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 $786 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,095 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,225 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,654 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,664 per month in Al Hillah vs $2,213 in Erbil, rent included.

Al Hillah is about 28% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Al Hillah and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Al Hillah 43% lower, Erbil 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.72 IQD 6,183

$7.67 IQD 10.0K

-38.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

$44.94 IQD 58.8K

-32.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.23 IQD 8,158

$8.21 IQD 10.7K

-24.12%

Cappuccino

$3.09 IQD 4,041

$3.78 IQD 4,955

-18.25%

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

$0.37 IQD 480

$1.02 IQD 1,338

-63.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.41 IQD 541

-46.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 IQD 3,829

$5.97 IQD 7,823

-51.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 IQD 5,118

$4.45 IQD 5,829

-12.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 IQD 1,407

$1.27 IQD 1,669

-15.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 IQD 976

$0.79 IQD 1,033

-5.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 IQD 1,988

$1.70 IQD 2,227

-10.59%

Eggs

$1.85 IQD 2,425

$1.76 IQD 2,307

5.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.97 IQD 5,203

$8.29 IQD 10.9K

-52.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 IQD 6,114

$5.54 IQD 7,252

-15.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.15 IQD 18.5K

$14.68 IQD 19.2K

-3.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,548

$1.10 IQD 1,446

7.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 IQD 1,402

$1.15 IQD 1,503

-6.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,348

$1.22 IQD 1,599

-15.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 949

$0.81 IQD 1,061

-9.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 931

$0.74 IQD 974

-4.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 855

$0.69 IQD 901

-5.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 IQD 780

$0.79 IQD 1,034

-24.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 IQD 711

$0.58 IQD 761

-6.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 IQD 2,338

$2.51 IQD 3,293

-28.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.43 IQD 17.6K

$12.64 IQD 16.5K

6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 IQD 2,905

$1.68 IQD 2,196

32.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 IQD 2,868

$2.06 IQD 2,693

6.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 516

$0.60 IQD 781

-35.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.8 IQD 84.8K

$43.88 IQD 57.5K

47.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,935

$1.93 IQD 2,533

16.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,946

$1.74 IQD 2,279

-14.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 IQD 4,540

$6.51 IQD 8,521

-46.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 IQD 768

$0.67 IQD 876

-11.94%

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

$17.4K IQD 22.8M

$17.9K IQD 23.5M

-2.82%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.8M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

-3.70%

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

$77.7 IQD 101.7K

$130 IQD 170.4K

-40.32%

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

$15.17 IQD 19.9K

$14.06 IQD 18.4K

7.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.30 IQD 50.2K

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

37.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

$64.5 IQD 84.5K

-63.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 IQD 25.1K

$14.50 IQD 19.0K

32.34%

Cinema Ticket

$7.44 IQD 9,747

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

-33.75%

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

$94.3 IQD 123.5K

$312 IQD 409.1K

-69.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$776 IQD 1.0M

$3,080 IQD 4.0M

-74.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.84 IQD 28.6K

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

-29.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.19 IQD 33.0K

$45.06 IQD 59.0K

-44.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.6 IQD 88.5K

$68.2 IQD 89.3K

-0.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.04 IQD 62.9K

$68.0 IQD 89.0K

-29.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 359.5K

$473 IQD 619.0K

-41.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.7K

$287 IQD 375.5K

-37.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 IQD 662.7K

$732 IQD 958.7K

-30.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 IQD 385.3K

$426 IQD 558.4K

-31.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,723 IQD 2.3M

$1,115 IQD 1.5M

54.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$562 IQD 735.4K

$643 IQD 841.7K

-12.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$509 IQD 666.6K

$613 IQD 803.3K

-17.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

2.53

62.85%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Al Hillah: August 31, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $275 in Al Hillah versus $473 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 21% 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 $30.00 in Al Hillah versus $45.00 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $204 – making Al Hillah 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

Al Hillah vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,178 per month in Al Hillah and $1,643 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 48% less in Al Hillah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $94.3 per month in Al Hillah and $312 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 $786, than in Erbil at $1,095. 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.