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 $391 per month in Al Kut vs $1,101 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $601 per month in Al Kut vs $1,630 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $811 per month in Al Kut vs $2,158 in Erbil, rent included.

Al Kut is about 65% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Al Kut and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Al Kut 71% lower, Erbil 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.75 IQD 2,287

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

-77.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 IQD 11.0K

Cappuccino

$3.84 IQD 5,027

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

$0.31 IQD 411

$1.03 IQD 1,353

-69.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 IQD 177

$0.44 IQD 580

-68.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 IQD 6,166

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 IQD 1,464

$1.27 IQD 1,657

-11.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,083

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 IQD 1,937

$1.68 IQD 2,197

-11.90%

Eggs

$1.58 IQD 2,067

$1.79 IQD 2,345

-11.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.22 IQD 2,910

$8.06 IQD 10.6K

-72.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 IQD 4,670

$5.78 IQD 7,574

-38.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.24 IQD 12.1K

$14.84 IQD 19.4K

-37.74%

Apples (1kg)

$0.84 IQD 1,100

$1.13 IQD 1,483

-25.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,382

$1.10 IQD 1,443

-3.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 IQD 1,112

$1.23 IQD 1,612

-30.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.82 IQD 1,068

-40.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.43 IQD 564

$0.70 IQD 911

-38.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 IQD 560

$0.69 IQD 905

-37.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 IQD 509

$0.74 IQD 969

-47.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 IQD 378

$0.55 IQD 723

-47.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.02 IQD 1,334

$2.52 IQD 3,294

-59.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.54 IQD 16.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 IQD 2,217

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,735

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 772

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.81 IQD 57.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 IQD 2,544

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,381

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.06 IQD 13.2K

$6.56 IQD 8,589

53.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 882

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

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

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

$170 IQD 222.7K

$128 IQD 167.0K

33.35%

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

$15.04 IQD 19.7K

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

7.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.76 IQD 32.4K

$28.49 IQD 37.3K

-13.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.76 IQD 21.9K

$66.0 IQD 86.4K

-74.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.62 IQD 19.1K

Cinema Ticket

$5.09 IQD 6,662

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

-56.38%

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

$309 IQD 405.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,400 IQD 1.8M

$3,144 IQD 4.1M

-55.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.36 IQD 26.7K

$31.32 IQD 41.0K

-34.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.17 IQD 33.0K

$44.84 IQD 58.7K

-43.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 IQD 90.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.23 IQD 39.6K

$67.4 IQD 88.3K

-55.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 IQD 602.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$297 IQD 389.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 IQD 333.4K

$740 IQD 969.5K

-65.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$170 IQD 223.2K

$432 IQD 566.2K

-60.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,015 IQD 1.3M

$1,092 IQD 1.4M

-7.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$495 IQD 647.9K

$665 IQD 870.8K

-25.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$614 IQD 803.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

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

Last update for Al Kut: September 14, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 14, 2026

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: $391 in Al Kut, $1,101 in Erbil – roughly 182% apart. Erbil costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $586 per month in Al Kut and $1,652 in Erbil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $391 in Al Kut and $1,101 in Erbil. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 106% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Al Kut, where all-in costs run around $391, than in Erbil at $1,101. 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.