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: $638 in Ba'qubah versus $1,019 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $985 in Ba'qubah versus $1,524 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,333 in Ba'qubah versus $2,029 in Erbil.

Living in Ba'qubah costs roughly 37% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ba'qubah 52% lower, Erbil 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.03 IQD 6,593

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-35.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.37 IQD 20.1K

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

-33.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.35 IQD 8,318

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

-29.21%

Cappuccino

$1.13 IQD 1,478

$3.25 IQD 4,252

-65.23%

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

$0.48 IQD 628

$0.48 IQD 630

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 242

$0.22 IQD 289

-18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 IQD 2,534

$2.01 IQD 2,633

-3.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 IQD 2,697

$2.04 IQD 2,671

0.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 IQD 1,485

$1.32 IQD 1,727

-14.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 IQD 726

$0.85 IQD 1,115

-35.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,473

$1.81 IQD 2,368

-38.12%

Eggs

$1.41 IQD 1,852

$1.98 IQD 2,590

-28.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.26 IQD 2,964

$7.44 IQD 9,745

-69.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.52 IQD 3,298

$4.75 IQD 6,229

-46.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 IQD 14.1K

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

-23.02%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 IQD 1,202

$1.15 IQD 1,509

-20.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,480

$1.16 IQD 1,514

-2.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 IQD 1,291

$1.13 IQD 1,483

-12.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 782

$0.81 IQD 1,061

-25.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 729

$0.71 IQD 936

-21.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 901

$0.76 IQD 997

-9.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 IQD 612

$0.76 IQD 1,002

-38.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 281

$0.53 IQD 690

-60.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.71 IQD 3,557

$2.76 IQD 3,610

-1.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.24 IQD 16.0K

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

-0.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 IQD 1,873

$1.42 IQD 1,862

0.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 IQD 2,655

$2.00 IQD 2,627

1.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.56 IQD 728

-28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.61 IQD 41.4K

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

-8.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 IQD 3,100

$2.28 IQD 2,992

3.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.10 IQD 2,751

$2.29 IQD 2,997

-8.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.32 IQD 6,973

$6.92 IQD 9,060

-23.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 IQD 427

$0.70 IQD 911

-52.86%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

-0.24%

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

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

0.63%

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

$59.3 IQD 77.7K

$100 IQD 131.3K

-40.82%

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

$17.97 IQD 23.5K

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

2.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.11 IQD 35.5K

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

-8.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.94 IQD 24.8K

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

-74.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.61 IQD 21.8K

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

40.52%

Cinema Ticket

$3.82 IQD 4,999

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

-66.98%

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

$27.30 IQD 35.8K

$264 IQD 345.7K

-89.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$632 IQD 827.6K

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

-80.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.99 IQD 24.9K

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

-42.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.97 IQD 24.9K

$49.58 IQD 65.0K

-61.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 IQD 109.8K

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

0.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.25 IQD 35.7K

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

-64.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$244 IQD 320.3K

$430 IQD 562.8K

-43.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 IQD 238.6K

$281 IQD 367.7K

-35.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$570 IQD 746.3K

$716 IQD 938.5K

-20.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 IQD 451.5K

$486 IQD 637.2K

-29.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$768 IQD 1.0M

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

-30.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$188 IQD 246.7K

$652 IQD 854.1K

-71.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$730 IQD 956.4K

$576 IQD 754.2K

26.81%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Erbil: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $244 in Ba'qubah and $430 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ba'qubah pays 27% 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 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Ba'qubah pays 27% 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: $244 in Ba'qubah versus $430 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 $638 in Ba'qubah versus $1,019 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 60% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.