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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $777 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,034 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,176 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,522 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,574 in Al-Rumaitha versus $2,010 in Erbil.

Living in Al-Rumaitha costs roughly 25% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-Rumaitha 42% lower, Erbil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.00 IQD 5,239

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-48.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.15 IQD 32.9K

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

11.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 IQD 8,785

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

-24.44%

Cappuccino

$2.60 IQD 3,408

$3.20 IQD 4,189

-18.75%

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

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.48 IQD 630

-18.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 265

$0.20 IQD 262

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.86 IQD 3,745

$1.93 IQD 2,523

48.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 IQD 3,809

$2.14 IQD 2,803

35.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,738

$1.31 IQD 1,719

1.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,031

$0.85 IQD 1,108

-7.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 IQD 2,168

$1.86 IQD 2,439

-10.75%

Eggs

$1.74 IQD 2,274

$1.98 IQD 2,590

-12.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.37 IQD 5,727

$7.23 IQD 9,474

-39.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 IQD 6,039

$4.72 IQD 6,184

-2.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.31 IQD 17.4K

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

-6.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,570

$1.19 IQD 1,563

0.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,507

$1.15 IQD 1,505

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,330

$1.15 IQD 1,502

-11.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.81 IQD 1,057

-8.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.68 IQD 888

-4.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 872

$0.75 IQD 980

-10.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.73 IQD 952

-15.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.57 IQD 742

-3.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$2.62 IQD 3,428

-27.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.90 IQD 16.9K

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

5.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,421

$1.39 IQD 1,824

33.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,727

$1.97 IQD 2,579

5.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.59 IQD 776

-38.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.29 IQD 41.0K

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

-10.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,054

$2.25 IQD 2,942

3.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,957

$2.33 IQD 3,052

-36.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.92 IQD 7,756

$6.75 IQD 8,845

-12.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 751

$0.65 IQD 849

-12.31%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

-0.88%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

-5.96%

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

$78.1 IQD 102.3K

$102 IQD 133.2K

-23.18%

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

$17.49 IQD 22.9K

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

0.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.43 IQD 45.1K

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

16.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.84 IQD 48.2K

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

-50.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 IQD 22.4K

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

48.23%

Cinema Ticket

$7.63 IQD 9,995

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

-33.13%

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

$153 IQD 200.1K

$263 IQD 343.7K

-41.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,328 IQD 4.4M

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

2.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

-19.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.05 IQD 32.8K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-49.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.3 IQD 81.5K

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

-23.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.45 IQD 53.0K

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

-47.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 IQD 313.3K

$429 IQD 562.2K

-44.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.9K

$275 IQD 360.3K

-34.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 IQD 764.6K

$732 IQD 958.5K

-20.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$338 IQD 442.7K

$495 IQD 647.8K

-31.67%

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-Rumaitha: July 13, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $239 in Al-Rumaitha and $429 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Al-Rumaitha vs $23.00 in Erbil. Groceries flip the comparison at $183 vs $195, with Al-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Rumaitha is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,165 in Al-Rumaitha 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: $239 in Al-Rumaitha versus $429 in Erbil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $777 per month in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,034 in Erbil – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Al-Rumaitha runs roughly 12% less than in Erbil. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Al-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.