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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $732 in Al Kazimiyah versus $1,034 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,160 in Al Kazimiyah versus $1,548 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,589 in Al Kazimiyah versus $2,061 in Erbil.

Living in Al Kazimiyah costs roughly 29% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Kazimiyah 45% lower, Erbil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.99 IQD 5,226

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

-48.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.69 IQD 32.3K

$22.83 IQD 29.9K

8.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.81 IQD 8,912

$8.98 IQD 11.8K

-24.16%

Cappuccino

$2.64 IQD 3,455

$3.13 IQD 4,096

-15.65%

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

$0.37 IQD 483

$0.49 IQD 640

-24.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 280

$0.20 IQD 261

5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 IQD 3,779

$2.00 IQD 2,624

44.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 IQD 3,683

$2.14 IQD 2,797

31.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,741

$1.32 IQD 1,730

0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,015

$0.84 IQD 1,103

-7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 IQD 2,064

$1.80 IQD 2,355

-12.22%

Eggs

$1.72 IQD 2,258

$1.98 IQD 2,599

-13.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.48 IQD 5,860

$7.54 IQD 9,879

-40.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 IQD 6,082

$4.80 IQD 6,282

-3.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.08 IQD 17.1K

$14.29 IQD 18.7K

-8.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,510

$1.14 IQD 1,491

0.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.20 IQD 1,567

-4.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,380

$1.19 IQD 1,561

-11.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 979

$0.76 IQD 994

-1.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 892

$0.70 IQD 918

-2.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 875

$0.72 IQD 938

-6.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 884

$0.78 IQD 1,018

-12.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 720

$0.53 IQD 688

3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,460

$2.63 IQD 3,449

-28.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,438

$1.45 IQD 1,899

28.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,714

$2.01 IQD 2,633

2.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.54 IQD 709

-25.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.41 IQD 41.1K

$34.09 IQD 44.6K

-7.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 IQD 3,069

$2.35 IQD 3,084

-0.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 IQD 1,960

$2.20 IQD 2,885

-31.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.86 IQD 7,678

$6.87 IQD 8,999

-14.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 704

$0.70 IQD 911

-22.86%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

-1.83%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-4.53%

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

$76.2 IQD 99.8K

$102 IQD 134.1K

-25.59%

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

$17.58 IQD 23.0K

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

-1.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.07 IQD 44.6K

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

16.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.20 IQD 48.7K

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

-48.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.68 IQD 21.8K

$11.77 IQD 15.4K

41.72%

Cinema Ticket

$7.56 IQD 9,905

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

-34.94%

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

$152 IQD 199.3K

$269 IQD 352.1K

-43.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,248 IQD 4.3M

$3,278 IQD 4.3M

-0.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.60 IQD 34.8K

$32.74 IQD 42.9K

-18.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.38 IQD 33.2K

$48.36 IQD 63.3K

-47.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

-25.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.64 IQD 54.5K

$76.8 IQD 100.5K

-45.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$247 IQD 322.9K

$426 IQD 557.6K

-42.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 232.4K

$278 IQD 364.4K

-36.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$572 IQD 748.4K

$726 IQD 951.1K

-21.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 IQD 458.5K

$485 IQD 635.3K

-27.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,123 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$658 IQD 862.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$584 IQD 765.0K

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 Kazimiyah: May 31, 2026

Last update for Erbil: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $247 in Al Kazimiyah and $426 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Al Kazimiyah vs $23.00 in Erbil. Groceries flip the comparison at $157 vs $197, with Al Kazimiyah cheaper for home cooking.

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 Kazimiyah vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Kazimiyah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,098 in Al Kazimiyah and $1,551 in Erbil to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $247 in Al Kazimiyah versus $426 in Erbil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Al Kazimiyah – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $23.00 in Erbil. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $732 per month in Al Kazimiyah versus $1,034 in Erbil – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $732 in Al Kazimiyah versus $1,034 in Erbil, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Kazimiyah but tight or insufficient in Erbil. The gap between the two cities makes Al Kazimiyah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Al Kazimiyah and Erbil are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Al Kazimiyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.