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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $632 per month in Mosul vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,006 per month in Mosul vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,380 per month in Mosul vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

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

Both Mosul and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Mosul 53% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mosul
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.47 IQD 4,547
$6.16 COP 20.1K
-43.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.46 IQD 25.5K
$32.60 COP 106.1K
-40.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.08 IQD 7,956
$7.34 COP 23.9K
-17.17%
Cappuccino
$1.61 IQD 2,109
$1.72 COP 5,600
-6.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 IQD 528
$1.05 COP 3,420
-61.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 IQD 278
$0.77 COP 2,515
-72.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.55 IQD 2,033
$1.69 COP 5,488
-8.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 IQD 1,964
$3.17 COP 10.3K
-52.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mosul
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 IQD 1,319
$1.05 COP 3,423
-3.81%
White Bread (500g)
$0.82 IQD 1,073
$1.30 COP 4,236
-36.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 IQD 1,690
$1.40 COP 4,544
-7.86%
Eggs
$1.59 IQD 2,076
$2.16 COP 7,047
-26.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.56 IQD 4,665
$4.39 COP 14.3K
-18.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.94 IQD 5,165
$5.88 COP 19.1K
-32.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.69 IQD 15.3K
$8.64 COP 28.1K
35.30%
Apples (1kg)
$0.73 IQD 953
$2.28 COP 7,426
-67.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 IQD 1,389
$1.11 COP 3,604
-4.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.72 IQD 942
$1.53 COP 4,983
-52.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.47 IQD 611
$1.35 COP 4,410
-65.19%
Potato (1kg)
$0.45 IQD 592
$1.13 COP 3,674
-60.18%
Onion (1kg)
$0.58 IQD 760
$1.13 COP 3,692
-48.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 IQD 622
$0.85 COP 2,753
-43.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 IQD 676
$0.91 COP 2,975
-42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.93 IQD 2,523
$2.34 COP 7,630
-17.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.60 IQD 9,958
$12.37 COP 40.3K
-38.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 IQD 1,831
$1.20 COP 3,909
16.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 IQD 2,461
$2.49 COP 8,104
-24.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Mosul
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 IQD 477
$0.84 COP 2,728
-57.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.7 IQD 100.4K
$40.57 COP 132.1K
89.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 IQD 1,949
$1.42 COP 4,623
4.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 IQD 1,927
$1.92 COP 6,235
-23.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.48 IQD 5,864
$7.66 COP 24.9K
-41.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.52 IQD 686
$0.99 COP 3,223
-47.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.5K IQD 22.9M
$18.0K COP 58.7M
-3.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K IQD 26.5M
$26.6K COP 86.7M
-23.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mosul
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$100 IQD 131.1K
$80.8 COP 263.1K
23.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.03 IQD 19.7K
$9.95 COP 32.4K
51.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.61 IQD 38.8K
$24.18 COP 78.7K
22.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mosul
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.10 IQD 28.9K
$25.08 COP 81.7K
-11.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.90 IQD 28.7K
$19.15 COP 62.3K
14.36%
Cinema Ticket
$9.68 IQD 12.7K
$3.98 COP 13.0K
143.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mosul
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$180 IQD 236.3K
$305 COP 993.5K
-40.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,281 IQD 4.3M
$6,059 COP 19.7M
-45.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mosul
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.26 IQD 20.0K
$58.1 COP 189.2K
-73.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.43 IQD 25.4K
$32.20 COP 104.8K
-39.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$26.54 IQD 34.7K
$101 COP 327.9K
-73.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.49 IQD 33.4K
$108 COP 350.8K
-76.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mosul
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$150 IQD 196.2K
$477 COP 1.6M
-68.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$87.6 IQD 114.7K
$376 COP 1.2M
-76.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$267 IQD 349.3K
$845 COP 2.7M
-68.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$282 IQD 368.8K
$730 COP 2.4M
-61.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$792 IQD 1.0M
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-75.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$913 IQD 1.2M
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-33.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mosul
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$489 IQD 640.2K
$617 COP 2.0M
-20.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.33
13.43
6.70%

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

Last update for Mosul: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $150 in Mosul versus $477 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 26% 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 $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $147 vs $193 – 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
Is Medellin cheaper than Mosul?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 63%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $948 per month in Mosul and $1,546 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Mosul or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Mosul and $33.00 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 $632 in Mosul and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Mosul or in Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mosul, where all-in costs run around $632, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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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