Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Hillah and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Hillah and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $819 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,034 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,263 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,548 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,708 per month in Al Hillah vs $2,061 in Erbil, rent included.

Al Hillah is about 21% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Al Hillah and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Al Hillah 39% lower, Erbil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 IQD 6,917

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

-31.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.53 IQD 40.0K

$22.83 IQD 29.9K

33.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.00 IQD 7,851

$8.98 IQD 11.8K

-33.18%

Cappuccino

$3.11 IQD 4,073

$3.13 IQD 4,096

-0.64%

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

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.49 IQD 640

-18.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 265

$0.20 IQD 261

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 IQD 3,896

$2.00 IQD 2,624

48.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 IQD 3,706

$2.14 IQD 2,797

32.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,713

$1.32 IQD 1,730

-0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 967

$0.84 IQD 1,103

-11.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,151

$1.80 IQD 2,355

-8.89%

Eggs

$1.74 IQD 2,280

$1.98 IQD 2,599

-12.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.38 IQD 5,733

$7.54 IQD 9,879

-41.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.06 IQD 6,623

$4.80 IQD 6,282

5.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.96 IQD 18.3K

$14.29 IQD 18.7K

-2.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,673

$1.14 IQD 1,491

12.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,516

$1.20 IQD 1,567

-3.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,385

$1.19 IQD 1,561

-10.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.76 IQD 994

-7.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 862

$0.70 IQD 918

-5.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 890

$0.72 IQD 938

-5.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 IQD 720

$0.78 IQD 1,018

-29.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.53 IQD 688

3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,552

$2.63 IQD 3,449

-25.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.56 IQD 17.8K

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

8.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,300

$1.45 IQD 1,899

21.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 IQD 2,863

$2.01 IQD 2,633

8.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.54 IQD 709

-25.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.8 IQD 83.6K

$34.09 IQD 44.6K

87.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,957

$2.35 IQD 3,084

-3.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,016

$2.20 IQD 2,885

-30.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.33 IQD 4,358

$6.87 IQD 8,999

-51.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 689

$0.70 IQD 911

-24.29%

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

$17.0K IQD 22.2M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

-11.08%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-3.02%

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

$76.0 IQD 99.6K

$102 IQD 134.1K

-25.78%

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

$15.24 IQD 20.0K

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

-15.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.99 IQD 49.8K

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

29.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.35 IQD 30.6K

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

-67.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.37 IQD 25.4K

$11.77 IQD 15.4K

64.57%

Cinema Ticket

$7.55 IQD 9,883

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

-35.03%

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

$96.5 IQD 126.4K

$269 IQD 352.1K

-64.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$754 IQD 986.7K

$3,278 IQD 4.3M

-77.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.29 IQD 35.7K

$32.74 IQD 42.9K

-16.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.83 IQD 36.4K

$48.36 IQD 63.3K

-42.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.2 IQD 80.1K

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

-24.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.90 IQD 57.5K

$76.8 IQD 100.5K

-42.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$378 IQD 494.8K

$426 IQD 557.6K

-11.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 IQD 249.6K

$278 IQD 364.4K

-31.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$662 IQD 867.5K

$726 IQD 951.1K

-8.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 IQD 422.1K

$485 IQD 635.3K

-33.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,702 IQD 2.2M

$1,123 IQD 1.5M

51.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$562 IQD 736.0K

$658 IQD 862.2K

-14.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$515 IQD 674.7K

$584 IQD 765.0K

-11.80%

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 Hillah: June 2, 2026

Last update for Erbil: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $378 in Al Hillah versus $426 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 13% 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 $31.00 in Al Hillah versus $23.00 in Erbil. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Al Hillah vs $197 in Erbil – so Al Hillah 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 Hillah vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 26%, 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 $1,228 per month in Al Hillah and $1,551 in Erbil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Al Hillah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 87% less in Al Hillah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $96.5 per month in Al Hillah and $269 in Erbil. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Hillah, where all-in costs run around $819, than in Erbil at $1,034. In Al Hillah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al Hillah – 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 Hillah. 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.