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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $703 in Al-musayyib versus $1,074 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,023 in Al-musayyib versus $1,624 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,344 in Al-musayyib versus $2,173 in Erbil.

Living in Al-musayyib costs roughly 35% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-musayyib 49% lower, Erbil 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.65 IQD 6,091

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

-40.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.61 IQD 45.3K

$43.48 IQD 56.9K

-20.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

$8.20 IQD 10.7K

-6.10%

Cappuccino

$3.18 IQD 4,163

$3.65 IQD 4,784

-12.88%

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

$0.39 IQD 514

$1.04 IQD 1,362

-62.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 342

$0.45 IQD 585

-42.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.90 IQD 5,105

$5.96 IQD 7,810

-34.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 IQD 5,021

$4.46 IQD 5,839

-14.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 IQD 1,413

$1.27 IQD 1,665

-14.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 IQD 1,014

$0.82 IQD 1,073

-6.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 IQD 1,985

$1.67 IQD 2,187

-8.98%

Eggs

$1.56 IQD 2,047

$1.85 IQD 2,418

-15.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.87 IQD 5,068

$8.38 IQD 11.0K

-53.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.83 IQD 5,016

$5.72 IQD 7,485

-33.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.30 IQD 14.8K

$14.89 IQD 19.5K

-24.11%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,487

$1.15 IQD 1,502

-0.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 IQD 1,396

$1.16 IQD 1,521

-7.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,376

$1.18 IQD 1,544

-11.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 IQD 711

$0.75 IQD 979

-28.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 781

$0.76 IQD 997

-21.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 768

$0.68 IQD 892

-13.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.73 IQD 961

-24.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 IQD 474

$0.58 IQD 764

-37.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 IQD 2,386

$2.52 IQD 3,305

-27.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.77 IQD 18.0K

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

12.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 IQD 2,935

$1.65 IQD 2,160

35.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 IQD 2,997

$2.13 IQD 2,783

7.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 719

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,957

$1.96 IQD 2,561

15.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,952

$1.82 IQD 2,379

-18.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

$6.52 IQD 8,533

17.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 IQD 823

$0.66 IQD 866

-4.55%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

6.64%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.1M

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

-3.64%

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

$212 IQD 277.1K

$128 IQD 167.5K

65.42%

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

$20.98 IQD 27.5K

$13.86 IQD 18.1K

51.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.50 IQD 54.3K

$27.91 IQD 36.6K

48.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.8 IQD 84.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.65 IQD 19.2K

Cinema Ticket

$10.68 IQD 14.0K

$11.58 IQD 15.2K

-7.77%

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

$170 IQD 222.6K

$314 IQD 411.2K

-45.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,519 IQD 4.6M

$3,082 IQD 4.0M

14.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.66 IQD 38.8K

$30.66 IQD 40.2K

-3.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.55 IQD 49.2K

$45.68 IQD 59.8K

-17.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.8 IQD 95.4K

$67.9 IQD 89.0K

7.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.52 IQD 60.9K

$68.8 IQD 90.1K

-32.42%

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 %)

4.12

2.53

62.85%

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

Last update for Al-musayyib: September 6, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $35.00 in Al-musayyib vs $43.00 in Erbil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $167 vs $205 per month, with Al-musayyib 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-musayyib vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-musayyib and Erbil differ by about 53% in total monthly costs ($703 vs $1,074 including rent). Al-musayyib is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,054 in Al-musayyib 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.

Childcare runs $170 in Al-musayyib versus $314 in Erbil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Al-musayyib – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $43.00 in Erbil. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $703 in Al-musayyib versus $1,074 in Erbil, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al-musayyib but tight or insufficient in Erbil. The gap between the two cities makes Al-musayyib 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-musayyib 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-musayyib gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.