Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and 'aqrah Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and 'aqrah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,005 per month in Erbil vs $734 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,530 per month in Erbil vs $1,152 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,056 per month in Erbil vs $1,570 in 'aqrah, rent included.

Erbil costs about 37% more than 'aqrah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Erbil and 'aqrah are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 25% lower, 'aqrah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

$4.15 IQD 5,440

87.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.39 IQD 30.6K

$24.52 IQD 32.1K

-4.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

$6.94 IQD 9,094

27.95%

Cappuccino

$3.27 IQD 4,279

$2.65 IQD 3,472

23.40%

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

$0.48 IQD 632

$0.37 IQD 484

29.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.20 IQD 267

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 IQD 2,595

$2.88 IQD 3,773

-31.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,809

$2.89 IQD 3,783

-25.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,796

$1.32 IQD 1,731

3.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,065

$0.85 IQD 1,107

-4.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 IQD 2,366

$1.67 IQD 2,180

8.38%

Eggs

$1.92 IQD 2,520

$1.79 IQD 2,350

7.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 IQD 9,716

$4.48 IQD 5,866

65.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.66 IQD 6,102

$4.63 IQD 6,063

0.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

$13.08 IQD 17.1K

8.03%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,506

$1.16 IQD 1,516

-0.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,550

$1.15 IQD 1,510

2.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,543

$1.05 IQD 1,370

12.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,054

$0.73 IQD 962

10.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 929

$0.66 IQD 862

7.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 991

$0.66 IQD 870

15.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,020

$0.63 IQD 830

23.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.55 IQD 721

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,432

$1.95 IQD 2,547

34.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.53 IQD 16.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,826

$1.83 IQD 2,403

-24.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 IQD 2,549

$2.10 IQD 2,753

-7.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 777

$0.37 IQD 483

59.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.05 IQD 44.6K

$30.92 IQD 40.5K

10.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,937

$2.25 IQD 2,940

-0.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,016

$1.47 IQD 1,931

56.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.87 IQD 8,990

$5.98 IQD 7,831

14.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 IQD 862

$0.56 IQD 737

17.86%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

-1.03%

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

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

$19.7K IQD 25.7M

4.10%

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

$99.4 IQD 130.2K

$78.3 IQD 102.6K

26.95%

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

$17.70 IQD 23.2K

$17.92 IQD 23.5K

-1.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.62 IQD 38.8K

$35.01 IQD 45.8K

-15.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.3 IQD 94.7K

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

98.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

$17.01 IQD 22.3K

-32.10%

Cinema Ticket

$11.26 IQD 14.7K

$7.45 IQD 9,751

51.14%

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

$269 IQD 352.0K

$155 IQD 202.5K

73.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,227 IQD 4.2M

$3,293 IQD 4.3M

-2.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.68 IQD 42.8K

$27.30 IQD 35.7K

19.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.30 IQD 63.2K

$25.27 IQD 33.1K

91.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 IQD 105.9K

$61.7 IQD 80.8K

31.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 IQD 103.0K

$40.99 IQD 53.7K

91.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 IQD 575.5K

$240 IQD 314.6K

82.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 IQD 373.2K

$175 IQD 229.3K

62.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 IQD 959.5K

$577 IQD 755.0K

27.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 IQD 643.4K

$350 IQD 457.9K

40.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,095 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 IQD 860.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$577 IQD 755.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

5.67

152.73%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Erbil: June 14, 2026

Last update for 'aqrah: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Erbil versus $240 in 'aqrah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Erbil versus $25.00 in 'aqrah. Groceries tell a different story – $196 in Erbil vs $158 in 'aqrah – so 'aqrah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Erbil vs 'aqrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Erbil costs about 37% more than 'aqrah, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,507 per month in Erbil and $1,101 in 'aqrah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in 'aqrah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,005 in Erbil and $734 in 'aqrah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 10% less in 'aqrah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in 'aqrah, where all-in costs run around $734, than in Erbil at $1,005. In 'aqrah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward 'aqrah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with 'aqrah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Erbil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.