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: $766 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,034 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,181 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,548 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,596 in Al-Rumaitha versus $2,061 in Erbil.

Living in Al-Rumaitha costs roughly 26% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-Rumaitha 43% lower, Erbil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.07 IQD 5,331

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

-47.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.66 IQD 32.3K

$22.83 IQD 29.9K

8.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 IQD 9,087

$8.98 IQD 11.8K

-22.72%

Cappuccino

$2.57 IQD 3,369

$3.13 IQD 4,096

-17.89%

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

$0.39 IQD 516

$0.49 IQD 640

-20.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 IQD 216

$0.20 IQD 261

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.86 IQD 3,743

$2.00 IQD 2,624

43.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 IQD 3,870

$2.14 IQD 2,797

37.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,736

$1.32 IQD 1,730

0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,112

$0.84 IQD 1,103

1.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 IQD 2,060

$1.80 IQD 2,355

-12.78%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,329

$1.98 IQD 2,599

-10.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.38 IQD 5,741

$7.54 IQD 9,879

-41.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 IQD 6,192

$4.80 IQD 6,282

-1.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.99 IQD 17.0K

$14.29 IQD 18.7K

-9.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,577

$1.14 IQD 1,491

5.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$1.20 IQD 1,567

-4.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,383

$1.19 IQD 1,561

-10.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.76 IQD 994

-7.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.70 IQD 918

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 830

$0.72 IQD 938

-12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.78 IQD 1,018

-17.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.53 IQD 688

3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,546

$2.63 IQD 3,449

-26.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

5.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,414

$1.45 IQD 1,899

26.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,806

$2.01 IQD 2,633

6.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 483

$0.54 IQD 710

-31.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.62 IQD 41.4K

$34.09 IQD 44.6K

-7.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 IQD 3,070

$2.35 IQD 3,084

-0.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,935

$2.20 IQD 2,885

-32.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.14 IQD 8,044

$6.87 IQD 8,999

-10.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 703

$0.70 IQD 911

-22.86%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

-1.79%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-3.49%

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

$76.9 IQD 100.7K

$102 IQD 134.1K

-24.94%

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

$17.44 IQD 22.8K

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

-2.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.89 IQD 45.7K

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

18.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.96 IQD 48.4K

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

-49.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

$11.77 IQD 15.4K

40.19%

Cinema Ticket

$7.64 IQD 10.0K

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

-34.25%

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

$150 IQD 196.0K

$269 IQD 352.1K

-44.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,219 IQD 4.2M

$3,278 IQD 4.3M

-1.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.34 IQD 35.8K

$32.74 IQD 42.9K

-16.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

$48.36 IQD 63.3K

-47.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.5 IQD 81.9K

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

-22.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

$76.8 IQD 100.5K

-47.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$244 IQD 319.4K

$426 IQD 557.6K

-42.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 IQD 230.0K

$278 IQD 364.4K

-36.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$570 IQD 746.9K

$726 IQD 951.1K

-21.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 IQD 449.5K

$485 IQD 635.3K

-29.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,123 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$658 IQD 862.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$584 IQD 765.0K

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Erbil: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $244 in Al-Rumaitha and $426 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 $184 vs $197, 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 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,150 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: $244 in Al-Rumaitha versus $426 in Erbil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $766 per month in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,034 in Erbil – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Al-Rumaitha runs roughly 8% less than in Erbil. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $766 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,034 in Erbil, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Rumaitha but tight or insufficient in Erbil. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Rumaitha 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-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 35% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.