Cost of Living Comparison Between Ba'qubah and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Ba'qubah and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $643 in Ba'qubah versus $1,043 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $991 in Ba'qubah versus $1,545 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,339 in Ba'qubah versus $2,046 in Erbil.

Living in Ba'qubah costs roughly 38% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ba'qubah 52% lower, Erbil 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.05 IQD 6,612

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-35.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.29 IQD 20.0K

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

-33.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.68 IQD 8,747

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

-25.86%

Cappuccino

$1.17 IQD 1,536

$3.24 IQD 4,240

-63.89%

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

$0.52 IQD 687

$0.49 IQD 640

6.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 224

$0.22 IQD 288

-22.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.88 IQD 2,464

$1.96 IQD 2,562

-4.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 IQD 2,766

$2.16 IQD 2,824

-2.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 IQD 1,482

$1.31 IQD 1,718

-13.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 IQD 770

$0.79 IQD 1,034

-25.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,527

$1.87 IQD 2,450

-37.43%

Eggs

$1.46 IQD 1,914

$1.95 IQD 2,557

-25.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.29 IQD 2,994

$7.26 IQD 9,502

-68.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.52 IQD 3,298

$4.69 IQD 6,144

-46.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.62 IQD 13.9K

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

-24.57%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 IQD 1,297

$1.15 IQD 1,502

-13.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,464

$1.18 IQD 1,547

-5.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,306

$1.13 IQD 1,480

-11.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 IQD 719

$0.75 IQD 982

-26.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 IQD 725

$0.72 IQD 948

-23.61%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 840

$0.76 IQD 990

-15.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 IQD 642

$0.76 IQD 1,001

-35.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 271

$0.56 IQD 738

-62.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.72 IQD 3,559

$2.66 IQD 3,486

2.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

$12.28 IQD 16.1K

-0.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 IQD 1,863

$1.44 IQD 1,880

-1.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 IQD 2,650

$1.94 IQD 2,538

4.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 517

$0.59 IQD 767

-33.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.62 IQD 40.1K

$34.79 IQD 45.6K

-11.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 IQD 3,027

$2.27 IQD 2,971

1.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 IQD 2,645

$2.32 IQD 3,033

-12.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.30 IQD 6,938

$7.05 IQD 9,233

-24.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 IQD 459

$0.64 IQD 837

-45.31%

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

$19.5K IQD 25.5M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

3.08%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

0.28%

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

$57.9 IQD 75.8K

$101 IQD 132.5K

-42.83%

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

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

-1.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.17 IQD 35.6K

$29.56 IQD 38.7K

-8.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.07 IQD 25.0K

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

-74.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.70 IQD 21.9K

$11.76 IQD 15.4K

42.01%

Cinema Ticket

$3.87 IQD 5,073

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

-65.60%

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

$26.35 IQD 34.5K

$269 IQD 351.6K

-90.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$638 IQD 835.4K

$3,330 IQD 4.4M

-80.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.85 IQD 24.7K

$32.93 IQD 43.1K

-42.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.86 IQD 24.7K

$49.13 IQD 64.3K

-61.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 IQD 106.1K

$80.7 IQD 105.7K

0.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.53 IQD 34.7K

$77.9 IQD 102.0K

-65.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 IQD 322.7K

$436 IQD 571.5K

-43.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 235.3K

$275 IQD 360.4K

-34.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 IQD 765.3K

$739 IQD 968.0K

-20.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 IQD 446.9K

$496 IQD 649.8K

-31.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$755 IQD 988.8K

$1,089 IQD 1.4M

-30.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$187 IQD 245.2K

$653 IQD 855.1K

-71.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$726 IQD 951.2K

$580 IQD 759.9K

25.17%

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 Ba'qubah: July 26, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $246 in Ba'qubah and $436 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ba'qubah pays 25% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $15.00 in Ba'qubah vs $23.00 in Erbil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $141 vs $194 per month, with Ba'qubah 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

Ba'qubah vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ba'qubah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 62% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 25% higher in Ba'qubah, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $246 in Ba'qubah versus $436 in Erbil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 38% higher in Erbil. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Ba'qubah – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $23.00 in Erbil. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $643 in Ba'qubah versus $1,043 in Erbil, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ba'qubah but tight or insufficient in Erbil. The gap between the two cities makes Ba'qubah 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, Ba'qubah 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 Ba'qubah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.