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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $719 per month in Al Kut vs $1,019 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,124 per month in Al Kut vs $1,524 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,530 per month in Al Kut vs $2,029 in Erbil, rent included.

Al Kut is about 29% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Al Kut and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Al Kut 46% lower, Erbil 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.94 IQD 5,164

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-49.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.03 IQD 32.8K

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

8.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.76 IQD 8,851

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

-24.64%

Cappuccino

$2.63 IQD 3,451

$3.25 IQD 4,251

-19.08%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.48 IQD 630

-18.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 281

$0.22 IQD 289

-4.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 IQD 3,843

$2.01 IQD 2,632

45.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 IQD 3,847

$2.04 IQD 2,671

44.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,737

$1.32 IQD 1,726

0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,095

$0.85 IQD 1,115

-1.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 IQD 1,956

$1.81 IQD 2,368

-17.68%

Eggs

$1.59 IQD 2,080

$1.98 IQD 2,589

-19.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.56 IQD 5,977

$7.44 IQD 9,743

-38.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.58 IQD 4,689

$4.75 IQD 6,228

-24.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 IQD 17.4K

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

-5.29%

Apples (1kg)

$0.84 IQD 1,102

$1.15 IQD 1,509

-26.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,314

$1.16 IQD 1,513

-13.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 IQD 1,109

$1.13 IQD 1,482

-24.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 984

$0.81 IQD 1,061

-7.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 902

$0.71 IQD 935

-2.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 811

$0.76 IQD 996

-18.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 IQD 880

$0.76 IQD 1,001

-11.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 735

$0.53 IQD 690

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,460

$2.76 IQD 3,609

-31.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,309

$1.42 IQD 1,862

23.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,812

$2.00 IQD 2,626

7.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 480

$0.56 IQD 727

-33.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.33 IQD 41.0K

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

-9.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,932

$2.28 IQD 2,991

-1.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 IQD 1,994

$2.29 IQD 2,996

-33.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.87 IQD 7,689

$6.92 IQD 9,058

-15.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 700

$0.70 IQD 910

-24.29%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

0.75%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

-4.59%

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

$76.2 IQD 99.8K

$100 IQD 131.3K

-24.01%

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

$17.76 IQD 23.3K

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

1.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.11 IQD 46.0K

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

18.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.97 IQD 48.4K

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

-50.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 IQD 22.4K

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

44.33%

Cinema Ticket

$7.61 IQD 9,973

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

-34.23%

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

$152 IQD 199.5K

$264 IQD 345.6K

-42.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,254 IQD 4.3M

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

-0.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.30 IQD 35.8K

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

-17.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.98 IQD 32.7K

$49.58 IQD 64.9K

-49.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.9 IQD 81.0K

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

-26.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

-47.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 IQD 315.7K

$430 IQD 562.7K

-43.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.1K

$281 IQD 367.6K

-36.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 IQD 745.2K

$716 IQD 938.3K

-20.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 452.5K

$486 IQD 637.1K

-28.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$990 IQD 1.3M

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

-10.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$509 IQD 666.5K

$652 IQD 853.9K

-21.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$576 IQD 754.0K

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 Kut: April 26, 2026

Last update for Erbil: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $241 in Al Kut versus $430 in Erbil. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Al Kut versus $23.00 in Erbil. Groceries tell a different story – $149 in Al Kut vs $195 in Erbil – so Al Kut 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 Kut vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $719 in Al Kut, $1,019 in Erbil – roughly 42% apart. Erbil costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,078 per month in Al Kut and $1,528 in Erbil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 31% more in Erbil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Al Kut and $23.00 in Erbil. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Al Kut, where all-in costs run around $719, than in Erbil at $1,019. In Al Kut it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al Kut – 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 Kut. 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.