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 $681 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,019 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,090 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,524 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,499 per month in Al-'amarah vs $2,029 in Erbil, rent included.

Al-'amarah is about 33% 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 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.95 IQD 5,175

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-49.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.93 IQD 32.7K

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

8.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.95 IQD 9,106

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

-22.52%

Cappuccino

$2.57 IQD 3,369

$3.25 IQD 4,252

-20.92%

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

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.48 IQD 630

-22.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 250

$0.22 IQD 289

-13.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.87 IQD 3,756

$2.01 IQD 2,633

42.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 IQD 3,678

$2.04 IQD 2,671

37.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 IQD 2,442

$1.32 IQD 1,727

40.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 IQD 979

$0.85 IQD 1,115

-11.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 IQD 1,427

$1.81 IQD 2,368

-39.78%

Eggs

$1.50 IQD 1,963

$1.98 IQD 2,590

-24.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.41 IQD 5,774

$7.44 IQD 9,745

-40.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 IQD 6,150

$4.75 IQD 6,229

-1.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.07 IQD 17.1K

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

-6.58%

Apples (1kg)

$0.86 IQD 1,122

$1.15 IQD 1,509

-25.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,415

$1.16 IQD 1,514

-6.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 IQD 1,168

$1.13 IQD 1,483

-21.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.39 IQD 517

$0.81 IQD 1,061

-51.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 971

$0.71 IQD 936

4.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.34 IQD 450

$0.76 IQD 997

-55.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 817

$0.76 IQD 1,002

-18.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 IQD 618

$0.53 IQD 690

-11.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.85 IQD 2,430

$2.76 IQD 3,610

-32.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 IQD 2,385

$1.42 IQD 1,862

28.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 IQD 2,752

$2.00 IQD 2,627

5.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 479

$0.56 IQD 728

-33.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

-10.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 IQD 2,214

$2.28 IQD 2,992

-25.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,025

$2.29 IQD 2,997

-32.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 IQD 8,067

$6.92 IQD 9,060

-10.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 IQD 434

$0.70 IQD 911

-52.86%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.2M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

1.16%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

-3.55%

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

$78.3 IQD 102.6K

$100 IQD 131.3K

-21.88%

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

$17.40 IQD 22.8K

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

-0.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.87 IQD 45.7K

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

17.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.48 IQD 29.4K

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

-69.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.71 IQD 21.9K

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

41.37%

Cinema Ticket

$7.68 IQD 10.1K

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

-33.62%

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

$150 IQD 196.3K

$264 IQD 345.7K

-43.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,269 IQD 4.3M

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

-0.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.78 IQD 35.1K

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

-18.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.37 IQD 33.2K

$49.58 IQD 65.0K

-48.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.7 IQD 80.8K

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

-26.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.93 IQD 53.6K

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

-46.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$320 IQD 419.8K

$430 IQD 562.8K

-25.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$130 IQD 170.2K

$281 IQD 367.7K

-53.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$446 IQD 584.3K

$716 IQD 938.5K

-37.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 IQD 449.7K

$486 IQD 637.2K

-29.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$574 IQD 752.3K

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

-48.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$652 IQD 854.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 IQD 661.2K

$576 IQD 754.2K

-12.33%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Erbil: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $320 in Al-'amarah 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 14% 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 $195 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 50%, 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 $1,022 per month in Al-'amarah 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 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 $681, than in Erbil at $1,019. 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.