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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $630 in Al Kufah versus $1,074 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,038 in Al Kufah versus $1,624 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,446 in Al Kufah versus $2,173 in Erbil.

Living in Al Kufah costs roughly 41% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Kufah 54% lower, Erbil 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.83 IQD 6,320

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

-38.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.07 IQD 44.6K

$43.48 IQD 56.9K

-21.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 IQD 9,795

$8.20 IQD 10.7K

-8.78%

Cappuccino

$3.20 IQD 4,191

$3.65 IQD 4,784

-12.33%

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

$0.36 IQD 474

$1.04 IQD 1,362

-65.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 312

$0.45 IQD 585

-46.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.86 IQD 5,055

$5.96 IQD 7,810

-35.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 IQD 5,100

$4.46 IQD 5,839

-12.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 IQD 1,347

$1.27 IQD 1,665

-18.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,035

$0.82 IQD 1,073

-3.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 IQD 1,993

$1.67 IQD 2,187

-8.98%

Eggs

$1.82 IQD 2,390

$1.85 IQD 2,418

-1.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.33 IQD 3,046

$8.38 IQD 11.0K

-72.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.57 IQD 5,980

$5.72 IQD 7,485

-20.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.29 IQD 12.2K

$14.89 IQD 19.5K

-37.61%

Apples (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 976

$1.15 IQD 1,502

-34.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,370

$1.16 IQD 1,521

-9.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 IQD 801

$1.18 IQD 1,544

-48.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 739

$0.75 IQD 979

-25.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.51 IQD 668

$0.76 IQD 997

-32.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 IQD 431

$0.68 IQD 892

-51.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.20 IQD 267

$0.73 IQD 961

-72.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 716

$0.58 IQD 764

-5.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.59 IQD 2,077

$2.52 IQD 3,305

-36.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.80 IQD 18.1K

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

12.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 IQD 2,908

$1.65 IQD 2,160

34.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 IQD 2,893

$2.13 IQD 2,783

3.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.55 IQD 719

-32.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 IQD 2,909

$1.96 IQD 2,561

13.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,027

$1.82 IQD 2,379

-14.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$6.52 IQD 8,533

17.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 IQD 762

$0.66 IQD 866

-12.12%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

8.85%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

-1.49%

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

$218 IQD 285.9K

$128 IQD 167.5K

70.66%

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

$21.02 IQD 27.5K

$13.86 IQD 18.1K

51.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.69 IQD 29.7K

$27.91 IQD 36.6K

-18.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.54 IQD 20.3K

$64.8 IQD 84.8K

-76.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.65 IQD 19.2K

Cinema Ticket

$9.96 IQD 13.0K

$11.58 IQD 15.2K

-13.99%

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

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

$314 IQD 411.2K

-76.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,401 IQD 3.1M

$3,082 IQD 4.0M

-22.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.86 IQD 12.9K

$30.66 IQD 40.2K

-67.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.84 IQD 39.1K

$45.68 IQD 59.8K

-34.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$20.17 IQD 26.4K

$67.9 IQD 89.0K

-70.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.50 IQD 45.2K

$68.8 IQD 90.1K

-49.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$189 IQD 247.3K

$470 IQD 616.0K

-59.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 IQD 385.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$250 IQD 327.9K

$728 IQD 953.1K

-65.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 IQD 266.8K

$434 IQD 568.3K

-53.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,333 IQD 1.7M

$1,096 IQD 1.4M

21.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$382 IQD 499.8K

$646 IQD 846.5K

-40.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,017 IQD 1.3M

$608 IQD 796.3K

67.24%

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 Kufah: September 7, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $189 in Al Kufah and $470 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Kufah pays 67% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Al Kufah vs $43.00 in Erbil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $157 vs $205 per month, with Al Kufah cheaper across the board.

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 Kufah vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Kufah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 71% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 67% higher in Al Kufah, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $189 in Al Kufah versus $470 in Erbil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Erbil. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $630 per month in Al Kufah versus $1,074 in Erbil – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $630 in Al Kufah versus $1,074 in Erbil, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Kufah but tight or insufficient in Erbil. The gap between the two cities makes Al Kufah 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 Kufah 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 Kufah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.