Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-'amarah and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-'amarah and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $674 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,043 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,091 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,545 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,508 per month in Al-'amarah vs $2,046 in Erbil, rent included.

Al-'amarah is about 35% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Al-'amarah and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Al-'amarah 49% lower, Erbil 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 IQD 5,211

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-49.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.68 IQD 32.3K

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

6.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 IQD 9,188

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

-22.09%

Cappuccino

$2.58 IQD 3,374

$3.24 IQD 4,240

-20.37%

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

$0.40 IQD 519

$0.49 IQD 640

-18.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.22 IQD 288

-4.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 IQD 3,917

$1.96 IQD 2,562

52.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 IQD 3,693

$2.16 IQD 2,824

30.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 IQD 2,374

$1.31 IQD 1,718

38.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,029

$0.79 IQD 1,034

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,408

$1.87 IQD 2,450

-42.25%

Eggs

$1.51 IQD 1,977

$1.95 IQD 2,557

-22.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,995

$7.26 IQD 9,502

-36.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 IQD 6,071

$4.69 IQD 6,144

-1.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.96 IQD 17.0K

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

-7.95%

Apples (1kg)

$0.87 IQD 1,136

$1.15 IQD 1,502

-24.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,442

$1.18 IQD 1,547

-6.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 IQD 1,189

$1.13 IQD 1,480

-19.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.75 IQD 982

-52.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 987

$0.72 IQD 948

4.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.34 IQD 451

$0.76 IQD 990

-55.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 893

$0.76 IQD 1,001

-10.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 IQD 564

$0.56 IQD 738

-23.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 IQD 2,575

$2.66 IQD 3,486

-25.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.28 IQD 16.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,432

$1.44 IQD 1,880

29.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,803

$1.94 IQD 2,538

10.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.59 IQD 767

-32.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.59 IQD 40.1K

$34.79 IQD 45.6K

-12.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 IQD 2,105

$2.27 IQD 2,971

-29.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 2,007

$2.32 IQD 3,033

-34.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 IQD 7,633

$7.05 IQD 9,233

-17.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.31 IQD 399

$0.64 IQD 837

-51.56%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

-0.82%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-2.52%

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

$76.2 IQD 99.7K

$101 IQD 132.5K

-24.76%

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

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.10 IQD 44.6K

$29.56 IQD 38.7K

15.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

-69.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.61 IQD 21.7K

$11.76 IQD 15.4K

41.24%

Cinema Ticket

$7.46 IQD 9,772

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

-33.69%

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

$152 IQD 198.4K

$269 IQD 351.6K

-43.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,223 IQD 4.2M

$3,330 IQD 4.4M

-3.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.00 IQD 35.4K

$32.93 IQD 43.1K

-18.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.67 IQD 33.6K

$49.13 IQD 64.3K

-47.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

$80.7 IQD 105.7K

-25.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.26 IQD 54.0K

$77.9 IQD 102.0K

-47.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$322 IQD 421.1K

$436 IQD 571.5K

-26.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$134 IQD 175.5K

$275 IQD 360.4K

-51.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 IQD 585.4K

$739 IQD 968.0K

-39.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 IQD 454.1K

$496 IQD 649.8K

-30.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$564 IQD 738.9K

$1,089 IQD 1.4M

-48.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 IQD 855.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$506 IQD 662.0K

$580 IQD 759.9K

-12.88%

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 Al-'amarah: July 28, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $322 in Al-'amarah 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 15% 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 $25.00 in Al-'amarah versus $23.00 in Erbil. Groceries tell a different story – $153 in Al-'amarah vs $194 in Erbil – so Al-'amarah 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

Al-'amarah vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 55%, 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 $1,010 per month in Al-'amarah 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 Al-'amarah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Al-'amarah and $23.00 in Erbil. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $674, than in Erbil at $1,043. In Al-'amarah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-'amarah – 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 Al-'amarah. 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.