Cost of Living Comparison Between An Najaf and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between An Najaf and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $645 per month in An Najaf vs $1,074 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $976 per month in An Najaf vs $1,624 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,306 per month in An Najaf vs $2,173 in Erbil, rent included.

An Najaf is about 40% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both An Najaf and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – An Najaf 53% lower, Erbil 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.64 IQD 6,078

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

-40.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.62 IQD 29.6K

$43.48 IQD 56.9K

-47.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 IQD 6,350

$8.20 IQD 10.7K

-40.85%

Cappuccino

$2.48 IQD 3,251

$3.65 IQD 4,784

-32.05%

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

$0.37 IQD 482

$1.04 IQD 1,362

-64.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 343

$0.45 IQD 585

-42.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.91 IQD 5,120

$5.96 IQD 7,810

-34.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 IQD 2,586

$4.46 IQD 5,839

-55.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 IQD 1,346

$1.27 IQD 1,665

-18.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,077

$0.82 IQD 1,073

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 IQD 2,052

$1.67 IQD 2,187

-5.99%

Eggs

$1.65 IQD 2,160

$1.85 IQD 2,418

-10.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.71 IQD 4,853

$8.38 IQD 11.0K

-55.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 IQD 6,201

$5.72 IQD 7,485

-17.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 IQD 14.1K

$14.89 IQD 19.5K

-27.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,546

$1.15 IQD 1,502

2.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 IQD 1,399

$1.16 IQD 1,521

-7.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,324

$1.18 IQD 1,544

-14.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 963

$0.75 IQD 979

-2.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 850

$0.76 IQD 997

-14.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.68 IQD 892

-5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 IQD 875

$0.73 IQD 961

-8.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 696

$0.58 IQD 764

-8.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.69 IQD 2,219

$2.52 IQD 3,305

-32.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

11.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 IQD 2,924

$1.65 IQD 2,160

35.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 IQD 2,948

$2.13 IQD 2,783

5.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 IQD 428

$0.55 IQD 719

-40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 IQD 2,018

$1.96 IQD 2,561

-21.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,951

$1.82 IQD 2,379

-18.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.31 IQD 6,958

$6.52 IQD 8,533

-18.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.45 IQD 588

$0.66 IQD 866

-31.82%

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

$11.8K IQD 15.5M

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

-33.63%

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

$18.0K IQD 23.6M

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

-9.33%

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

$38.16 IQD 50.0K

$128 IQD 167.5K

-70.17%

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

$16.66 IQD 21.8K

$13.86 IQD 18.1K

20.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.30 IQD 48.8K

$27.91 IQD 36.6K

33.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.91 IQD 37.9K

$64.8 IQD 84.8K

-55.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.65 IQD 19.2K

Cinema Ticket

$9.36 IQD 12.3K

$11.58 IQD 15.2K

-19.17%

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

$168 IQD 219.9K

$314 IQD 411.2K

-46.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$917 IQD 1.2M

$3,082 IQD 4.0M

-70.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.14 IQD 21.1K

$30.66 IQD 40.2K

-47.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.01 IQD 35.4K

$45.68 IQD 59.8K

-40.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.2 IQD 93.2K

$67.9 IQD 89.0K

4.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.90 IQD 62.7K

$68.8 IQD 90.1K

-30.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$258 IQD 337.8K

$470 IQD 616.0K

-45.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$140 IQD 183.4K

$294 IQD 385.1K

-52.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$335 IQD 438.1K

$728 IQD 953.1K

-54.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 IQD 266.7K

$434 IQD 568.3K

-53.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,263 IQD 1.7M

$1,096 IQD 1.4M

15.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$488 IQD 638.5K

$646 IQD 846.5K

-24.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$729 IQD 954.1K

$608 IQD 796.3K

19.82%

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 An Najaf: September 7, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $258 in An Najaf versus $470 in Erbil. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 20% higher in An Najaf, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in An Najaf versus $43.00 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $174 vs $205 – making An Najaf the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

An Najaf vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Erbil costs about 67% more than An Najaf, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $968 per month in An Najaf and $1,612 in Erbil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in An Najaf, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $645 in An Najaf and $1,074 in Erbil. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $168 per month in An Najaf and $314 in Erbil. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in An Najaf, where all-in costs run around $645, than in Erbil at $1,074. In An Najaf it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward An Najaf – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with An Najaf. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Erbil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.