 129.8K

$100 IQD 131.3K

-1.15%

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

$15.15 IQD 19.8K

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

-13.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.53 IQD 38.7K

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

-0.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.55 IQD 29.5K

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

-69.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.52 IQD 28.2K

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

82.06%

Cinema Ticket

$9.77 IQD 12.8K

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

-15.56%

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

$180 IQD 235.5K

$264 IQD 345.6K

-31.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,263 IQD 4.3M

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

-0.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.47 IQD 20.3K

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

-53.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 IQD 24.7K

$49.58 IQD 64.9K

-62.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$27.14 IQD 35.5K

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

-67.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.47 IQD 33.4K

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

-66.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$153 IQD 201.0K

$430 IQD 562.7K

-64.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.3 IQD 114.3K

$281 IQD 367.6K

-68.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 IQD 343.6K

$716 IQD 938.3K

-63.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 IQD 364.9K

$486 IQD 637.1K

-42.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$795 IQD 1.0M

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

-28.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 IQD 1.2M

$652 IQD 853.9K

41.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$484 IQD 633.5K

$576 IQD 754.0K

-15.98%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Erbil: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $153 in Mosul versus $430 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 19% 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 $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 61%, 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 $947 per month in Mosul and $1,528 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 $631, than in Erbil at $1,019. 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.