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: $675 in As Samawah versus $1,101 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $969 in As Samawah versus $1,630 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,263 in As Samawah versus $2,158 in Erbil.

Living in As Samawah costs roughly 39% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: As Samawah 51% lower, Erbil 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.84 IQD 6,334

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

-37.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.74 IQD 45.4K

$44.38 IQD 58.0K

-21.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 IQD 9,889

$8.42 IQD 11.0K

-10.21%

Cappuccino

$3.08 IQD 4,031

$3.84 IQD 5,021

-19.79%

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

$0.40 IQD 521

$1.03 IQD 1,352

-61.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 254

$0.44 IQD 579

-56.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 IQD 4,872

$6.05 IQD 7,911

-38.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 IQD 4,877

$4.71 IQD 6,159

-20.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 IQD 1,408

$1.27 IQD 1,655

-14.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 IQD 1,012

$0.83 IQD 1,082

-7.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 IQD 1,976

$1.68 IQD 2,195

-10.12%

Eggs

$1.75 IQD 2,295

$1.79 IQD 2,342

-2.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.51 IQD 1,974

$8.06 IQD 10.5K

-81.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.83 IQD 6,313

$5.78 IQD 7,566

-16.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.91 IQD 18.2K

$14.84 IQD 19.4K

-6.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.09 IQD 1,429

$1.13 IQD 1,481

-3.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,416

$1.10 IQD 1,442

-1.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 IQD 1,235

$1.23 IQD 1,610

-23.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.42 IQD 547

$0.82 IQD 1,067

-48.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 IQD 718

$0.70 IQD 910

-21.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 873

$0.69 IQD 904

-2.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 IQD 883

$0.74 IQD 968

-9.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 IQD 892

$0.55 IQD 722

23.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.85 IQD 2,418

$2.52 IQD 3,290

-26.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.48 IQD 9,782

$12.54 IQD 16.4K

-40.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 IQD 2,907

$1.69 IQD 2,215

31.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 IQD 2,960

$2.09 IQD 2,732

8.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 771

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.50 IQD 29.4K

$43.81 IQD 57.3K

-48.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,926

$1.94 IQD 2,541

15.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,944

$1.82 IQD 2,378

-18.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 IQD 4,092

$6.56 IQD 8,579

-52.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.62 IQD 810

$0.67 IQD 881

-7.46%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

2.62%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

-6.55%

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

$82.3 IQD 107.7K

$128 IQD 166.8K

-35.45%

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

$19.13 IQD 25.0K

$13.95 IQD 18.2K

37.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.37 IQD 25.3K

$28.49 IQD 37.3K

-32.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

$66.0 IQD 86.3K

-88.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.36 IQD 25.3K

$14.62 IQD 19.1K

32.42%

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 IQD 11.9K

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

-21.68%

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

$57.4 IQD 75.1K

$309 IQD 404.6K

-81.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,506 IQD 2.0M

$3,144 IQD 4.1M

-52.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.18 IQD 38.2K

$31.32 IQD 41.0K

-6.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 IQD 49.2K

$44.84 IQD 58.7K

-16.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.7 IQD 97.7K

$69.3 IQD 90.6K

7.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.79 IQD 62.5K

$67.4 IQD 88.2K

-29.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 IQD 159.0K

$460 IQD 601.8K

-73.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$117 IQD 152.6K

$297 IQD 389.0K

-60.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 235.0K

$740 IQD 968.4K

-75.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 IQD 565.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,092 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$665 IQD 869.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$614 IQD 802.9K

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 As Samawah: September 14, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in As Samawah and $460 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35.00 in As Samawah vs $44.00 in Erbil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $164 vs $204 per month, with As Samawah cheaper across the board.

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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 63% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,013 in As Samawah and $1,652 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: $122 in As Samawah versus $460 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 95% less than in Erbil. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $57.4 in As Samawah versus $309 in Erbil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $675 in As Samawah versus $1,101 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 63% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.