Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mosul and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Mosul: $573 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $12,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mosul, Iraq
Medellin, Colombia
Mosul
🇮🇶 Iraq
$573
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mosul and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mosul and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $573 per month in Mosul vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Mosul $573
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $906 per month in Mosul vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Mosul $906
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $1,239 per month in Mosul vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Mosul $1,239
  • Medellin $3,186

Mosul is about 65% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Mosul sits 58% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mosul
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.07 IQD 6,154
$8.09 COP 25.4K
-49.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.30 IQD 24.6K
$47.05 COP 148.0K
-65.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.21 IQD 7,870
$9.50 COP 29.9K
-45.16%
Cappuccino
$1.44 IQD 2,171
$3.01 COP 9,485
-52.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 IQD 552
$1.80 COP 5,660
-79.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 IQD 241
$1.41 COP 4,443
-88.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.35 IQD 2,045
$3.18 COP 9,990
-57.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 IQD 1,965
$5.75 COP 18.1K
-77.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mosul
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.72 IQD 1,086
$1.51 COP 4,751
-52.32%
White Bread (500g)
$0.63 IQD 955
$2.38 COP 7,480
-73.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.09 IQD 1,645
$1.77 COP 5,573
-38.42%
Eggs
$1.35 IQD 2,045
$2.89 COP 9,093
-53.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.05 IQD 4,611
$10.19 COP 32.1K
-70.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 IQD 5,481
$9.87 COP 31.1K
-63.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.20 IQD 15.4K
$13.99 COP 44.0K
-27.09%
Apples (1kg)
$0.60 IQD 900
$3.97 COP 12.5K
-84.89%
Banana (1kg)
$0.89 IQD 1,347
$1.55 COP 4,883
-42.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.61 IQD 915
$2.18 COP 6,867
-72.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.43 IQD 650
$2.18 COP 6,870
-80.28%
Potato (1kg)
$0.41 IQD 617
$1.96 COP 6,174
-79.08%
Onion (1kg)
$0.41 IQD 621
$1.59 COP 5,000
-74.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.36 IQD 544
$1.15 COP 3,604
-68.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 IQD 785
$1.24 COP 3,911
-58.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.67 IQD 2,528
$3.96 COP 12.5K
-57.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.47 IQD 9,779
$13.68 COP 43.0K
-52.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 IQD 2,222
$1.66 COP 5,221
-11.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 IQD 2,516
$2.26 COP 7,103
-26.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Mosul
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 IQD 518
$1.17 COP 3,674
-70.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.0 IQD 113.4K
$77.4 COP 243.4K
-3.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 IQD 1,954
$1.27 COP 3,989
1.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.36 IQD 2,051
$2.05 COP 6,442
-33.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.99 IQD 6,032
$8.55 COP 26.9K
-53.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.44 IQD 661
$1.35 COP 4,237
-67.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.0K IQD 22.7M
$34.1K COP 107.2M
-56.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.3K IQD 26.2M
$34.7K COP 109.1M
-50.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mosul
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.1 IQD 115.0K
$170 COP 533.7K
-55.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.24 IQD 18.5K
$13.55 COP 42.6K
-9.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.78 IQD 35.9K
$28.07 COP 88.3K
-15.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mosul
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.66 IQD 31.2K
$43.70 COP 137.5K
-52.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.72 IQD 34.3K
$17.19 COP 54.1K
32.17%
Cinema Ticket
$8.09 IQD 12.2K
$6.91 COP 21.7K
17.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mosul
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$172 IQD 259.6K
$797 COP 2.5M
-78.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,729 IQD 4.1M
$9,112 COP 28.7M
-70.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mosul
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$10.79 IQD 16.3K
$84.7 COP 266.5K
-87.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.25 IQD 24.6K
$58.0 COP 182.3K
-71.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$23.17 IQD 35.0K
$135 COP 424.6K
-82.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$22.08 IQD 33.4K
$97.9 COP 307.9K
-77.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mosul
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$142 IQD 215.2K
$1,208 COP 3.8M
-88.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$103 IQD 155.9K
$642 COP 2.0M
-83.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$247 IQD 373.8K
$2,028 COP 6.4M
-87.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$252 IQD 380.7K
$1,012 COP 3.2M
-75.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$730 IQD 1.1M
$4,170 COP 13.1M
-82.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$502 IQD 758.5K
$1,910 COP 6.0M
-73.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mosul
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$420 IQD 634.2K
$657 COP 2.1M
-36.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.53
10.94
-76.87%

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

Last update for Mosul: October 25, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Mosul
$127
Medellin
$297 133% $170
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mosul
$112
Medellin
$211 88.4% $99
Accommodation & Living
Mosul
$103
Medellin
$642 522% $538
Getting Around
Mosul
$84
Medellin
$94 10.7% $9.1
Eating Out
Mosul
$77
Medellin
$170 121% $93
Sport & Entertainment
Mosul
$37
Medellin
$58 56.2% $21
Clothing & Footwear
Mosul
$33
Medellin
$169 420% $136

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $142 in Mosul versus $1,208 in Medellin. 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 57% higher in Medellin, 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 $16 in Mosul versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $127 vs $297 – making Mosul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇶 Mosul
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
17:55 5:55 PM
09:55 9:55 AM
8 h behind Mosul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,683,000
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Iraqi Dinar IQD ع.د
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to IQD – Iraqi Dinar Converter

Iraqi Dinar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1,511 IQD (10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD). 1 EUR = 1,682 IQD (10,000 IQD = 5.95 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3,146 COP (10,000 COP = 3.18 USD). 1 EUR = 3,501 COP (10,000 COP = 2.86 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mosul Medellin 12,080 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mosul
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mosul cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 186%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $860 per month in Mosul and $2,459 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mosul, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $142 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Mosul or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $16 in Mosul and $47 in Medellin. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Mosul and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $573 in Mosul and $1,639 in Medellin. That’s a gap of about 186%.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget for living in Mosul or in Medellin?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Mosul, where all-in costs run around $573, than in Medellin at $1,639. In Mosul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mosul or Medellin more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mosul. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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