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 $734 per month in Al Kut vs $1,017 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,139 per month in Al Kut vs $1,518 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,544 per month in Al Kut vs $2,019 in Erbil, rent included.

Al Kut is about 28% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Al Kut and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Al Kut 45% lower, Erbil 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.99 IQD 5,220

$7.59 IQD 9,938

-47.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.40 IQD 32.0K

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

6.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.00 IQD 9,169

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

-19.08%

Cappuccino

$2.63 IQD 3,448

$3.25 IQD 4,260

-19.08%

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

$0.37 IQD 484

$0.52 IQD 676

-28.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 259

$0.20 IQD 261

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 IQD 3,838

$1.95 IQD 2,555

50.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 IQD 3,831

$2.04 IQD 2,675

43.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,800

$1.32 IQD 1,725

3.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,025

$0.81 IQD 1,062

-3.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 IQD 2,038

$1.80 IQD 2,357

-13.33%

Eggs

$1.58 IQD 2,071

$1.91 IQD 2,505

-17.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.38 IQD 5,733

$7.50 IQD 9,816

-41.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 IQD 4,561

$4.82 IQD 6,315

-27.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.91 IQD 16.9K

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

-8.44%

Apples (1kg)

$0.86 IQD 1,133

$1.18 IQD 1,551

-27.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,309

$1.15 IQD 1,500

-13.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 IQD 1,136

$1.14 IQD 1,494

-23.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 898

$0.80 IQD 1,045

-13.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 838

$0.66 IQD 863

-3.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.77 IQD 1,002

-16.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 818

$0.77 IQD 1,008

-19.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 693

$0.55 IQD 721

-3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.86 IQD 2,432

$2.74 IQD 3,594

-32.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 IQD 2,403

$1.37 IQD 1,794

33.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,726

$2.00 IQD 2,619

4.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 473

$0.59 IQD 768

-38.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.30 IQD 41.0K

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

-10.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,093

$2.25 IQD 2,942

4.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 2,000

$2.29 IQD 2,993

-33.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.08 IQD 7,963

$6.85 IQD 8,966

-11.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 704

$0.64 IQD 839

-15.62%

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

$19.5K IQD 25.5M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

0.83%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

-4.26%

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

$75.8 IQD 99.2K

$101 IQD 132.2K

-24.95%

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

$17.77 IQD 23.3K

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

2.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.04 IQD 45.9K

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

15.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.49 IQD 47.8K

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

-49.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.52 IQD 21.6K

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

43.15%

Cinema Ticket

$7.53 IQD 9,859

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

-33.24%

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

$150 IQD 196.5K

$271 IQD 354.5K

-44.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,222 IQD 4.2M

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

-1.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.59 IQD 34.8K

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

-17.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.69 IQD 33.6K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-48.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.7 IQD 80.8K

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

-23.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.02 IQD 53.7K

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

-46.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 IQD 321.5K

$425 IQD 556.0K

-42.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.8K

$279 IQD 365.3K

-35.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$576 IQD 753.7K

$740 IQD 969.0K

-22.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 IQD 450.2K

$491 IQD 643.3K

-30.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$996 IQD 1.3M

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

-9.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$497 IQD 650.9K

$646 IQD 845.4K

-23.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 IQD 773.3K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Erbil: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $246 in Al Kut versus $425 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 $24.00 in Al Kut versus $23.00 in Erbil. Groceries tell a different story – $146 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: $734 in Al Kut, $1,017 in Erbil – roughly 39% apart. Erbil costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,101 per month in Al Kut and $1,525 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 34% 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 $24.00 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 $734, than in Erbil at $1,017. 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.