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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,019 per month in Erbil vs $743 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,524 per month in Erbil vs $1,157 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,029 per month in Erbil vs $1,571 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 24% lower, 'aqrah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$4.12 IQD 5,395

88.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

$25.25 IQD 33.1K

-8.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

$7.04 IQD 9,226

27.41%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,252

$2.59 IQD 3,398

25.48%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.39 IQD 516

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 289

$0.22 IQD 282

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 IQD 2,633

$2.84 IQD 3,720

-29.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,671

$2.84 IQD 3,717

-28.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,727

$1.36 IQD 1,786

-2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,115

$0.78 IQD 1,028

8.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 IQD 2,368

$1.65 IQD 2,159

9.70%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,590

$1.79 IQD 2,342

10.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.44 IQD 9,745

$4.43 IQD 5,806

67.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.75 IQD 6,229

$4.78 IQD 6,262

-0.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

$13.06 IQD 17.1K

7.12%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,509

$1.20 IQD 1,567

-4.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,514

$1.15 IQD 1,509

0.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,483

$1.05 IQD 1,378

7.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,061

$0.76 IQD 990

6.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 936

$0.64 IQD 841

10.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 997

$0.63 IQD 824

20.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 IQD 1,002

$0.62 IQD 812

22.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 690

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.76 IQD 3,610

$1.89 IQD 2,478

46.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 IQD 1,862

$1.86 IQD 2,442

-23.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,627

$2.11 IQD 2,763

-5.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 IQD 728

$0.40 IQD 520

40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

$30.94 IQD 40.5K

11.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,992

$2.26 IQD 2,959

0.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,997

$1.48 IQD 1,939

54.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.92 IQD 9,060

$6.17 IQD 8,077

12.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.53 IQD 696

32.08%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

-0.94%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

3.40%

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

$100 IQD 131.3K

$76.8 IQD 100.7K

30.43%

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

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

$17.87 IQD 23.4K

-1.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

$34.74 IQD 45.5K

-14.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

$37.42 IQD 49.0K

98.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

$17.00 IQD 22.3K

-30.47%

Cinema Ticket

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

$7.47 IQD 9,781

54.89%

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

$264 IQD 345.7K

$151 IQD 197.3K

75.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

$3,295 IQD 4.3M

-0.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

$26.67 IQD 34.9K

23.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.58 IQD 65.0K

$25.37 IQD 33.2K

95.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

$62.0 IQD 81.3K

35.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

$40.81 IQD 53.5K

88.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 IQD 562.8K

$243 IQD 318.4K

76.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 IQD 367.7K

$178 IQD 232.9K

57.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 IQD 938.5K

$588 IQD 770.5K

21.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$486 IQD 637.2K

$341 IQD 447.2K

42.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$652 IQD 854.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$576 IQD 754.2K

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for 'aqrah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Erbil versus $243 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 – $195 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 $1,528 per month in Erbil and $1,115 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 $1,019 in Erbil and $743 in 'aqrah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 12% 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 $743, than in Erbil at $1,019. 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.