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 $1,043 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,156 in Az Zubayr versus $1,545 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,581 in Az Zubayr versus $2,046 in Erbil.

Living in Az Zubayr costs roughly 30% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Az Zubayr 45% lower, Erbil 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.00 IQD 5,231

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-49.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

8.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.98 IQD 9,134

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

-22.53%

Cappuccino

$2.55 IQD 3,336

$3.24 IQD 4,240

-21.30%

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

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.49 IQD 640

-18.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 266

$0.22 IQD 288

-9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 IQD 3,879

$1.96 IQD 2,562

51.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 IQD 3,743

$2.16 IQD 2,824

32.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,726

$1.31 IQD 1,718

0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,092

$0.79 IQD 1,034

5.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 IQD 2,177

$1.87 IQD 2,450

-11.23%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,332

$1.95 IQD 2,557

-8.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.61 IQD 6,038

$7.26 IQD 9,502

-36.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.68 IQD 6,122

$4.69 IQD 6,144

-0.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.21 IQD 17.3K

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

-6.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,518

$1.15 IQD 1,502

0.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,501

$1.18 IQD 1,547

-2.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,328

$1.13 IQD 1,480

-10.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 901

$0.75 IQD 982

-8.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 839

$0.72 IQD 948

-11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 836

$0.76 IQD 990

-15.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 IQD 880

$0.76 IQD 1,001

-11.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 731

$0.56 IQD 738

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.96 IQD 2,567

$2.66 IQD 3,486

-26.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.28 IQD 16.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 IQD 2,313

$1.44 IQD 1,880

22.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 IQD 2,762

$1.94 IQD 2,538

8.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 516

$0.59 IQD 767

-33.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.94 IQD 40.5K

$34.79 IQD 45.6K

-11.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,953

$2.27 IQD 2,971

-0.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,011

$2.32 IQD 3,033

-33.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.95 IQD 7,788

$7.05 IQD 9,233

-15.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 743

$0.64 IQD 837

-10.94%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

1.47%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-4.83%

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

$77.0 IQD 100.8K

$101 IQD 132.5K

-23.93%

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

$17.96 IQD 23.5K

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

0.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.90 IQD 45.7K

$29.56 IQD 38.7K

18.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.05 IQD 48.5K

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

-49.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

$11.76 IQD 15.4K

40.31%

Cinema Ticket

$7.61 IQD 9,965

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

-32.36%

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

$152 IQD 199.6K

$269 IQD 351.6K

-43.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,308 IQD 4.3M

$3,330 IQD 4.4M

-0.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.50 IQD 36.0K

$32.93 IQD 43.1K

-16.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.98 IQD 32.7K

$49.13 IQD 64.3K

-49.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.8 IQD 80.9K

$80.7 IQD 105.7K

-23.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.34 IQD 52.8K

$77.9 IQD 102.0K

-48.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 IQD 312.7K

$436 IQD 571.5K

-45.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 236.4K

$275 IQD 360.4K

-34.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 IQD 760.4K

$739 IQD 968.0K

-21.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.3K

$496 IQD 649.8K

-30.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,089 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 IQD 855.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.9K

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 Az Zubayr: July 28, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $239 in Az Zubayr and $436 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 $194, 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 43% in total monthly costs ($731 vs $1,043 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 $1,565 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: $239 in Az Zubayr versus $436 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 $1,043 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 43% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.