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: $677 in Al Kufah versus $1,034 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,056 in Al Kufah versus $1,522 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,434 in Al Kufah versus $2,010 in Erbil.

Living in Al Kufah costs roughly 35% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Kufah 49% lower, Erbil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.24 IQD 6,865

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-32.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.37 IQD 47.6K

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

60.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.74 IQD 10.1K

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

-12.84%

Cappuccino

$2.99 IQD 3,919

$3.20 IQD 4,189

-6.56%

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

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.48 IQD 630

-18.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 276

$0.20 IQD 262

5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 IQD 4,539

$1.93 IQD 2,523

79.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 IQD 3,858

$2.14 IQD 2,803

37.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 IQD 1,416

$1.31 IQD 1,719

-17.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 IQD 801

$0.85 IQD 1,108

-28.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 IQD 2,058

$1.86 IQD 2,439

-15.59%

Eggs

$1.73 IQD 2,262

$1.98 IQD 2,590

-12.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.24 IQD 2,932

$7.23 IQD 9,474

-69.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.93 IQD 3,836

$4.72 IQD 6,184

-37.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.66 IQD 12.6K

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

-32.16%

Apples (1kg)

$0.52 IQD 674

$1.19 IQD 1,563

-56.30%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,267

$1.15 IQD 1,505

-15.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 952

$1.15 IQD 1,502

-36.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 IQD 645

$0.81 IQD 1,057

-39.51%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 IQD 495

$0.68 IQD 888

-44.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 IQD 402

$0.75 IQD 980

-58.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 890

$0.73 IQD 952

-6.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 587

$0.57 IQD 742

-21.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,555

$2.62 IQD 3,428

-25.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.76 IQD 18.0K

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

12.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 IQD 2,355

$1.39 IQD 1,824

29.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,733

$1.97 IQD 2,579

6.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 IQD 454

$0.59 IQD 776

-40.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.86 IQD 40.4K

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

-12.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 IQD 3,036

$2.25 IQD 2,942

3.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 2,005

$2.33 IQD 3,052

-34.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

$6.75 IQD 8,845

14.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 704

$0.65 IQD 849

-16.92%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

2.86%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

-3.13%

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

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

$102 IQD 133.2K

-60.98%

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

$25.46 IQD 33.3K

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

46.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.60 IQD 29.6K

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

-23.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

-65.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.52 IQD 21.6K

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

43.03%

Cinema Ticket

$7.46 IQD 9,765

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

-34.62%

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

$86.1 IQD 112.8K

$263 IQD 343.7K

-67.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,377 IQD 3.1M

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

-26.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.91 IQD 27.4K

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

-37.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.43 IQD 38.5K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-40.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.98 IQD 26.2K

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

-75.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.57 IQD 36.1K

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

-63.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$213 IQD 279.0K

$429 IQD 562.2K

-50.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 237.0K

$275 IQD 360.3K

-34.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 IQD 558.5K

$732 IQD 958.5K

-41.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 IQD 387.1K

$495 IQD 647.8K

-40.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,335 IQD 1.7M

$1,130 IQD 1.5M

18.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$380 IQD 497.8K

$660 IQD 864.4K

-42.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,014 IQD 1.3M

$581 IQD 760.9K

74.53%

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 Kufah: July 14, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $213 in Al Kufah and $429 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Kufah pays 75% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Al Kufah vs $23.00 in Erbil. Groceries flip the comparison at $145 vs $195, with Al Kufah 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 Kufah vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Kufah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 75% 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: $213 in Al Kufah versus $429 in Erbil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Al Kufah – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $23.00 in Erbil. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $677 per month in Al Kufah versus $1,034 in Erbil – a 53% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Al Kufah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 53% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.