Cost of Living Comparison Between Mosul and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Mosul and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $624 per month in Mosul vs $747 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,003 per month in Mosul vs $1,168 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,383 per month in Mosul vs $1,589 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

Mosul is about 17% cheaper than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Mosul and Sulaymaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Mosul 53% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.48 IQD 4,562

$5.32 IQD 6,969

-34.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.94 IQD 24.8K

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

-29.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.18 IQD 8,090

$7.08 IQD 9,272

-12.71%

Cappuccino

$1.61 IQD 2,111

$2.65 IQD 3,471

-39.25%

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

$0.40 IQD 525

$0.37 IQD 481

8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 283

$0.18 IQD 236

22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.55 IQD 2,034

$2.07 IQD 2,710

-25.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 IQD 2,037

$2.73 IQD 3,570

-42.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 IQD 1,230

$1.42 IQD 1,858

-33.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,079

$1.03 IQD 1,345

-20.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,682

$1.60 IQD 2,094

-20.00%

Eggs

$1.53 IQD 2,000

$1.78 IQD 2,325

-14.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.48 IQD 4,553

$5.76 IQD 7,540

-39.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.80 IQD 4,979

$3.46 IQD 4,533

9.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.78 IQD 15.4K

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

-16.34%

Apples (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 887

$1.17 IQD 1,532

-41.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 IQD 1,406

$1.29 IQD 1,691

-17.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 888

$1.33 IQD 1,737

-48.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 IQD 603

$0.71 IQD 923

-35.21%

Potato (1kg)

$0.45 IQD 590

$0.62 IQD 808

-27.42%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 IQD 753

$0.67 IQD 878

-13.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 IQD 580

$0.58 IQD 764

-24.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 687

$0.46 IQD 601

13.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.96 IQD 2,566

$1.89 IQD 2,481

3.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.53 IQD 9,859

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

-32.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 IQD 1,873

$1.50 IQD 1,971

-4.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 IQD 2,462

$1.75 IQD 2,287

7.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 473

$0.55 IQD 721

-34.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.8 IQD 99.3K

$23.10 IQD 30.3K

228.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.56 IQD 2,042

$2.36 IQD 3,087

-33.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,922

$2.33 IQD 3,050

-36.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 IQD 6,049

$5.41 IQD 7,082

-14.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 IQD 754

$0.72 IQD 943

-19.44%

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

$17.3K IQD 22.7M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

-16.71%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

-2.72%

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

$102 IQD 133.3K

$76.0 IQD 99.5K

33.93%

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

$15.51 IQD 20.3K

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

-7.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.70 IQD 38.9K

$26.19 IQD 34.3K

13.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.60 IQD 29.6K

$38.72 IQD 50.7K

-41.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.89 IQD 28.7K

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

31.71%

Cinema Ticket

$9.45 IQD 12.4K

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

21.47%

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

$176 IQD 230.2K

$155 IQD 202.4K

13.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,283 IQD 4.3M

$3,464 IQD 4.5M

-5.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.24 IQD 20.0K

$23.54 IQD 30.8K

-35.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.50 IQD 25.5K

$25.32 IQD 33.2K

-22.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.76 IQD 35.0K

$44.08 IQD 57.7K

-39.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.49 IQD 33.4K

$35.85 IQD 46.9K

-28.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$152 IQD 198.9K

$237 IQD 309.9K

-35.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.8 IQD 114.9K

$175 IQD 229.7K

-49.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 IQD 347.3K

$581 IQD 760.3K

-54.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 IQD 374.3K

$346 IQD 453.6K

-17.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$814 IQD 1.1M

$799 IQD 1.0M

1.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$925 IQD 1.2M

$569 IQD 745.3K

62.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$475 IQD 621.9K

$567 IQD 742.3K

-16.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

59.22%

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

Last update for Mosul: May 30, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $152 in Mosul versus $237 in Sulaymaniyah. 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 Sulaymaniyah, 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 $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $145 vs $182 – 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 Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $624 in Mosul, $747 in Sulaymaniyah – roughly 20% apart. Sulaymaniyah costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $935 per month in Mosul and $1,121 in Sulaymaniyah. 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 $624 in Mosul and $747 in Sulaymaniyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 228% less in Mosul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $624 in Mosul and $747 in Sulaymaniyah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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, Sulaymaniyah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.