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: $746 in Az Zubayr versus $1,017 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,164 in Az Zubayr versus $1,518 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,582 in Az Zubayr versus $2,019 in Erbil.

Living in Az Zubayr costs roughly 27% 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 5,205

$7.59 IQD 9,938

-47.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.81 IQD 32.5K

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

8.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.76 IQD 8,848

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

-21.85%

Cappuccino

$2.63 IQD 3,446

$3.25 IQD 4,260

-19.08%

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

$0.36 IQD 475

$0.52 IQD 676

-30.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 IQD 213

$0.20 IQD 261

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.86 IQD 3,745

$1.95 IQD 2,555

46.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 IQD 3,833

$2.04 IQD 2,675

43.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,777

$1.32 IQD 1,725

3.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,076

$0.81 IQD 1,062

1.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,151

$1.80 IQD 2,357

-8.89%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,364

$1.91 IQD 2,505

-5.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.42 IQD 5,784

$7.50 IQD 9,816

-41.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,292

$4.82 IQD 6,315

-0.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

-6.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,490

$1.18 IQD 1,551

-3.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,506

$1.15 IQD 1,500

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,323

$1.14 IQD 1,494

-11.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 905

$0.80 IQD 1,045

-13.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 904

$0.66 IQD 863

4.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 874

$0.77 IQD 1,002

-12.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 817

$0.77 IQD 1,008

-19.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 737

$0.55 IQD 721

1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,534

$2.74 IQD 3,594

-29.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 IQD 2,357

$1.37 IQD 1,794

31.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,809

$2.00 IQD 2,619

7.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.59 IQD 768

-32.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.60 IQD 41.4K

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

-9.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 IQD 2,996

$2.25 IQD 2,942

1.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,926

$2.29 IQD 2,993

-35.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.96 IQD 7,804

$6.85 IQD 8,966

-12.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 743

$0.64 IQD 839

-10.94%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

0.54%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

-3.37%

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

$77.3 IQD 101.3K

$101 IQD 132.2K

-23.41%

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

$17.58 IQD 23.0K

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

1.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.04 IQD 44.6K

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

12.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.06 IQD 48.5K

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

-48.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 IQD 22.4K

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

48.35%

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 IQD 9,822

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

-33.51%

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

$153 IQD 200.4K

$271 IQD 354.5K

-43.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

0.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.32 IQD 35.8K

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

-15.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.03 IQD 32.8K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-49.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.8 IQD 81.0K

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

-23.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.83 IQD 54.8K

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

-45.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 IQD 317.6K

$425 IQD 556.0K

-42.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.4K

$279 IQD 365.3K

-35.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$586 IQD 767.7K

$740 IQD 969.0K

-20.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 IQD 451.1K

$491 IQD 643.3K

-29.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 845.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 IQD 773.3K

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Erbil: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $243 in Az Zubayr and $425 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 36% in total monthly costs ($746 vs $1,017 including rent). Az Zubayr is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,118 in Az Zubayr and $1,525 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: $243 in Az Zubayr versus $425 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 $746 in Az Zubayr versus $1,017 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 36% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.