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 $606 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,043 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $860 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,545 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,114 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $2,046 in Erbil, rent included.

Ad Diwaniyah is about 42% 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 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 IQD 4,024

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-60.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.59 IQD 15.2K

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

-49.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.08 IQD 6,651

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

-43.62%

Cappuccino

$1.47 IQD 1,930

$3.24 IQD 4,240

-54.63%

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

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.49 IQD 640

-18.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 260

$0.22 IQD 288

-9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 IQD 3,875

$1.96 IQD 2,562

51.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 IQD 3,868

$2.16 IQD 2,824

36.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,735

$1.31 IQD 1,718

0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 IQD 1,001

$0.79 IQD 1,034

-3.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 IQD 1,759

$1.87 IQD 2,450

-28.34%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,367

$1.95 IQD 2,557

-7.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,913

$7.26 IQD 9,502

-37.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.90 IQD 6,414

$4.69 IQD 6,144

4.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.43 IQD 13.7K

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

-25.92%

Apples (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 999

$1.15 IQD 1,502

-33.91%

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 IQD 1,169

$1.18 IQD 1,547

-24.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,270

$1.13 IQD 1,480

-14.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 780

$0.75 IQD 982

-20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 846

$0.72 IQD 948

-9.72%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 836

$0.76 IQD 990

-15.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.76 IQD 1,001

-35.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 871

$0.56 IQD 738

17.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 IQD 2,443

$2.66 IQD 3,486

-29.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.72 IQD 4,870

$12.28 IQD 16.1K

-69.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,308

$1.44 IQD 1,880

22.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,715

$1.94 IQD 2,538

6.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.59 IQD 767

-33.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.61 IQD 40.1K

$34.79 IQD 45.6K

-12.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 IQD 2,589

$2.27 IQD 2,971

-12.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.19 IQD 1,559

$2.32 IQD 3,033

-48.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.63 IQD 9,993

$7.05 IQD 9,233

8.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.39 IQD 506

$0.64 IQD 837

-39.06%

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

$9,833 IQD 12.9M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

-48.01%

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

$18.2K IQD 23.8M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-11.76%

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

$38.45 IQD 50.4K

$101 IQD 132.5K

-62.01%

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

$17.23 IQD 22.6K

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

-3.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.07 IQD 49.8K

$29.56 IQD 38.7K

28.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.81 IQD 22.0K

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

-77.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.99 IQD 11.8K

$11.76 IQD 15.4K

-23.55%

Cinema Ticket

$5.47 IQD 7,167

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

-51.38%

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

$92.0 IQD 120.5K

$269 IQD 351.6K

-65.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$743 IQD 973.4K

$3,330 IQD 4.4M

-77.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.82 IQD 26.0K

$32.93 IQD 43.1K

-39.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.71 IQD 40.2K

$49.13 IQD 64.3K

-37.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$20.23 IQD 26.5K

$80.7 IQD 105.7K

-74.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.24 IQD 33.1K

$77.9 IQD 102.0K

-67.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$140 IQD 183.4K

$436 IQD 571.5K

-67.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 231.9K

$275 IQD 360.4K

-35.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 IQD 315.3K

$739 IQD 968.0K

-67.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 IQD 266.1K

$496 IQD 649.8K

-59.05%

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)

$389 IQD 509.3K

$580 IQD 759.9K

-32.98%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $140 in Ad Diwaniyah 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.

Salaries run about 49% 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: $152 vs $194 – 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 72%, 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 $909 per month in Ad Diwaniyah 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 Ad Diwaniyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $92.0 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $269 in Erbil. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% 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 $606, than in Erbil at $1,043. 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.