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 $688 per month in An Najaf vs $1,034 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,013 per month in An Najaf vs $1,522 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,338 per month in An Najaf vs $2,010 in Erbil, rent included.

An Najaf is about 33% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both An Najaf and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – An Najaf 49% lower, Erbil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.06 IQD 5,317

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-47.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.20 IQD 30.4K

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

2.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 IQD 6,384

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

-45.05%

Cappuccino

$2.75 IQD 3,600

$3.20 IQD 4,189

-14.06%

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

$0.37 IQD 484

$0.48 IQD 630

-22.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 226

$0.20 IQD 262

-15.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.37 IQD 4,411

$1.93 IQD 2,523

74.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 IQD 3,739

$2.14 IQD 2,803

33.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,716

$1.31 IQD 1,719

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,103

$0.85 IQD 1,108

-1.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 IQD 2,071

$1.86 IQD 2,439

-15.05%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,337

$1.98 IQD 2,590

-10.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.40 IQD 3,140

$7.23 IQD 9,474

-66.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,300

$4.72 IQD 6,184

1.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.78 IQD 14.1K

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

-24.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 IQD 1,665

$1.19 IQD 1,563

6.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,528

$1.15 IQD 1,505

1.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,313

$1.15 IQD 1,502

-13.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 966

$0.81 IQD 1,057

-8.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 838

$0.68 IQD 888

-5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 832

$0.75 IQD 980

-14.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 IQD 863

$0.73 IQD 952

-9.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.57 IQD 742

-29.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.49 IQD 1,954

$2.62 IQD 3,428

-43.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.54 IQD 17.7K

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

11.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,437

$1.39 IQD 1,824

33.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 IQD 2,871

$1.97 IQD 2,579

11.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 483

$0.59 IQD 776

-37.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.61 IQD 45.3K

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

-1.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 IQD 2,575

$2.25 IQD 2,942

-12.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 IQD 1,993

$2.33 IQD 3,052

-34.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.92 IQD 6,448

$6.75 IQD 8,845

-27.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.45 IQD 586

$0.65 IQD 849

-30.77%

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

$11.5K IQD 15.1M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

-40.68%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

-5.46%

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

$58.8 IQD 77.0K

$102 IQD 133.2K

-42.20%

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

$23.18 IQD 30.3K

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

33.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.93 IQD 45.7K

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

18.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.32 IQD 38.4K

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

-60.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.81 IQD 19.4K

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

28.23%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

-31.81%

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

$164 IQD 214.2K

$263 IQD 343.7K

-37.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$918 IQD 1.2M

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

-71.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.28 IQD 21.3K

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

-51.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 IQD 32.7K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-49.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.8 IQD 86.2K

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

-18.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.72 IQD 57.2K

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

-42.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 IQD 318.4K

$429 IQD 562.2K

-43.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 IQD 173.9K

$275 IQD 360.3K

-51.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 IQD 508.7K

$732 IQD 958.5K

-46.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 IQD 198.6K

$495 IQD 647.8K

-69.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,274 IQD 1.7M

$1,130 IQD 1.5M

12.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$479 IQD 627.0K

$660 IQD 864.4K

-27.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$736 IQD 964.4K

$581 IQD 760.9K

26.75%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $243 in An Najaf versus $429 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 27% 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: $171 vs $195 – 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 50% 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 $1,031 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 $688 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 2% less in An Najaf. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $688 in An Najaf and $1,034 in Erbil, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.