Cost of Living Comparison Between As Samawah and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between As Samawah and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $906 in As Samawah versus $1,034 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,356 in As Samawah versus $1,548 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,805 in As Samawah versus $2,061 in Erbil.

Living in As Samawah costs roughly 12% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: As Samawah 32% lower, Erbil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 IQD 7,073

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

-30.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.94 IQD 48.4K

$22.83 IQD 29.9K

61.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$8.98 IQD 11.8K

-13.47%

Cappuccino

$2.95 IQD 3,865

$3.13 IQD 4,096

-5.75%

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

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.49 IQD 640

-18.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 IQD 215

$0.20 IQD 261

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.42 IQD 4,484

$2.00 IQD 2,624

71.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 IQD 3,777

$2.14 IQD 2,797

34.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,785

$1.32 IQD 1,730

3.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,104

$0.84 IQD 1,103

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,093

$1.80 IQD 2,355

-11.11%

Eggs

$1.59 IQD 2,081

$1.98 IQD 2,599

-19.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.55 IQD 5,955

$7.54 IQD 9,879

-39.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 IQD 6,501

$4.80 IQD 6,282

3.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

$14.29 IQD 18.7K

-1.12%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 IQD 1,287

$1.14 IQD 1,491

-14.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,329

$1.20 IQD 1,567

-15.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 896

$1.19 IQD 1,561

-42.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 IQD 671

$0.76 IQD 994

-32.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 914

$0.70 IQD 918

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 884

$0.72 IQD 938

-5.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 IQD 411

$0.78 IQD 1,018

-60.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 IQD 820

$0.53 IQD 688

18.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.12 IQD 2,782

$2.63 IQD 3,449

-19.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.58 IQD 9,929

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

-39.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,419

$1.45 IQD 1,899

27.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 IQD 2,763

$2.01 IQD 2,633

4.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 513

$0.54 IQD 709

-27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.75 IQD 40.3K

$34.09 IQD 44.6K

-9.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 IQD 4,888

$2.35 IQD 3,084

58.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 IQD 1,958

$2.20 IQD 2,885

-31.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 IQD 9,819

$6.87 IQD 8,999

9.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 704

$0.70 IQD 911

-22.86%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

4.93%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-5.47%

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

$178 IQD 232.6K

$102 IQD 134.1K

73.36%

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

$25.43 IQD 33.3K

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

41.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.88 IQD 52.2K

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

35.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.29 IQD 47.5K

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

-50.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.08 IQD 22.4K

$11.77 IQD 15.4K

45.11%

Cinema Ticket

$7.44 IQD 9,746

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

-35.97%

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

$166 IQD 217.4K

$269 IQD 352.1K

-38.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,650 IQD 4.8M

$3,278 IQD 4.3M

11.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.68 IQD 37.6K

$32.74 IQD 42.9K

-12.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.00 IQD 39.3K

$48.36 IQD 63.3K

-37.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 IQD 86.2K

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

-18.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.65 IQD 57.2K

$76.8 IQD 100.5K

-43.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$245 IQD 320.7K

$426 IQD 557.6K

-42.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 231.5K

$278 IQD 364.4K

-36.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$580 IQD 759.7K

$726 IQD 951.1K

-20.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 IQD 448.1K

$485 IQD 635.3K

-29.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,123 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$658 IQD 862.2K

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 As Samawah: June 1, 2026

Last update for Erbil: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $245 in As Samawah and $426 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in As Samawah vs $23.00 in Erbil. Groceries flip the comparison at $173 vs $197, with As Samawah 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

As Samawah vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

As Samawah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,359 in As Samawah 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: $245 in As Samawah versus $426 in Erbil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in As Samawah runs roughly 11% less than in Erbil. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $166 in As Samawah versus $269 in Erbil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $906 in As Samawah versus $1,034 in Erbil, a $1,500 budget is realistic in As Samawah but tight or insufficient in Erbil. The gap between the two cities makes As Samawah 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, As Samawah 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 As Samawah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.