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 $724 per month in Al Kut vs $1,043 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,142 per month in Al Kut vs $1,545 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,559 per month in Al Kut vs $2,046 in Erbil, rent included.

Al Kut is about 31% 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 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.06 IQD 5,320

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-48.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.97 IQD 32.7K

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

8.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.69 IQD 8,763

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

-25.75%

Cappuccino

$2.59 IQD 3,394

$3.24 IQD 4,240

-20.06%

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

$0.37 IQD 480

$0.49 IQD 640

-24.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 256

$0.22 IQD 288

-9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 IQD 3,891

$1.96 IQD 2,562

51.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 IQD 3,865

$2.16 IQD 2,824

36.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,727

$1.31 IQD 1,718

0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,101

$0.79 IQD 1,034

6.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 IQD 1,942

$1.87 IQD 2,450

-20.86%

Eggs

$1.54 IQD 2,017

$1.95 IQD 2,557

-21.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.61 IQD 6,042

$7.26 IQD 9,502

-36.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.49 IQD 4,567

$4.69 IQD 6,144

-25.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.29 IQD 17.4K

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

-5.61%

Apples (1kg)

$0.84 IQD 1,098

$1.15 IQD 1,502

-26.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,317

$1.18 IQD 1,547

-14.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,069

$1.13 IQD 1,480

-27.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 962

$0.75 IQD 982

-2.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 862

$0.72 IQD 948

-8.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 867

$0.76 IQD 990

-13.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 824

$0.76 IQD 1,001

-17.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 689

$0.56 IQD 738

-5.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.86 IQD 2,429

$2.66 IQD 3,486

-30.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.28 IQD 16.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,344

$1.44 IQD 1,880

24.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,711

$1.94 IQD 2,538

6.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 511

$0.59 IQD 767

-33.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.59 IQD 41.4K

$34.79 IQD 45.6K

-9.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 IQD 2,996

$2.27 IQD 2,971

0.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,034

$2.32 IQD 3,033

-33.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 IQD 8,067

$7.05 IQD 9,233

-12.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 IQD 756

$0.64 IQD 837

-9.38%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.1M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

1.25%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-1.96%

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

$76.0 IQD 99.5K

$101 IQD 132.5K

-24.92%

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

$17.86 IQD 23.4K

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

0.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.28 IQD 44.9K

$29.56 IQD 38.7K

15.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.26 IQD 48.8K

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

-49.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.97 IQD 22.2K

$11.76 IQD 15.4K

44.30%

Cinema Ticket

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

-30.04%

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

$155 IQD 202.4K

$269 IQD 351.6K

-42.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,292 IQD 4.3M

$3,330 IQD 4.4M

-1.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.28 IQD 35.7K

$32.93 IQD 43.1K

-17.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.40 IQD 33.3K

$49.13 IQD 64.3K

-48.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.0 IQD 81.2K

$80.7 IQD 105.7K

-23.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.87 IQD 54.8K

$77.9 IQD 102.0K

-46.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$247 IQD 323.6K

$436 IQD 571.5K

-43.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 IQD 230.5K

$275 IQD 360.4K

-36.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 IQD 753.5K

$739 IQD 968.0K

-22.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$338 IQD 442.8K

$496 IQD 649.8K

-31.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$981 IQD 1.3M

$1,089 IQD 1.4M

-9.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$497 IQD 650.5K

$653 IQD 855.1K

-23.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.9K

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $247 in Al Kut versus $436 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 – $147 in Al Kut vs $194 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: $724 in Al Kut, $1,043 in Erbil – roughly 44% apart. Erbil costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,086 per month in Al Kut and $1,565 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 32% 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 $724, than in Erbil at $1,043. 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.