Cost of Living Comparison Between Mosul and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Mosul and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $653 per month in Mosul vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,030 per month in Mosul vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,407 per month in Mosul vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Mosul is about 60% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mosul sits 53% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.34 IQD 4,380

$8.04 COP 24.8K

-58.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.19 IQD 25.1K

$48.29 COP 148.6K

-60.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.23 IQD 8,156

$9.42 COP 29.0K

-33.86%

Cappuccino

$1.62 IQD 2,118

$2.94 COP 9,040

-44.90%

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

$0.37 IQD 489

$1.86 COP 5,735

-80.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 226

$1.46 COP 4,479

-88.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 IQD 2,051

$3.21 COP 9,882

-51.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 IQD 2,043

$5.71 COP 17.6K

-72.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.80 IQD 1,047

$1.44 COP 4,428

-44.44%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,045

$2.40 COP 7,389

-66.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 IQD 1,739

$1.70 COP 5,228

-21.76%

Eggs

$1.49 IQD 1,956

$2.89 COP 8,896

-48.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.59 IQD 4,707

$10.06 COP 30.9K

-64.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.34 IQD 5,687

$9.97 COP 30.7K

-56.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.71 IQD 15.3K

$14.20 COP 43.7K

-17.54%

Apples (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 900

$3.98 COP 12.3K

-82.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 IQD 1,401

$1.58 COP 4,878

-32.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 929

$2.15 COP 6,624

-66.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 IQD 692

$2.30 COP 7,078

-76.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 IQD 644

$2.00 COP 6,169

-75.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.44 IQD 582

$1.51 COP 4,646

-70.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 IQD 515

$1.20 COP 3,701

-67.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 862

$1.28 COP 3,946

-48.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,463

$3.84 COP 11.8K

-51.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

$14.01 COP 43.1K

-43.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 IQD 2,564

$1.71 COP 5,256

14.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 IQD 2,485

$2.74 COP 8,440

-30.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 513

$1.25 COP 3,834

-68.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 IQD 98.7K

$77.9 COP 239.7K

-3.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.57 IQD 2,061

$1.31 COP 4,016

19.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,944

$2.17 COP 6,680

-31.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.51 IQD 5,907

$8.29 COP 25.5K

-45.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 IQD 661

$1.36 COP 4,172

-63.24%

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

$17.2K IQD 22.6M

$27.5K COP 84.5M

-37.25%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$36.5K COP 112.4M

-44.26%

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

$88.0 IQD 115.3K

$169 COP 519.2K

-47.82%

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

$15.44 IQD 20.2K

$13.57 COP 41.8K

13.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.00 IQD 44.5K

$28.32 COP 87.2K

20.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.85 IQD 31.2K

$45.71 COP 140.7K

-47.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.99 IQD 34.0K

$17.22 COP 53.0K

50.93%

Cinema Ticket

$9.78 IQD 12.8K

$6.65 COP 20.5K

47.07%

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

$200 IQD 261.7K

$803 COP 2.5M

-75.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,569 IQD 4.7M

$9,190 COP 28.3M

-61.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

$87.4 COP 268.8K

-86.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.90 IQD 24.8K

$59.4 COP 182.7K

-68.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.60 IQD 34.8K

$139 COP 427.5K

-80.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.69 IQD 33.6K

$102 COP 314.0K

-74.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$162 IQD 212.7K

$1,071 COP 3.3M

-84.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 IQD 149.7K

$653 COP 2.0M

-82.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 IQD 368.5K

$1,925 COP 5.9M

-85.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 IQD 371.4K

$1,048 COP 3.2M

-72.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$812 IQD 1.1M

$4,123 COP 12.7M

-80.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$927 IQD 1.2M

$1,697 COP 5.2M

-45.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 IQD 624.2K

$655 COP 2.0M

-27.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Mosul: September 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $162 in Mosul versus $1,071 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 37% 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 $19.00 in Mosul versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $151 vs $300 – 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 Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 151%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $980 per month in Mosul and $2,462 in Medellin. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Mosul and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $653 in Mosul and $1,641 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mosul, where all-in costs run around $653, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Mosul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin 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.

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.