Cost of Living Comparison Between Az Zubayr and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Az Zubayr and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $731 in Az Zubayr versus $1,019 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Az Zubayr versus $1,524 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,577 in Az Zubayr versus $2,029 in Erbil.

Living in Az Zubayr costs roughly 28% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Az Zubayr 45% lower, Erbil 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 IQD 5,195

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-48.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.15 IQD 32.9K

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

9.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.96 IQD 9,113

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

-22.41%

Cappuccino

$2.59 IQD 3,388

$3.25 IQD 4,252

-20.31%

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

$0.40 IQD 523

$0.48 IQD 630

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 226

$0.22 IQD 289

-22.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 IQD 3,907

$2.01 IQD 2,633

48.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 IQD 3,778

$2.04 IQD 2,671

41.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,785

$1.32 IQD 1,727

3.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,025

$0.85 IQD 1,115

-8.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 IQD 2,082

$1.81 IQD 2,368

-12.15%

Eggs

$1.71 IQD 2,240

$1.98 IQD 2,590

-13.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.44 IQD 5,814

$7.44 IQD 9,745

-40.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 IQD 6,287

$4.75 IQD 6,229

1.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.15 IQD 17.2K

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

-6.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,511

$1.15 IQD 1,509

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,590

$1.16 IQD 1,514

4.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,385

$1.13 IQD 1,483

-6.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 930

$0.81 IQD 1,061

-12.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 912

$0.71 IQD 936

-1.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.76 IQD 997

-11.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 823

$0.76 IQD 1,002

-17.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 733

$0.53 IQD 690

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,466

$2.76 IQD 3,610

-31.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 IQD 2,329

$1.42 IQD 1,862

25.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 IQD 2,869

$2.00 IQD 2,627

9.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.56 IQD 728

-33.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.53 IQD 41.3K

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

-8.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,931

$2.28 IQD 2,992

-1.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 2,005

$2.29 IQD 2,997

-33.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 IQD 7,633

$6.92 IQD 9,060

-15.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 IQD 754

$0.70 IQD 911

-17.14%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.7M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

-1.06%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

-3.08%

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

$78.8 IQD 103.2K

$100 IQD 131.3K

-21.41%

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

$17.71 IQD 23.2K

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

0.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.72 IQD 45.5K

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

17.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

-50.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.73 IQD 21.9K

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

41.54%

Cinema Ticket

$7.44 IQD 9,751

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

-35.70%

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

$151 IQD 197.4K

$264 IQD 345.7K

-42.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,308 IQD 4.3M

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

0.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.58 IQD 36.1K

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

-16.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.87 IQD 32.6K

$49.58 IQD 65.0K

-49.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.2 IQD 80.2K

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

-26.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

-46.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 IQD 316.5K

$430 IQD 562.8K

-43.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.6K

$281 IQD 367.7K

-37.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$571 IQD 748.4K

$716 IQD 938.5K

-20.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 IQD 459.1K

$486 IQD 637.2K

-27.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$652 IQD 854.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$576 IQD 754.2K

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 Az Zubayr: April 26, 2026

Last update for Erbil: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Az Zubayr and $430 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Az Zubayr vs $23.00 in Erbil. Groceries flip the comparison at $158 vs $195, with Az Zubayr 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

Az Zubayr vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Az Zubayr and Erbil differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($731 vs $1,019 including rent). Az Zubayr is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,097 in Az Zubayr and $1,528 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 Az Zubayr versus $430 in Erbil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Erbil. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Az Zubayr – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $23.00 in Erbil. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $731 in Az Zubayr versus $1,019 in Erbil, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Az Zubayr but tight or insufficient in Erbil. The gap between the two cities makes Az Zubayr 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, Az Zubayr 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 Az Zubayr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.