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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $743 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,019 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,157 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,524 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,571 per month in 'aqrah vs $2,029 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

$4.12 IQD 5,395

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-47.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.25 IQD 33.1K

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

9.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.04 IQD 9,226

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

-21.52%

Cappuccino

$2.59 IQD 3,398

$3.25 IQD 4,252

-20.31%

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

$0.39 IQD 516

$0.48 IQD 630

-18.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 282

$0.22 IQD 289

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 IQD 3,720

$2.01 IQD 2,633

41.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 IQD 3,717

$2.04 IQD 2,671

39.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,786

$1.32 IQD 1,727

3.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,028

$0.85 IQD 1,115

-8.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,159

$1.81 IQD 2,368

-8.84%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,342

$1.98 IQD 2,590

-9.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.43 IQD 5,806

$7.44 IQD 9,745

-40.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 IQD 6,262

$4.75 IQD 6,229

0.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.06 IQD 17.1K

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

-6.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,567

$1.15 IQD 1,509

4.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,509

$1.16 IQD 1,514

-0.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,378

$1.13 IQD 1,483

-7.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 990

$0.81 IQD 1,061

-6.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 841

$0.71 IQD 936

-9.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 824

$0.76 IQD 997

-17.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 812

$0.76 IQD 1,002

-18.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 690

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,478

$2.76 IQD 3,610

-31.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,442

$1.42 IQD 1,862

30.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 IQD 2,763

$2.00 IQD 2,627

5.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 520

$0.56 IQD 728

-28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.94 IQD 40.5K

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

-10.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,959

$2.28 IQD 2,992

-0.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,939

$2.29 IQD 2,997

-35.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 IQD 8,077

$6.92 IQD 9,060

-10.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 696

$0.70 IQD 911

-24.29%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

0.95%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

-3.29%

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

$76.8 IQD 100.7K

$100 IQD 131.3K

-23.33%

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

$17.87 IQD 23.4K

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

1.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.74 IQD 45.5K

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

17.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.42 IQD 49.0K

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

-49.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.00 IQD 22.3K

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

43.82%

Cinema Ticket

$7.47 IQD 9,781

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

-35.44%

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

$151 IQD 197.3K

$264 IQD 345.7K

-42.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,295 IQD 4.3M

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

0.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.67 IQD 34.9K

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

-19.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.37 IQD 33.2K

$49.58 IQD 65.0K

-48.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.0 IQD 81.3K

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

-25.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.81 IQD 53.5K

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

-46.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 IQD 318.4K

$430 IQD 562.8K

-43.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 IQD 232.9K

$281 IQD 367.7K

-36.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 IQD 770.5K

$716 IQD 938.5K

-17.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 IQD 447.2K

$486 IQD 637.2K

-29.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$652 IQD 854.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$576 IQD 754.2K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Erbil: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $243 in 'aqrah versus $430 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 – $158 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 37% 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 $1,115 per month in 'aqrah and $1,528 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 $743 in 'aqrah and $1,019 in Erbil. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 12% 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 $743, than in Erbil at $1,019. 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.