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: $878 in As Samawah versus $1,034 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,339 in As Samawah versus $1,522 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,801 in As Samawah versus $2,010 in Erbil.

Living in As Samawah costs roughly 15% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: As Samawah 34% lower, Erbil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.46 IQD 7,146

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-29.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.41 IQD 47.7K

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

60.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

-13.29%

Cappuccino

$2.99 IQD 3,920

$3.20 IQD 4,189

-6.56%

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

$0.36 IQD 475

$0.48 IQD 630

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 246

$0.20 IQD 262

-5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 IQD 4,455

$1.93 IQD 2,523

76.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 IQD 3,819

$2.14 IQD 2,803

36.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,804

$1.31 IQD 1,719

5.34%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,029

$0.85 IQD 1,108

-7.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 IQD 2,076

$1.86 IQD 2,439

-15.05%

Eggs

$1.62 IQD 2,118

$1.98 IQD 2,590

-18.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.61 IQD 6,036

$7.23 IQD 9,474

-36.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.00 IQD 6,542

$4.72 IQD 6,184

5.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 IQD 18.7K

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

0.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,323

$1.19 IQD 1,563

-15.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,327

$1.15 IQD 1,505

-12.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 931

$1.15 IQD 1,502

-38.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 IQD 678

$0.81 IQD 1,057

-35.80%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 849

$0.68 IQD 888

-4.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 827

$0.75 IQD 980

-16.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 IQD 453

$0.73 IQD 952

-52.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 IQD 820

$0.57 IQD 742

10.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.04 IQD 2,670

$2.62 IQD 3,428

-22.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

-35.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 IQD 2,397

$1.39 IQD 1,824

31.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 IQD 2,771

$1.97 IQD 2,579

7.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 483

$0.59 IQD 776

-37.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.79 IQD 40.3K

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

-12.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 IQD 5,098

$2.25 IQD 2,942

72.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,920

$2.33 IQD 3,052

-36.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 IQD 9,826

$6.75 IQD 8,845

11.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 693

$0.65 IQD 849

-18.46%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

2.68%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

-6.07%

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

$175 IQD 229.0K

$102 IQD 133.2K

72.00%

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

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

46.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.92 IQD 52.3K

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

34.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.84 IQD 48.2K

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

-50.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 IQD 22.1K

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

45.80%

Cinema Ticket

$7.57 IQD 9,910

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

-33.65%

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

$164 IQD 214.9K

$263 IQD 343.7K

-37.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,571 IQD 4.7M

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

9.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.11 IQD 36.8K

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

-15.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.92 IQD 40.5K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-37.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.6 IQD 85.9K

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

-19.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.63 IQD 57.1K

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

-42.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 IQD 316.6K

$429 IQD 562.2K

-43.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 IQD 237.9K

$275 IQD 360.3K

-33.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$586 IQD 767.7K

$732 IQD 958.5K

-19.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.2K

$495 IQD 647.8K

-30.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,130 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$660 IQD 864.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$581 IQD 760.9K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in As Samawah and $429 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36.00 in As Samawah vs $23.00 in Erbil. Groceries flip the comparison at $174 vs $195, 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 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,317 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: $242 in As Samawah versus $429 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 14% less than in Erbil. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $164 in As Samawah versus $263 in Erbil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though As Samawah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 18% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.