Cost of Living Comparison Between Mosul and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Mosul and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $631 per month in Mosul vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,000 per month in Mosul vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,368 per month in Mosul vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Mosul is about 51% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mosul and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Mosul 53% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.38 IQD 4,422

$11.94 MX$208

-71.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.24 IQD 25.2K

$42.75 MX$744

-54.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.08 IQD 7,961

$10.59 MX$184

-42.59%

Cappuccino

$1.62 IQD 2,128

$3.62 MX$63.0

-55.25%

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

$0.41 IQD 533

$1.47 MX$25.54

-72.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 265

$0.94 MX$16.41

-78.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 IQD 1,965

$3.09 MX$53.8

-51.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 IQD 2,032

$4.46 MX$77.6

-65.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 IQD 1,237

$1.43 MX$24.80

-34.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,079

$1.88 MX$32.79

-56.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,690

$1.63 MX$28.34

-20.86%

Eggs

$1.51 IQD 1,972

$2.64 MX$45.99

-42.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.38 IQD 4,422

$8.21 MX$143

-58.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.89 IQD 5,101

$8.29 MX$144

-53.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.42 IQD 15.0K

$11.10 MX$193

2.88%

Apples (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 951

$2.65 MX$46.14

-72.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,409

$1.50 MX$26.11

-28.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 883

$1.99 MX$34.59

-66.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 IQD 612

$2.08 MX$36.13

-77.40%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 IQD 630

$1.79 MX$31.11

-73.18%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 IQD 709

$2.18 MX$37.87

-75.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 IQD 583

$1.08 MX$18.73

-58.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 739

$1.04 MX$18.04

-46.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.86 IQD 2,437

$3.97 MX$69.1

-53.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.58 IQD 9,930

$10.20 MX$178

-25.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 IQD 1,871

$1.73 MX$30.04

-17.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 IQD 2,454

$2.50 MX$43.46

-25.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.52 MX$9.02

-30.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.8 IQD 100.6K

$26.97 MX$469

184.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 IQD 1,963

$3.14 MX$54.7

-52.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,950

$2.40 MX$41.80

-37.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 IQD 5,855

$3.09 MX$53.7

44.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 693

$1.27 MX$22.16

-58.27%

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

$17.3K IQD 22.6M

$30.9K MX$537.3K

-44.04%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$23.3K MX$405.7K

-14.40%

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

$99.1 IQD 129.8K

$82.0 MX$1,427

20.80%

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

$15.15 IQD 19.8K

$22.45 MX$391

-32.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.53 IQD 38.7K

$29.66 MX$516

-0.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.55 IQD 29.5K

$51.9 MX$903

-56.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.52 IQD 28.2K

$18.67 MX$325

15.27%

Cinema Ticket

$9.77 IQD 12.8K

$4.97 MX$86.5

96.58%

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

$180 IQD 235.5K

$198 MX$3,442

-9.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,263 IQD 4.3M

$5,273 MX$91.7K

-38.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.47 IQD 20.3K

$36.34 MX$632

-57.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 IQD 24.7K

$40.05 MX$697

-52.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$27.14 IQD 35.5K

$79.9 MX$1,390

-66.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.47 IQD 33.4K

$88.9 MX$1,547

-71.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$153 IQD 201.0K

$963 MX$16.8K

-84.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.3 IQD 114.3K

$465 MX$8,086

-81.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 IQD 343.6K

$1,596 MX$27.8K

-83.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 IQD 364.9K

$1,209 MX$21.0K

-76.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$795 IQD 1.0M

$3,942 MX$68.6K

-79.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 IQD 1.2M

$6,448 MX$112.2K

-85.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$484 IQD 633.5K

$720 MX$12.5K

-32.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

11.42

25.48%

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

Last update for Mosul: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $153 in Mosul versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. 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 49% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $145 vs $251 – 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 Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $631 in Mosul, $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 104% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $947 per month in Mosul and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $631 in Mosul and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 185% less in Mosul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mosul, where all-in costs run around $631, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Mosul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $631 in Mosul to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Mosul. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.