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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $750 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,043 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,160 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,545 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,570 per month in 'aqrah vs $2,046 in Erbil, rent included.

'aqrah is about 28% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both 'aqrah and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – 'aqrah 44% lower, Erbil 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.13 IQD 5,408

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-47.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.77 IQD 32.4K

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

7.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.87 IQD 8,996

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

-23.75%

Cappuccino

$2.64 IQD 3,462

$3.24 IQD 4,240

-18.52%

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

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.49 IQD 640

-18.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 250

$0.22 IQD 288

-13.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 IQD 3,783

$1.96 IQD 2,562

47.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 IQD 3,854

$2.16 IQD 2,824

36.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,773

$1.31 IQD 1,718

3.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,017

$0.79 IQD 1,034

-1.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,093

$1.87 IQD 2,450

-14.44%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,368

$1.95 IQD 2,557

-7.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.60 IQD 6,027

$7.26 IQD 9,502

-36.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 IQD 6,262

$4.69 IQD 6,144

1.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.32 IQD 17.4K

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

-5.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,552

$1.15 IQD 1,502

3.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,590

$1.18 IQD 1,547

2.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,389

$1.13 IQD 1,480

-6.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 929

$0.75 IQD 982

-5.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 855

$0.72 IQD 948

-9.72%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 869

$0.76 IQD 990

-13.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.76 IQD 1,001

-18.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 682

$0.56 IQD 738

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,541

$2.66 IQD 3,486

-27.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.28 IQD 16.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 IQD 2,401

$1.44 IQD 1,880

27.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,706

$1.94 IQD 2,538

6.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.59 IQD 767

-37.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.55 IQD 41.3K

$34.79 IQD 45.6K

-9.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,928

$2.27 IQD 2,971

-1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,013

$2.32 IQD 3,033

-33.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.90 IQD 7,729

$7.05 IQD 9,233

-16.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 701

$0.64 IQD 837

-15.62%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.2M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

1.85%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.7M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-4.53%

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

$76.5 IQD 100.1K

$101 IQD 132.5K

-24.45%

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

$17.41 IQD 22.8K

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

-2.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.96 IQD 44.5K

$29.56 IQD 38.7K

14.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.59 IQD 47.9K

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

-50.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.49 IQD 21.6K

$11.76 IQD 15.4K

40.22%

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 IQD 9,817

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

-33.33%

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

$150 IQD 197.1K

$269 IQD 351.6K

-43.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,228 IQD 4.2M

$3,330 IQD 4.4M

-3.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.10 IQD 35.5K

$32.93 IQD 43.1K

-17.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.99 IQD 32.7K

$49.13 IQD 64.3K

-49.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 IQD 80.2K

$80.7 IQD 105.7K

-24.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.99 IQD 53.7K

$77.9 IQD 102.0K

-47.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 IQD 318.8K

$436 IQD 571.5K

-44.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 237.3K

$275 IQD 360.4K

-34.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 763.3K

$739 IQD 968.0K

-21.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 IQD 455.2K

$496 IQD 649.8K

-29.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,089 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 IQD 855.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.9K

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $243 in 'aqrah versus $436 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 $194 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 39% 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 $1,125 per month in 'aqrah and $1,565 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 $750 in 'aqrah and $1,043 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 $750, than in Erbil at $1,043. 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.