Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-miqdadiyah and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-miqdadiyah and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $691 in Al-miqdadiyah versus $1,074 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,085 in Al-miqdadiyah versus $1,624 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,479 in Al-miqdadiyah versus $2,173 in Erbil.

Living in Al-miqdadiyah costs roughly 36% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-miqdadiyah 50% lower, Erbil 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 IQD 9,945

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

-2.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.52 IQD 57.0K

$43.48 IQD 56.9K

0.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.38 IQD 11.0K

$8.20 IQD 10.7K

2.20%

Cappuccino

$3.76 IQD 4,920

$3.65 IQD 4,784

3.01%

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

$1.04 IQD 1,357

$1.04 IQD 1,362

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 591

$0.45 IQD 585

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 IQD 8,034

$5.96 IQD 7,810

2.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 IQD 6,094

$4.46 IQD 5,839

4.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 IQD 1,678

$1.27 IQD 1,665

0.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 IQD 1,013

$0.82 IQD 1,073

-6.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 IQD 2,300

$1.67 IQD 2,187

5.39%

Eggs

$1.84 IQD 2,415

$1.85 IQD 2,418

-0.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.33 IQD 10.9K

$8.38 IQD 11.0K

-0.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.54 IQD 7,254

$5.72 IQD 7,485

-3.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.79 IQD 19.4K

$14.89 IQD 19.5K

-0.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.15 IQD 1,502

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,446

$1.16 IQD 1,521

-5.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,555

$1.18 IQD 1,544

0.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,070

$0.75 IQD 979

9.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 993

$0.76 IQD 997

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 905

$0.68 IQD 892

1.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.73 IQD 961

1.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 IQD 776

$0.58 IQD 764

1.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 IQD 3,165

$2.52 IQD 3,305

-3.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.69 IQD 16.6K

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

3.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 IQD 2,133

$1.65 IQD 2,160

-1.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,727

$2.13 IQD 2,783

-2.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 719

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 IQD 2,442

$1.96 IQD 2,561

-5.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 IQD 2,400

$1.82 IQD 2,379

0.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.54 IQD 8,564

$6.52 IQD 8,533

0.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.66 IQD 866

-6.06%

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

$18.1K IQD 23.7M

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

1.68%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

2.47%

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

$130 IQD 170.0K

$128 IQD 167.5K

1.50%

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

$13.90 IQD 18.2K

$13.86 IQD 18.1K

0.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.70 IQD 36.3K

$27.91 IQD 36.6K

-0.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.8 IQD 84.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.65 IQD 19.2K

Cinema Ticket

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

$11.58 IQD 15.2K

-3.02%

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

$312 IQD 409.2K

$314 IQD 411.2K

-0.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,084 IQD 4.0M

$3,082 IQD 4.0M

0.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.12 IQD 40.8K

$30.66 IQD 40.2K

1.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.33 IQD 58.1K

$45.68 IQD 59.8K

-2.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.1 IQD 91.7K

$67.9 IQD 89.0K

3.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.2 IQD 90.6K

$68.8 IQD 90.1K

0.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 IQD 616.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 IQD 385.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$728 IQD 953.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$434 IQD 568.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,096 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 846.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$608 IQD 796.3K

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-miqdadiyah: September 7, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $44.00 in Al-miqdadiyah vs $43.00 in Erbil. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $205, with Al-miqdadiyah 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-miqdadiyah vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-miqdadiyah and Erbil differ by about 56% in total monthly costs ($691 vs $1,074 including rent). Al-miqdadiyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,036 in Al-miqdadiyah and $1,612 in Erbil to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Erbil. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $691 per month in Al-miqdadiyah versus $1,074 in Erbil – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $691 in Al-miqdadiyah versus $1,074 in Erbil, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al-miqdadiyah but tight or insufficient in Erbil. The gap between the two cities makes Al-miqdadiyah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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-miqdadiyah 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-miqdadiyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.