Cost of Living Comparison Between 'aqrah and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between 'aqrah and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $747 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,017 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,157 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,518 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,568 per month in 'aqrah vs $2,019 in Erbil, rent included.

'aqrah is about 27% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both 'aqrah and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – 'aqrah 44% lower, Erbil 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.04 IQD 5,286

$7.59 IQD 9,938

-46.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.76 IQD 32.4K

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

8.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 IQD 8,959

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

-20.92%

Cappuccino

$2.60 IQD 3,410

$3.25 IQD 4,260

-20.00%

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

$0.36 IQD 475

$0.52 IQD 676

-30.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 218

$0.20 IQD 261

-15.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.82 IQD 3,697

$1.95 IQD 2,555

44.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 IQD 3,741

$2.04 IQD 2,675

40.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,739

$1.32 IQD 1,725

0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,100

$0.81 IQD 1,062

3.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,100

$1.80 IQD 2,357

-11.11%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,372

$1.91 IQD 2,505

-5.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.57 IQD 5,989

$7.50 IQD 9,816

-39.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 IQD 6,266

$4.82 IQD 6,315

-0.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 IQD 17.4K

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

-6.03%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,558

$1.18 IQD 1,551

0.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,585

$1.15 IQD 1,500

5.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,388

$1.14 IQD 1,494

-7.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 974

$0.80 IQD 1,045

-7.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 912

$0.66 IQD 863

6.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 885

$0.77 IQD 1,002

-11.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 823

$0.77 IQD 1,008

-18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 690

$0.55 IQD 721

-3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 IQD 2,575

$2.74 IQD 3,594

-28.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,307

$1.37 IQD 1,794

28.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,832

$2.00 IQD 2,619

8.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.59 IQD 768

-33.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.75 IQD 41.6K

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

-9.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,954

$2.25 IQD 2,942

0.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 IQD 1,959

$2.29 IQD 2,993

-34.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 IQD 8,065

$6.85 IQD 8,966

-10.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 702

$0.64 IQD 839

-15.62%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

-2.40%

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

$19.8K IQD 26.0M

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

-4.42%

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

$78.7 IQD 103.1K

$101 IQD 132.2K

-22.04%

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

$17.29 IQD 22.6K

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

-0.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.72 IQD 45.5K

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

14.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.58 IQD 47.9K

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

-49.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.65 IQD 21.8K

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

44.28%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

-30.76%

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

$149 IQD 195.7K

$271 IQD 354.5K

-44.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,313 IQD 4.3M

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

1.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.58 IQD 36.1K

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

-14.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.89 IQD 32.6K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-49.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

-25.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.61 IQD 53.2K

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

-47.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$245 IQD 320.2K

$425 IQD 556.0K

-42.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 IQD 230.7K

$279 IQD 365.3K

-36.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$571 IQD 747.7K

$740 IQD 969.0K

-22.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 IQD 458.5K

$491 IQD 643.3K

-28.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 845.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 IQD 773.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

14.33

-60.43%

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

Last update for 'aqrah: June 8, 2026

Last update for Erbil: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $245 in 'aqrah versus $425 in Erbil. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in 'aqrah versus $23.00 in Erbil. Groceries tell a different story – $159 in 'aqrah vs $195 in Erbil – so 'aqrah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

'aqrah vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Erbil costs about 36% more than 'aqrah, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,120 per month in 'aqrah and $1,525 in Erbil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in 'aqrah, 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 $747 in 'aqrah and $1,017 in Erbil. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 10% less in 'aqrah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in 'aqrah, where all-in costs run around $747, than in Erbil at $1,017. In 'aqrah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward 'aqrah – 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 'aqrah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Erbil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.