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 $673 per month in An Najaf vs $1,034 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $993 per month in An Najaf vs $1,548 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,313 per month in An Najaf vs $2,061 in Erbil, rent included.

An Najaf is about 35% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both An Najaf and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – An Najaf 50% lower, Erbil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.17 IQD 5,458

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

-45.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.52 IQD 29.5K

$22.83 IQD 29.9K

-1.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.87 IQD 6,383

$8.98 IQD 11.8K

-45.77%

Cappuccino

$2.72 IQD 3,565

$3.13 IQD 4,096

-13.10%

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

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.49 IQD 640

-24.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 232

$0.20 IQD 261

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 IQD 4,562

$2.00 IQD 2,624

74.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 IQD 3,646

$2.14 IQD 2,797

29.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,735

$1.32 IQD 1,730

0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,040

$0.84 IQD 1,103

-5.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,107

$1.80 IQD 2,355

-10.56%

Eggs

$1.80 IQD 2,358

$1.98 IQD 2,599

-9.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.32 IQD 3,042

$7.54 IQD 9,879

-69.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.91 IQD 6,436

$4.80 IQD 6,282

2.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.51 IQD 13.8K

$14.29 IQD 18.7K

-26.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.24 IQD 1,617

$1.14 IQD 1,491

8.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,511

$1.20 IQD 1,567

-4.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,386

$1.19 IQD 1,561

-10.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 986

$0.76 IQD 994

-1.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 849

$0.70 IQD 918

-7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 890

$0.72 IQD 938

-5.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 IQD 862

$0.78 IQD 1,018

-15.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.53 IQD 688

-24.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.50 IQD 1,966

$2.63 IQD 3,449

-42.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.34 IQD 17.5K

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

6.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,410

$1.45 IQD 1,899

26.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,708

$2.01 IQD 2,633

2.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.54 IQD 709

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.76 IQD 44.2K

$34.09 IQD 44.6K

-0.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 IQD 2,544

$2.35 IQD 3,084

-17.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,012

$2.20 IQD 2,885

-30.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.02 IQD 6,572

$6.87 IQD 8,999

-26.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.44 IQD 579

$0.70 IQD 911

-37.14%

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

$11.6K IQD 15.2M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

-39.36%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-3.07%

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

$59.9 IQD 78.4K

$102 IQD 134.1K

-41.53%

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

$22.72 IQD 29.7K

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

26.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.90 IQD 45.7K

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

18.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.23 IQD 38.3K

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

-59.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 IQD 19.3K

$11.77 IQD 15.4K

25.40%

Cinema Ticket

$7.68 IQD 10.1K

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

-33.91%

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

$164 IQD 215.1K

$269 IQD 352.1K

-38.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$923 IQD 1.2M

$3,278 IQD 4.3M

-71.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.28 IQD 21.3K

$32.74 IQD 42.9K

-50.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.86 IQD 32.6K

$48.36 IQD 63.3K

-48.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.8 IQD 84.8K

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

-20.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.67 IQD 55.9K

$76.8 IQD 100.5K

-44.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 IQD 314.8K

$426 IQD 557.6K

-43.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$134 IQD 175.4K

$278 IQD 364.4K

-51.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 IQD 505.3K

$726 IQD 951.1K

-46.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 IQD 196.5K

$485 IQD 635.3K

-69.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,232 IQD 1.6M

$1,123 IQD 1.5M

9.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$481 IQD 630.0K

$658 IQD 862.2K

-26.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$748 IQD 978.9K

$584 IQD 765.0K

27.97%

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 An Najaf: June 1, 2026

Last update for Erbil: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $240 in An Najaf versus $426 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 28% 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 $23.00 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $197 – 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 54% more than An Najaf, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,009 per month in An Najaf and $1,551 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 $673 in An Najaf and $1,034 in Erbil. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1% less in An Najaf. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in An Najaf, where all-in costs run around $673, than in Erbil at $1,034. 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.