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: $867 in Al-miqdadiyah versus $1,034 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,334 in Al-miqdadiyah versus $1,522 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,800 in Al-miqdadiyah versus $2,010 in Erbil.

Living in Al-miqdadiyah costs roughly 16% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-miqdadiyah 35% lower, Erbil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.74 IQD 10.1K

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

0.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.30 IQD 30.5K

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

2.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 IQD 11.3K

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

-3.04%

Cappuccino

$3.15 IQD 4,123

$3.20 IQD 4,189

-1.56%

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

$0.52 IQD 683

$0.48 IQD 630

8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 IQD 2,535

$1.93 IQD 2,523

0.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,670

$2.14 IQD 2,803

-4.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,726

$1.31 IQD 1,719

0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,046

$0.85 IQD 1,108

-5.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,362

$1.86 IQD 2,439

-3.23%

Eggs

$1.91 IQD 2,506

$1.98 IQD 2,590

-3.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 IQD 9,820

$7.23 IQD 9,474

3.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,297

$4.72 IQD 6,184

1.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

-2.04%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,575

$1.19 IQD 1,563

0.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,497

$1.15 IQD 1,505

-0.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,541

$1.15 IQD 1,502

2.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,057

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 948

$0.68 IQD 888

5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 932

$0.75 IQD 980

-5.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 IQD 942

$0.73 IQD 952

-1.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 682

$0.57 IQD 742

-8.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 IQD 3,535

$2.62 IQD 3,428

3.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.57 IQD 16.5K

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

3.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 IQD 1,794

$1.39 IQD 1,824

-1.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 IQD 2,655

$1.97 IQD 2,579

3.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 480

$0.59 IQD 776

-37.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.79 IQD 40.3K

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

-12.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,937

$2.25 IQD 2,942

-0.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,047

$2.33 IQD 3,052

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.08 IQD 9,270

$6.75 IQD 8,845

4.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.69 IQD 899

$0.65 IQD 849

6.15%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

-2.78%

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

$20.9K IQD 27.3M

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

0.21%

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

$103 IQD 134.5K

$102 IQD 133.2K

0.99%

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

$17.78 IQD 23.3K

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

2.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.62 IQD 38.8K

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

0.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.50 IQD 47.8K

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

-50.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.77 IQD 22.0K

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

45.19%

Cinema Ticket

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

1.93%

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

$269 IQD 352.6K

$263 IQD 343.7K

2.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,226 IQD 4.2M

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

-0.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.94 IQD 43.1K

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

-1.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.23 IQD 64.5K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-0.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

3.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.3 IQD 101.2K

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

1.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 IQD 313.9K

$429 IQD 562.2K

-44.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 IQD 238.1K

$275 IQD 360.3K

-33.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 IQD 769.4K

$732 IQD 958.5K

-19.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 452.7K

$495 IQD 647.8K

-30.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,130 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$660 IQD 864.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$581 IQD 760.9K

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-miqdadiyah: July 12, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $240 in Al-miqdadiyah and $429 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Al-miqdadiyah vs $23.00 in Erbil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $195 per month, with Al-miqdadiyah cheaper across the board.

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 19% in total monthly costs ($867 vs $1,034 including rent). Al-miqdadiyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,301 in Al-miqdadiyah and $1,551 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $240 in Al-miqdadiyah versus $429 in Erbil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $269 in Al-miqdadiyah versus $263 in Erbil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Al-miqdadiyah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 19% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.