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: $658 in Ba'qubah versus $1,017 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $989 in Ba'qubah versus $1,518 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,320 in Ba'qubah versus $2,019 in Erbil.

Living in Ba'qubah costs roughly 35% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ba'qubah 51% lower, Erbil 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.84 IQD 6,342

$7.59 IQD 9,938

-36.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.44 IQD 20.2K

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

-32.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.45 IQD 8,452

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

-25.43%

Cappuccino

$1.16 IQD 1,521

$3.25 IQD 4,260

-64.31%

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

$0.52 IQD 682

$0.52 IQD 676

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 286

$0.20 IQD 261

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 IQD 2,523

$1.95 IQD 2,555

-1.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 IQD 2,786

$2.04 IQD 2,675

4.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 IQD 1,546

$1.32 IQD 1,725

-10.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.81 IQD 1,062

-27.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,461

$1.80 IQD 2,357

-37.78%

Eggs

$1.41 IQD 1,852

$1.91 IQD 2,505

-26.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.23 IQD 2,923

$7.50 IQD 9,816

-70.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.52 IQD 3,297

$4.82 IQD 6,315

-47.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.81 IQD 14.2K

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

-23.33%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 IQD 1,296

$1.18 IQD 1,551

-16.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,542

$1.15 IQD 1,500

2.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 IQD 1,283

$1.14 IQD 1,494

-14.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.80 IQD 1,045

-31.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 IQD 714

$0.66 IQD 863

-16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 846

$0.77 IQD 1,002

-15.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 IQD 606

$0.77 IQD 1,008

-40.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 216

$0.55 IQD 721

-69.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,425

$2.74 IQD 3,594

-4.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.21 IQD 16.0K

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

-1.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 IQD 1,798

$1.37 IQD 1,794

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 IQD 2,649

$2.00 IQD 2,619

1.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.59 IQD 768

-32.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.03 IQD 40.6K

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

-11.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,072

$2.25 IQD 2,942

4.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 IQD 2,774

$2.29 IQD 2,993

-7.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 IQD 6,865

$6.85 IQD 8,966

-23.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 IQD 464

$0.64 IQD 839

-45.31%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

-1.54%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

-1.87%

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

$59.3 IQD 77.6K

$101 IQD 132.2K

-41.28%

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

$17.34 IQD 22.7K

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

-0.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

-11.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

-73.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 IQD 22.2K

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

47.14%

Cinema Ticket

$3.85 IQD 5,040

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

-65.87%

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

$26.46 IQD 34.6K

$271 IQD 354.5K

-90.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$638 IQD 835.2K

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

-80.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.99 IQD 24.9K

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

-41.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.30 IQD 25.3K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-61.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

0.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.36 IQD 34.5K

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

-65.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$245 IQD 321.3K

$425 IQD 556.0K

-42.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 236.6K

$279 IQD 365.3K

-35.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$573 IQD 750.2K

$740 IQD 969.0K

-22.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 IQD 458.1K

$491 IQD 643.3K

-28.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$772 IQD 1.0M

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

-29.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$193 IQD 252.4K

$646 IQD 845.4K

-70.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$718 IQD 940.5K

$591 IQD 773.3K

21.62%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Erbil: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $245 in Ba'qubah and $425 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ba'qubah pays 22% 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 $140 vs $195 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, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Ba'qubah pays 22% more on average, 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: $245 in Ba'qubah versus $425 in Erbil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 39% 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 $658 in Ba'qubah versus $1,017 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 54% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.