Baghdad vs Mosul

Side-by-side comparison for digital nomads

Baghdad 9% cheaper Baghdad +21 Mbps Moderate / N/A
Nomad Cost

$1,697

Baghdad

$1,860

Mosul

Internet

36

Mbps

15

Mbps

Safety

Moderate

Baghdad

N/A

Mosul

Air Quality

5/5

Baghdad

5/5

Mosul

Healthcare

High

Baghdad

N/A

Mosul

Population

8.1m

Baghdad

664.2k

Mosul

Baghdad and Mosul are both in Iraq, making this one of the most common comparisons for digital nomads planning a base in the region. This guide breaks down the key differences across cost, internet, safety, weather, and quality of life.

Cost of Living

Baghdad edges ahead on affordability at $1697/mo compared to Mosul's $1860/mo — a 9% gap that matters over time.

For families, Baghdad costs $2352.314611633442/mo compared to Mosul's $1762.140088746978/mo.

Internet & Infrastructure

For bandwidth-intensive work, Baghdad has a clear edge at 36 Mbps (#147 globally) compared to Mosul's 15 Mbps (#179).

Quality of Life

Both Baghdad and Mosul share the same safety rating — travelers can feel equally comfortable in either city.

Healthcare quality is rated similarly in both Baghdad and Mosul.

Monthly Weather Comparison

The best time to visit Baghdad is March (around 21 degrees, 0mm rain, score 406), while Mosul peaks in April (28 degrees, 0mm rain, score 330). Timing your stay around these months can make a big difference in your experience.

Cost of Living

BaghdadMosul
Nomad$1,697/mo$1,860/mo
Expat$1,132/mo$809/mo
Local$672/mo$503/mo
Family$2,352/mo$1,762/mo

Internet & Infrastructure

BaghdadMosul
City Speed
36 Mbps#147
15 Mbps#179
Country Speed33 Mbps33 Mbps

Environment & Health

BaghdadMosul
Air Quality Score5/55/5
PollutionHighN/A
ClimateLowN/A
Humidity2128

Quality of Life

BaghdadMosul
SafetyModerateN/A
HealthcareHighN/A

Monthly Weather Comparison

Baghdad
Mosul
Jan
16°
0mm366
12°
0mm275
Feb
17°
0mm366
14°
0mm290
Mar
21°
0mm406
16°
0mm287
Apr
30°
0mm386
28°
0mm330
May
34°
0mm356
29°
0mm330
Jun
43°
0mm346
42°
0mm270
Jul
43°
0mm346
43°
0mm270
Aug
43°
0mm346
43°
0mm270
Sep
38°
0mm356
37°
0mm280
Oct
32°
0mm366
28°
0mm330
Nov
23°
0mm406
19°
0mm310
Dec
16°
0mm366
12°
0mm280

Who Should Choose Baghdad?

  • Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
  • Family-friendly at $2352.314611633442/mo for families
  • Major city energy with 8.1m residents
  • Peak season in March — 21 degrees, score 406

Who Should Choose Mosul?

  • Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
  • Family-friendly at $1762.140088746978/mo for families
  • Peak season in April — 28 degrees, score 330

Overall Verdict

The data favors Baghdad as the more well-rounded choice. At $1697/mo versus Mosul's $1860/mo, that is a 9% saving that adds up significantly on an extended stay.

Granular Price Comparison

Baghdad Mosul
ItemBaghdadMosulDiff
🍽️Restaurants8 items
Meal, inexpensive restaurant$4.72$5.49
14%
Meal for 2, mid-range (3-course)$22.85$16.41
28%
McMeal or equivalent combo$8$4.22
47%
Cappuccino (regular)$2.45$1.69
31%
Domestic beer (0.5L draught)$1.83$2
8%
Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$3.5$1.71
51%
Coke/Pepsi (0.33L)$0.46$0.4
13%
Water (0.33L)$0.2$0.19
5%
🛒Markets19 items
Milk (1L)$1$1.07
7%
White bread (500g)$0.78$0.78
=
White rice (1kg)$1.21$1.05
13%
Eggs (12)$1.64$1.62
1%
Chicken fillets (1kg)$4.13$3.38
18%
Beef round (1kg)$9.96$8.85
11%
Local cheese (1kg)$4.29$4.6
7%
Apples (1kg)$0.85$0.84
1%
Bananas (1kg)$0.96$1.01
5%
Oranges (1kg)$0.89$0.76
15%
Tomatoes (1kg)$0.61$0.49
20%
Potatoes (1kg)$0.6$0.46
23%
Onions (1kg)$0.51$0.58
12%
Lettuce (1 head)$0.73$0.38
48%
Water (1.5L bottle)$0.52$0.46
12%
Wine, mid-range bottle$12.3$3.36
73%
Domestic beer (0.5L bottle)$1.52$1.39
9%
Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$2.26$1.49
34%
Cigarettes (pack of 20)$1.71$1.04
39%
🚌Transport8 items
One-way local transport ticket$0.35$0.42
17%
Monthly transport pass$25.2$30.67
18%
Taxi start (normal tariff)$3$1.93
36%
Taxi per 1km$2$1.86
7%
Taxi 1hr waiting$5.02$4.2
16%
Gasoline (1L)$0.35$0.46
24%
Volkswagen Golf (new)$13,959.79$19,945.78
30%
Toyota Corolla (new)$16,831.23$20,956.21
20%
⚡Utilities3 items
Utilities, 85m² apartment/mo$123.31$72.98
41%
Internet 60+ Mbps/mo$58.46$30.31
48%
Mobile prepaid per minute$0.09$0.06
33%
🏋️Sport & Leisure3 items
Fitness club, monthly$34.73$16.06
54%
Tennis court rent (1hr weekend)$14.24$12.61
11%
Cinema, 1 ticket$7$8.41
17%
👶Childcare2 items
Preschool, full-day private/mo$142.33$34.65
76%
International primary school/yr$1,709.02$1,000
41%
👗Clothing4 items
Jeans (Levi's 501 or similar)$25.72$25.19
2%
Summer dress (chain store)$29.61$12.59
57%
Nike running shoes (mid-range)$46.38$67.15
31%
Men's leather business shoes$35.95$66.04
46%
🏠Rent4 items
1-bedroom apartment, city centre$432.77$112.96
74%
1-bedroom apartment, outside centre$251.24$60.42
76%
3-bedroom apartment, city centre$798$281.01
65%
3-bedroom apartment, outside centre$459.25$119.63
74%
🏗️Buy2 items
Price per m², city centre$2,099.93$509.85
76%
Price per m², outside centre$928.52$178.94
81%
💰Finance2 items
Average monthly net salary$520.92$838.28
38%
Mortgage interest rate (20yr fixed)$8.38$17
51%

Lower is better for all cost items.

Data from Open-Meteo (weather) and global internet speed rankings. Updated monthly.

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