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 $574 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,101 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $882 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,630 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,189 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $2,158 in Erbil, rent included.

Ad Diwaniyah is about 48% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ad Diwaniyah and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Ad Diwaniyah 58% lower, Erbil 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.32 IQD 4,342

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

-56.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

-73.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.38 IQD 7,041

$8.42 IQD 11.0K

-36.10%

Cappuccino

$1.95 IQD 2,559

$3.84 IQD 5,027

-49.22%

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

$0.37 IQD 481

$1.03 IQD 1,353

-64.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 343

$0.44 IQD 580

-40.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.91 IQD 5,121

$6.05 IQD 7,920

-35.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 IQD 5,024

$4.71 IQD 6,166

-18.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 IQD 1,368

$1.27 IQD 1,657

-18.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 IQD 981

$0.83 IQD 1,083

-9.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 IQD 1,796

$1.68 IQD 2,197

-18.45%

Eggs

$1.91 IQD 2,495

$1.79 IQD 2,345

6.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.93 IQD 5,152

$8.06 IQD 10.6K

-51.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 IQD 4,882

$5.78 IQD 7,574

-35.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.42 IQD 14.9K

$14.84 IQD 19.4K

-23.05%

Apples (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 958

$1.13 IQD 1,483

-35.40%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 IQD 1,020

$1.10 IQD 1,443

-29.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.79 IQD 1,037

$1.23 IQD 1,612

-35.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$0.82 IQD 1,068

-4.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 922

$0.70 IQD 911

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 838

$0.69 IQD 905

-7.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.74 IQD 969

-47.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 IQD 854

$0.55 IQD 723

18.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 IQD 2,356

$2.52 IQD 3,294

-28.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.79 IQD 4,966

$12.54 IQD 16.4K

-69.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,798

$1.69 IQD 2,217

26.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 IQD 2,841

$2.09 IQD 2,735

3.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 772

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.81 IQD 57.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,083

$1.94 IQD 2,544

21.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 IQD 1,306

$1.82 IQD 2,381

-45.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.58 IQD 9,930

$6.56 IQD 8,588

15.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 IQD 430

$0.67 IQD 882

-50.75%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

3.31%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

-6.24%

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

$37.82 IQD 49.5K

$128 IQD 167.0K

-70.34%

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

$17.08 IQD 22.4K

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

22.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.02 IQD 49.8K

$28.49 IQD 37.3K

33.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.73 IQD 24.5K

$66.0 IQD 86.4K

-71.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.76 IQD 10.2K

$14.62 IQD 19.1K

-46.92%

Cinema Ticket

$7.56 IQD 9,897

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

-35.22%

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

$74.9 IQD 98.1K

$309 IQD 405.1K

-75.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,527 IQD 4.6M

$3,144 IQD 4.1M

12.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.14 IQD 38.2K

$31.32 IQD 41.0K

-6.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 IQD 49.1K

$44.84 IQD 58.7K

-16.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.8 IQD 95.3K

$69.3 IQD 90.7K

5.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.48 IQD 62.2K

$67.4 IQD 88.3K

-29.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

$460 IQD 602.5K

-83.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 IQD 149.8K

$297 IQD 389.4K

-61.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$154 IQD 201.7K

$740 IQD 969.5K

-79.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 IQD 295.9K

$432 IQD 566.1K

-47.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,092 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$665 IQD 870.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 IQD 507.4K

$614 IQD 803.9K

-36.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

2.53

62.85%

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

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: September 13, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $76.5 in Ad Diwaniyah versus $460 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 58% 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 $44.00 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $147 vs $204 – 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 92%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $862 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $1,652 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $574 in Ad Diwaniyah and $1,101 in Erbil. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $74.9 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $309 in Erbil. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ad Diwaniyah, where all-in costs run around $574, than in Erbil at $1,101. 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.