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 $671 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,017 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,086 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,518 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,501 per month in Al-'amarah vs $2,019 in Erbil, rent included.

Al-'amarah is about 34% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Al-'amarah and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Al-'amarah 50% lower, Erbil 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.02 IQD 5,267

$7.59 IQD 9,938

-47.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.90 IQD 32.6K

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

8.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 IQD 9,193

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

-18.84%

Cappuccino

$2.60 IQD 3,401

$3.25 IQD 4,260

-20.00%

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

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.52 IQD 676

-23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 255

$0.20 IQD 261

-5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 IQD 3,736

$1.95 IQD 2,555

46.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 IQD 3,779

$2.04 IQD 2,675

41.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 IQD 2,364

$1.32 IQD 1,725

37.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,030

$0.81 IQD 1,062

-2.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,462

$1.80 IQD 2,357

-37.78%

Eggs

$1.55 IQD 2,027

$1.91 IQD 2,505

-18.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.54 IQD 5,951

$7.50 IQD 9,816

-39.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 IQD 6,074

$4.82 IQD 6,315

-3.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.96 IQD 17.0K

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

-8.09%

Apples (1kg)

$0.91 IQD 1,197

$1.18 IQD 1,551

-22.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,416

$1.15 IQD 1,500

-6.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 IQD 1,136

$1.14 IQD 1,494

-23.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.80 IQD 1,045

-51.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 989

$0.66 IQD 863

15.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 IQD 452

$0.77 IQD 1,002

-54.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 827

$0.77 IQD 1,008

-18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 IQD 617

$0.55 IQD 721

-14.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 IQD 2,573

$2.74 IQD 3,594

-28.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,341

$1.37 IQD 1,794

30.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 IQD 2,769

$2.00 IQD 2,619

5.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 484

$0.59 IQD 768

-37.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.73 IQD 41.5K

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

-9.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.67 IQD 2,188

$2.25 IQD 2,942

-25.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,936

$2.29 IQD 2,993

-35.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 IQD 7,988

$6.85 IQD 8,966

-10.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.31 IQD 404

$0.64 IQD 839

-51.56%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

0.39%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

-2.22%

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

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

$101 IQD 132.2K

-24.64%

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

$17.95 IQD 23.5K

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

3.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.06 IQD 44.6K

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

12.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.68 IQD 29.7K

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

-68.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.99 IQD 22.2K

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

47.23%

Cinema Ticket

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

-31.56%

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

$154 IQD 201.2K

$271 IQD 354.5K

-43.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,248 IQD 4.3M

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

-0.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.51 IQD 36.0K

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

-14.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-49.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.8 IQD 80.9K

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

-23.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.10 IQD 53.8K

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

-46.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$331 IQD 434.1K

$425 IQD 556.0K

-21.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$132 IQD 173.3K

$279 IQD 365.3K

-52.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$441 IQD 578.0K

$740 IQD 969.0K

-40.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 452.8K

$491 IQD 643.3K

-29.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$581 IQD 760.9K

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

-47.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 845.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$506 IQD 663.1K

$591 IQD 773.3K

-14.25%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Erbil: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $331 in Al-'amarah versus $425 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 17% 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 52%, 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 $1,006 per month in Al-'amarah and $1,525 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 28% 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 $671, than in Erbil at $1,017. 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.