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 $621 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,019 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $872 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,524 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,123 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $2,029 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

$3.04 IQD 3,983

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-60.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.37 IQD 14.9K

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

-50.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 IQD 6,961

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

-40.80%

Cappuccino

$1.49 IQD 1,948

$3.25 IQD 4,251

-54.15%

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

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.48 IQD 630

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 249

$0.22 IQD 289

-13.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 IQD 3,886

$2.01 IQD 2,632

47.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 IQD 3,677

$2.04 IQD 2,671

37.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,785

$1.32 IQD 1,726

3.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 IQD 983

$0.85 IQD 1,115

-11.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 IQD 1,768

$1.81 IQD 2,368

-25.41%

Eggs

$1.74 IQD 2,284

$1.98 IQD 2,589

-12.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,761

$7.44 IQD 9,743

-40.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 IQD 6,620

$4.75 IQD 6,228

6.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.21 IQD 13.4K

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

-27.02%

Apples (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,067

$1.15 IQD 1,509

-29.57%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 IQD 1,201

$1.16 IQD 1,513

-20.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 IQD 1,171

$1.13 IQD 1,482

-21.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 787

$0.81 IQD 1,061

-25.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 844

$0.71 IQD 935

-9.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 816

$0.76 IQD 996

-18.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 IQD 586

$0.76 IQD 1,001

-40.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 858

$0.53 IQD 690

24.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.96 IQD 2,565

$2.76 IQD 3,609

-28.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.02 IQD 9,197

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

-42.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 IQD 2,389

$1.42 IQD 1,862

28.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,819

$2.00 IQD 2,626

7.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 474

$0.56 IQD 727

-35.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.64 IQD 40.1K

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

-11.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 IQD 2,541

$2.28 IQD 2,991

-14.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 IQD 1,632

$2.29 IQD 2,996

-45.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

$6.92 IQD 9,058

13.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.38 IQD 498

$0.70 IQD 910

-45.71%

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

$9,902 IQD 13.0M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

-47.99%

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

$17.9K IQD 23.4M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

-13.84%

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

$37.55 IQD 49.2K

$100 IQD 131.3K

-62.53%

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

$17.19 IQD 22.5K

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

-2.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.47 IQD 50.4K

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

29.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.10 IQD 22.4K

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

-76.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.85 IQD 11.6K

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

-25.13%

Cinema Ticket

$5.62 IQD 7,363

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

-51.43%

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

$92.9 IQD 121.6K

$264 IQD 345.6K

-64.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$738 IQD 966.0K

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

-77.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.20 IQD 26.5K

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

-38.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.87 IQD 40.4K

$49.58 IQD 64.9K

-37.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$20.14 IQD 26.4K

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

-75.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.08 IQD 32.8K

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

-67.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$138 IQD 180.2K

$430 IQD 562.7K

-67.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 237.1K

$281 IQD 367.6K

-35.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 IQD 315.0K

$716 IQD 938.3K

-66.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$199 IQD 260.9K

$486 IQD 637.1K

-59.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$757 IQD 990.9K

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

-31.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$302 IQD 395.3K

$652 IQD 853.9K

-53.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 IQD 630.0K

$576 IQD 754.0K

-16.46%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Erbil: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Salaries run about 20% 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 $11.00 in Ad Diwaniyah versus $23.00 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $159 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 $931 per month in Ad Diwaniyah 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 Ad Diwaniyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $92.9 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $264 in Erbil. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% 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 $621, than in Erbil at $1,019. 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.