Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Diwaniyah and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Diwaniyah and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $620 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,017 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $873 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,518 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,127 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $2,019 in Erbil, rent included.

Ad Diwaniyah is about 39% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Ad Diwaniyah and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Ad Diwaniyah 54% lower, Erbil 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.01 IQD 3,943

$7.59 IQD 9,938

-60.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.58 IQD 15.2K

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

-49.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.04 IQD 6,602

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

-41.73%

Cappuccino

$1.47 IQD 1,926

$3.25 IQD 4,260

-54.77%

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

$0.37 IQD 484

$0.52 IQD 676

-28.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 245

$0.20 IQD 261

-5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.87 IQD 3,756

$1.95 IQD 2,555

47.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 IQD 3,867

$2.04 IQD 2,675

44.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,796

$1.32 IQD 1,725

3.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 975

$0.81 IQD 1,062

-8.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 IQD 1,774

$1.80 IQD 2,357

-25.00%

Eggs

$1.73 IQD 2,265

$1.91 IQD 2,505

-9.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.59 IQD 6,009

$7.50 IQD 9,816

-38.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.00 IQD 6,546

$4.82 IQD 6,315

3.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.40 IQD 13.6K

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

-26.24%

Apples (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,048

$1.18 IQD 1,551

-32.20%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,266

$1.15 IQD 1,500

-15.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 IQD 1,184

$1.14 IQD 1,494

-21.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 727

$0.80 IQD 1,045

-30.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 857

$0.66 IQD 863

-1.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 868

$0.77 IQD 1,002

-14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 IQD 643

$0.77 IQD 1,008

-36.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 IQD 811

$0.55 IQD 721

12.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 IQD 2,534

$2.74 IQD 3,594

-29.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.09 IQD 9,290

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

-42.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,338

$1.37 IQD 1,794

30.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 IQD 2,859

$2.00 IQD 2,619

9.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 519

$0.59 IQD 768

-32.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.85 IQD 40.4K

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

-11.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 IQD 2,567

$2.25 IQD 2,942

-12.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.24 IQD 1,630

$2.29 IQD 2,993

-45.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

$6.85 IQD 8,966

13.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.38 IQD 504

$0.64 IQD 839

-40.63%

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

$9,802 IQD 12.8M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

-49.28%

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

$18.2K IQD 23.8M

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

-12.28%

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

$38.14 IQD 49.9K

$101 IQD 132.2K

-62.22%

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

$17.12 IQD 22.4K

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

-1.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.65 IQD 50.6K

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

27.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.24 IQD 22.6K

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

-76.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

-21.92%

Cinema Ticket

$5.51 IQD 7,219

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

-51.15%

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

$91.8 IQD 120.1K

$271 IQD 354.5K

-66.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$756 IQD 989.9K

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

-76.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.63 IQD 25.7K

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

-39.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.39 IQD 39.8K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-38.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

-75.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$24.74 IQD 32.4K

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

-67.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$138 IQD 180.1K

$425 IQD 556.0K

-67.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 237.3K

$279 IQD 365.3K

-35.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 IQD 310.8K

$740 IQD 969.0K

-67.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 IQD 256.5K

$491 IQD 643.3K

-60.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$743 IQD 972.5K

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

-32.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$298 IQD 389.6K

$646 IQD 845.4K

-53.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$482 IQD 631.3K

$591 IQD 773.3K

-18.37%

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 Ad Diwaniyah: June 8, 2026

Last update for Erbil: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $138 in Ad Diwaniyah 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.

Salaries run about 23% higher in Erbil, 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 $12.00 in Ad Diwaniyah versus $23.00 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $160 vs $195 – making Ad Diwaniyah 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

Ad Diwaniyah vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 64%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $930 per month in Ad Diwaniyah 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 Ad Diwaniyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $91.8 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $271 in Erbil. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Erbil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ad Diwaniyah, where all-in costs run around $620, than in Erbil at $1,017. In Ad Diwaniyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ad Diwaniyah – 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 Ad Diwaniyah. 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.